Comeback falls short for Maine in home opener

Saturday, September 10

Orono, ME

1:00 PM

University of Maine

0-2 , 0-0

Colgate University

1-1 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Colgate	0	7	7	7	21
Maine	0	0	3	15	18

Photo by: Seth Poplaski

9/10/2022 5:23:00 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights

Orono, Maine -- The Black Bears posted 10 unanswered points in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 14-10, and had a chance at a 47-yard field goal to tie it late in the fourth, but were unable to take a lead as they fell 21-18 to Colgate on Saturday afternoon at Alfond Stadium.

Maine's defense posted 4.0 sacks in the loss and limited Colgate to just 28 yards passing and 21 points. Adrian Otero led the efforts with a team-high seven tackles, while Kahzir 'Buggs' Brown added six stops and a pass breakup. Xavier Nurse, Justin Sambu, and Darius McKenzie each tallied sacks while Xavier Mitchell and Brian Lee Jr. teamed up for one.

Shawn Bowman paced Maine's offense, which registered 362 total yards, with five catches for a career-high 73 yards while Elijah Barnwell added five grabs and 66 rush yards in the home opener. Joe Fagnano finished the day 25-of-39 for 246 yards with a rushing score and a touchdown pass to Montigo Moss.

Colgate carried a 7-0 lead into the half after quarterback Michael Brescia's 1-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter. The Raiders would extend their lead to 14-0 with 7:07 left in the third on another rushing score from Brescia, this one coming from a pair of yards out.

Maine found the scoreboard late in the third quarter when Cole Baker hit his first career field goal, striking from 33-yards out.

The Black Bears found their offensive rhythm when Fagnano connected with Bowman for back-to-back receptions of 11-yards and 28-yards, carrying Maine down to the Colgate 16. Four plays later, Fagnano faked a handoff to Barnwell before sprinting around the edge and into the endzone for a touchdown, trimming the Colgate lead to 14-10 with 13:41 remaining.

After trading three-and-outs on four consecutive possessions, Colgate struck with Brescia's third rushing touchdown of the game as the quarterback broke free for a 68-yard touchdown with 6:25 on the clock.

Maine responded on its next possession, wrapping up a 10 play, 75-yard drive with a touchdown on a lob to the front corner of the endzone from Fagnano to Moss. Fagnano would hit Zavier Scott for the two-point conversion, pulling Maine within three with 4:02 remaining.

The Black Hole defense did its job, forcing a three-and-out and a Colgate punt where Maine would take over at its own 14.

The Black Bears entered the two-minute drill as Fagnano orchestrated the offense up the field, finding Brock for two quick receptions before a 14-yard strike to Scott. Barnwell's 10-yard catch and run came before Fagnano hit Michael Monios up the middle for an 18-yard gain down to the Colgate 31. A two yard rush from Barnwell came before a pair of incompletions as Maine would send the field goal unit out to attempt a 41-yard kick to tie the game. However, the kick would fall short. Colgate would kneel it out, escaping with a 21-18 victory.

Maine returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 17 when it travels to take on Boston College at 7:30 p.m.

-UMaine-