Second half comeback falls short against #17 Richmond

Saturday, October 29

Orono, ME

1:00 PM

University of Maine

2-6 , 2-3

#17 University of Richmond

6-2 , 4-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Richmond	21	0	7	3	31
Maine	0	7	0	14	21

Photo by: Seth Poplaski

Second half comeback falls short against #17 Richmond

10/30/2022 6:40:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Orono, Maine – The University of Maine football team's second half comeback came up short as the Black Bears dropped a 31-21 decision to #17 Richmond.

Maine, which fell behind 21-0 after one quarter, outscored the Spiders 21-10 in the final three quarters, but were unable to overcome the early deficit.

Richmond outgained the Black Bears, 517-327, with the majority of its offense coming through the air (368 yards). The Black Bears finished the contest 9-for-16 on third down.

Montigo Moss and Shawn Bowman each tallied receiving touchdowns for Maine while Zavier Scott added a rushing score. Joe Fagnano finished the afternoon 22-41 for 208 yards, including the 5,000th passing yard of his career, and two touchdowns.

Maine, which did not turn the ball over for the second consecutive game, was able to force a pair of turnovers with an interception by Benito Speight and Raffaele Salamone's fumble recovery. Kahzir 'Buggs' Brown, Salamone, Adrian Otero, and Shakur Smalls each registered eight tackles to lead the Black Hole.

Richmond jumped out to a 21-0 advantage after scoring on each of its first three possessions. Spider quarterback Reece Udinski tallied the first of his four touchdown day on a six yard rush just 2:35 into the first quarter.

Udinski later found Herres for a 63-yard touchdown reception before adding his third score of the quarter on a three-yard rush late in the opening quarter.

Maine found the scoreboard with 9:19 left in the half when Fagnano hit Bowman for a nine yard pass and catch, sending the Black Bears into the half trailing 21-7.

Richmond started the scoring in the second half when Udinski's 21-yard touchdown pass to Henley put the Spiders on top, 28-7.

Maine kept fighting, answering with 14 unanswered points. Fagnano maneuvered the offense down the field late in the third before finding Moss for an acrobatic one-handed touchdown grab on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Midway through the fourth, Maine cut the deficit to seven when Scott rushed in to the end zone on a 41-yard designed run.

However, it would be as close as Maine would get as the Spiders tacked on a 22-yard field goal before taking the contest, 31-21.

Maine continues CAA action on Saturday when it travels to meet Rhode Island at 1 p.m.

-UMaine-