Strong second half lifts Maine over Merrimack

Saturday, September 21

North Andover, MA

1:00 PM

University of Maine

2-2 , 0-1

Merrimack College

1-3 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Maine	0	6	7	13	26
Merrimack	10	5	0	0	15

9/21/2024 5:44:00 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights

Black Bears outscore Merrimack 20-0 in second half

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. -- The University of Maine football team outscored Merrimack 20-0 in the second half to earn a 26-15 victory on a rainy afternoon at Duane Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The win evened Maine's record up a 2-2 while Merrimack fell to 1-3.

Maine, which outgained the Warriors 251-73 over the final two quarters, limited Merrimack to just 1-of-14 on third down while forcing three turnovers.

Quarterback Carter Peevy finished the game 17-of-26 for 255 yards and two touchdowns while Tavion Banks led the rushing attack with 62-yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Joe Gillette registered four catches for a game-high 86 yards while tight ends Cooper Heisey and Mason Gilbert each tallied touchdown receptions.

Kesean Dyson guided Maine's defense with 10 stops, including a sack and a forced fumble, while Devin Vaught and Alhaji Kamara each tallied interceptions.

Merrimack jumped out to an early 10-0 lead after Grant Jackson's 53-yard fumble return for a touchdown prior to a 33-yard field goal from Lliam Davis.

Maine found the scoreboard with 14:36 left in the first half after Peevy floated a short pass to the corner of the end zone to Gilbert who fought through a defensive pass interference call to come down with the score. The Black Bears were unable to convert on a two-point try and would trail, 10-6, after the score.

Davis tacked on another field goal, this one from 37-yards, to lift the Warrior lead to 13-6. A safety from Thompson would send the Black Bears into the half trailing 15-6.

The safety would be the last score for Merrimack.

The Black Hole came up with an early second half turnover as Kamara snatched his second interception of the season. Maine would turn the takeaway into points as it opened the second half scoring when Heisey snuck out off the line of scrimmage to get open for Peevy who hit the captain for a 12-yard touchdown.

Joey Bryson opened the fourth quarter by hitting the first of his two field goals, this one a 28-yard strike, to give Maine its first lead of the day, 16-15.

Banks' extended Maine's lead out to 23-15 when he smashed and spun his way into the end zone from five-yards out.

Bryson put the Black Bears up by two scores, and for good, with a 33-yard field goal with 2:06 remaining.

Merrimack looked to put together a last minute drive but it was stalled on a big sack from Xavier Holmes.

The Black Bears return to Coastal Athletic Association play when they travel to meet UAlbany on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 3:30 p.m.

-UMaine-