Albany, N.Y. -- The University of Maine football team took a 21-17 lead with 1:50 left in regulation on a touchdown rush from Joe Fagnano but were unable to hold on as UAlbany's touchdown with no time on the clock propelled the Great Danes to a 23-21 victory over the Black Bears on Saturday at Casey Stadium.

The loss snaps Maine's seven game win streak against the Great Danes and marks the Black Bears' first loss in Albany since 2009.

Zavier Scott guided Maine's offense with a team-high six receptions for 58 yards to go along with 79 rushing yards and a touchdown. Fagnano finished the afternoon 15-for-25 for 164 yards with a touchdown and an interception while adding 46 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Adrian Otero paced the defense with eight tackles, including the 250th of his career, with an interception. Justin Sambu, Jamehl Wiley, and Khairi Manns each added a sack for the Black Hole defense which was able to hold the Colonial Athletic Association's fourth rated offense (31.3 points per game) to 23.

For the second consecutive week, the Black Bears struck first as Fagnano completed a 16 play drive with a 10 yard touchdown pass to Montigo Moss. Scott helped keep the drive alive, moving the chain on three consecutive third downs including a 21 yard pick-up on a third and 16. Scott's third down reception on third and four moved the chains and Maine inside the UAlbany 10 before Fagnano found Moss for the duos sixth touchdown hook-up of the season.

The Great Danes cut Maine's lead to four with John Opalko's 35 yard field goal, 2:05 into the second quarter.

With 19 seconds remaining in the first half, UAlbany took its first lead of the game. Quarterback Reese Poffenbarger's 47 yard strike down the middle of the field to Roy Alexander set the Great Danes up at the Maine 20. On the next play, Poffenbarger floated a pass to Thomas Greaney in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. UAlbany took a 10-7 edge into the break.

UAlbany began the scoring in the second half. Todd Sibley's 52 yard rush carried the Great Danes to the Maine two yard line. Sibley would bounce in on the next play to give UAlbany a 17-7 advantage.

Maine transformed a UAlbany turnover into a touchdown, cutting the deficit to three in the third quarter. Adrian Otero snatched his second interception of the season at the UAlbany 41. Fagnano and the offense moved the ball down to the UAlbany two yard line before Scott, working out of the wildcat formation, sprinted around the edge, beating the defenders to the goal line for a touchdown.

The Great Danes looked to answer on their ensuing possession but the Black Hole had other ideas. Working from the Maine two, Latrell Couchman and the Maine defense stuffed UAlbany on an outside rush. The Great Danes field goal unit came on but the attempt was blocked by Kahzir 'Buggs' Brown.

Maine regained the lead with 1:50 left in regulation. Scott once again came up big for the Black Bears as his 20 yard rush took Maine into UAlbany territory. Fagnano sold a hand-off before floating a pass over the middle to Declan McKevitt, for the tight end's first career catch. The reception took Maine down to the UAlbany six yard line where Fagnano would rush outside and into the end zone, giving Maine a 21-17 lead with under two minutes left.

UAlbany took over with 1:43 on the clock, trailing by four. The Great Danes picked their way down the field where they eventually faced a fourth and 20 at the Maine 27. UAlbany converted on the fourth down with a 21 yard reception by Greaney, moving the ball to the Maine six with less than 25 seconds on the clock. Following a targeting penalty on the Black Bears in the end zone, UAlbany found itself at the Maine three yard line. Two incompletions followed, but Maine was flagged for holding on the second moving the ball to the two. On the next play, Maine was whistled for pass interference, putting the ball at the one. Following the penalty, Poffenbarger hit Julian Hicks on a crossing pattern in the center of the end zone for the game-winning score.

Maine concludes its season next Saturday when it hosts New Hampshire in the annual Border Battle, presented by Buffalo Wild Wings, for the Brice-Cowell Musket. Kickoff on Senior Day is set for noon at Alfond Stadium.

-UMaine-