Durham, N.H. – The University of Maine football season came to an end with a 44-25 loss on Saturday afternoon at New Hampshire in the 111^th Battle for the Brice-Cowell musket.

Derek Robertson passed for 300+ yards for the fifth time this season as he finished the afternoon 32-for-51 with 315 yards and three touchdowns. The senior quarterback ends the season with 2,933 passing yards which is third highest single season passing total in Maine history. Robertson also moved into 11th on Maine's career passing yards list with 4,494 yards.

Robertson's top target was Jamie Lamson who matched a career-high with eight catches for 50 yards and a touchdown. For Lamson, it marked his team-leading sixth touchdown on the season and his fifth consecutive game with a score. Trevin Ewing career-highs in both receptions (7) and receiving yards (79) and a touchdown. Cooper Heisey registered Maine's third touchdown reception the day.

Maine's defense, which held New Hampshire to its second lowest offensive output (373 yds) of the season, was led by Kahzir Buggs Brown's game-high seven tackles and a pass breakup. Izaiah Henderson added five stops, 3.0 for loss, with a career-high 2.0 sacks.
 
New Hampshire opened the scoring on the first drive of the game when Max Brosmer connected with Logan Tomlinson for a two-yard score.
 
Following a three-and-out by the Black Bears, the Wildcats extended their lead to 13-0 on another touchdown pass from Brosmer, this one a 56-yard strike to Kyle Lepkowski with 5:25 left in the first quarter. New Hampshire lined up for a two-point conversion but the attempt would fall incomplete.
 
Maine was able to find the scoreboard early in the second quarter. Robertson rifled a pass between two defenders to Lamson at the goal line for a two-yard touchdown. The score extended Lamson's touchdown scoring streak to five games.
 
Brosmer's third touchdown pass of the half came with 12:04 on the clock as the quarterback found Myles Thomason for a 10-yard score.
 
The Black Bears answered the punch on their ensuing drive. Tristen Kenan opened the drive with a slashing 20-yard rush before Robertson connected with Heisey on a flea-flicker completion for a 36-yard gain. Two plays later, Robertson floated a 14-yard pass to Ewing at the corner of the goal line for a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 20-14.
 
Maine kicker Cody Williams lined the ensuing kickoff off a New Hampshire player and covered the loose ball, giving the possession back to Maine at its own 37. However, two plays later, New Hampshire stripped Robertson and recovered the fumble at the Maine 35.
 
New Hampshire would convert the turnover into a 10-yard rushing score by Brosmer.
 
The Wildcats extended their lead to 20 points when they took advantage of a Maine interception, flipping the take away into a one-yard rushing score by Isaac Seide.
 
The first half flurry of scoring ended with a 25-yard field goal by Williams as Maine trailed, 34-17, at the break.
 
New Hampshire started the scoring in the second half with an 89-yard punt return for a touchdown from Thomason with less than four minutes remaining in the third quarter.
 
The Black Bears continued to fight, marching down the field late in the fourth quarter and completing a 75-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Robertson to Heisey. Maine would convert the two-point conversion on a pass to Eli Mahan, cutting the deficit to 44-25.

However, it would be as close as Maine would get as the Black Bears dropped the season finale by a 44-25 final.

-UMaine-