Amherst, Mass. -- The University of Maine football team earned its fourth victory over a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) program in school-history after rattling off 35 unanswered points to earn a convincing 35-10 road victory at UMass on Saturday afternoon.

The win was Maine's first over an FBS opponent since it defeated Western Kentucky, 31-28, in 2018. Maine had previous recorded FBS wins at UMass, 24-14, in 2013 and at Mississippi State, 9-7, in 2004.

After falling behind 10-0 early in the first, Maine dominated the remainder of the game as it went on to outscore the Minutemen 35-0 the rest of the way, shutting out the hosts over the final 50:11 of game action.

Joe Fagnano, who had missed the previous seven games due to injury, returned as Maine's starting quarterback and finished 16-of-27 with 209 yards and two touchdowns to help earn the victory. Maine's run game, led by Elijah Barnwell, tallied three touchdowns and 157 total yards. Barnwell produced 84 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries while Freddie Brock added 74 yards and a score.

Devin Young was Fagnano's go-to target on the day as the senior finished with a career-high eight receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown.

Despite not forcing any turnovers, Maine's defense was smothering all day as the Black Hole held UMass to 297 total yards and a 5-for-16 clip on third down. Ray Miller led the way with a career-high 16 tackles while Xavier Nurse, Adrian Otero, and Shakur Smalls each added six stops. Nurse and Khairi Manns each recorded a sack for the Black Bears.

UMass jumped out to a 10-0 lead with 5:11 remaining in the first quarter on a touchdown pass from Brady Olson to Josiah Johnson and a 42-yard field goal from Cameron Carson.

It would be the only scoring the Minutemen would do on the day.

Maine found the end zone for the first time on the day when Brock slashed his way in for an 18-yard rushing score, 3:29 into the second quarter. The drive, which spanned 86-yards on seven plays, was bolstered by a career-long 58-yard reception by Montigo Moss.

A 17-yard punt from UMass gave the Black Bears the ball on their own 48. Fagnano and the offense went back to work as the quarterback concluded the drive with an eight yard touchdown connection to Young, putting Maine on top 14-10 with 3:21 remaining in the half.

Young would return the opening kickoff of the second half 46-yards as the Black Bears would start their first drive of the quarter at the Maine 49. Fagnano again maneuvered Maine down the field before finding Shawn Bowman for a 14-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 21-10.

Two late rushing touchdowns from Barnwell would put the game out of reach.

With 5:03 remaining in regulation, Barnwell stormed his way into the end zone on a two yard carry.

After Manns' sack on fourth down turned the ball back over to Maine on downs, the Black Bears wasted no time again finding paydirt. Set up at the UMass 23, Barnwell took the outside carry the distance for his second touchdown of the game as Maine took a 35-10 edge, a score which would stand giving Maine its fourth-ever FBS victory.

Maine concludes the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 20 when it hits the road to take on rival New Hampshire at 1 p.m.

-UMaine-