ELON, N.C. – The University of Maine football team dropped its final regular season road game of the season, 31-25, at Elon on Saturday afternoon.

Carter Peevy finished the game 22-of-37 for 271-yards and a touchdown while Jaharie Martin carried seven times for 26-yards and a career-high two rushing touchdowns.

Montigo Moss registered five receptions for 89-yards and a touchdown while Molayo Irefin added five catches for 45-yards.

Christian Thomas paced Maine's defense with nine stops, two for loss, and a sack while Alhaji Kamara and Devin Vaught each added seven tackles.

Elon struck first, taking its opening 75-yards in 2:35 capped by a 6-yard rushing score from Rushawn Baker.

The Black Bears responded with an eight play, 56-yard drive which resulted in a field goal. Peevy set up the Black Bears in Elon territory when he hit Moss across the middle before the receiver hurdled a defender for a 39-yard gain down to the Phoenix 25-yard line. Four plays later, Joey Bryson came on to convert on a 39-yard field goal with 4:31 left in the first quarter.

The Phoenix extended the lead to 14-3 on Baker's second rushing score of the half, this one coming from 3-yards out.

Maine began its fifth drive at its own 9-yard before putting together an impressive, 13 play drive spanning 91-yards for a touchdown.

Facing third and 10, Peevy connected with Irefin for 12-yards for 12-yards before finding Moss for a 15-yard completion out to the Maine 46-yard line. An end-around to Trevin Ewing went for a 21-yard pick-up. Up against a fourth and 10, Peevy found Moss for 14-yards down to the Elon 26. Another hit to Moss, this one for 16-yards, moved Maine to the three. Martin took the direct snap and smashed straight ahead where he was gobbled up before bouncing off multiple tackles and slashing his way back around the left side and in for a touchdown. 

Maine entered the half trailing Elon, 14-10.

The Black Bears threatened early in the third. A 28-yard punt return from Irefin, followed by a 15-yard personal foul penalty against Elon, advanced Maine to the Elon 25. After a 21-yard strike to Gillette, Maine found itself knocking on the door. However, a delay of game penalty backed the Black Bears up one play before Maine was picked off in the end zone by Caleb Curtain, ending the drive and scoring threat.

Elon converted the turnover into points with Baker's third rushing touchdown of the game as Maine found itself trailing 21-10 with 4:21 left in the third quarter.

Trevin Ewing once again gave Maine great field position as he took the ensuing kickoff back 69-yards down to the Elon 25. Three plays later, Martin smashed his way straight up the middle for a 7-yard score, his second of the day. Peevy connected in the corner of the end zone with Joe Gillette on the two-point conversion, drawing Maine within three late in the third.

Elon wasted no time responding as Matthew Downing hit Chandler Brayboy for a 70-yard touchdown reception on the first play of the ensuing possession.

The Phoenix tacked on a 40-yard field goal with 8:08 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Following a missed field goal by Elon, Maine took over at its own 20 with no timeouts. Peevy began marching, hitting Irefin for 15-yards before connections of 32 and 23-yards to Mason Gilbert. Maine completed the drive with an 11-yard touchdown reception by Moss.

However, the Black Bears were unable to recover the onside kick, falling by a final of 31-25.

The Black Bears conclude the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 23 when they host New Hampshire at 1 p.m. in the Battle for the Brice-Cowell Musket. 

-UMaine-