Box Score ALBANY, N.Y. – Jamaree Gibson's 78-yard interception return for a touchdown with 1:46 remaining in regulation sealed a 34-20 victory for the Black Bears at No. 21 UAlbany on Saturday evening.
 
The win marked Maine's first win over a ranked opponent since 2021 and also the Black Bears' first back-to-back road victories since Nov. 2021.
 
Maine was able to outgain UAlbany, 337-260, including a 148-91 advantage in the second half. Maine limited UAlbany to just 15-yards in the third quarter and 58 total rush yards for the game.
 
Carter Peevy guided Maine's balanced offensive attack with an efficient 20-for-24 showing for 193 yards and two touchdowns. Jaharie Martin led the rush game with 82-yards and a touchdown as the Black Bears rushed for 144-yards in the victory. Molayo Irefin posted five catches for 68-yards while Cooper Heisey registered a pair of touchdown receptions. Joey Bryson tacked on a pair of 40-yard field goals.
 
Maine finished the day 7-of-12 on third down and converted on five of six red zone trips.
 
Maine's defense, which allowed just six points in the second half, forced three turnovers for the second consecutive game while recording three sacks. Kesean Dyson guided Maine with six tackles while Alhaji Kamara and Shakur Smalls each added five. Izaiah Henderson posted two sacks in the win.
 
The Black Bears opened the scoring after cashing in with a field goal on the opening drive of the afternoon. Peevy began the quarter with a 15-yard strike to Joe Gillette before later finding Montigo Moss for a 17-yard completion down to the UAlbany 31. Five plays later, Bryson came on to hit a season-high 40-yard field goal to complete the 11-play drive.
 
UAlbany took a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter on a two-yard rushing score from Jojo Uga.
 
The Great Danes looked to extend their lead with a 48-yard field goal attempt. The kick would miss but the Black Bears were flagged for running into the kicker. UAlbany's offense came back on the field but the Black Hole defense made the stop short of the first down, giving the ball back to Maine at its own 38.
 
Peevy and the Black Bears went back to work as the quarterback scrambled for a gain of 25. Facing a third and seven, Peevy connected with Irefin on a back-shoulder throw to the Maine sideline for a first down. Four plays later, Martin slashed through the left side for his third touchdown of the season.
 
UAlbany regained the lead with 14-seconds left in the half on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Myles Burkett to Seven McGee.
 
Maine entered the break trailing, 14-10.
 
Kamara snatched his third interception of the season, and second in as many games, to set up Maine with good field position at the UAlbany 41 in the third quarter. A 16-yard rush from Martin moved Maine deeper into Great Dane territory but the drive stalled, allowing Bryson to come on and convert on another 40-yard field goal. The kick cut Maine's deficit to one, 14-13, with 10:14 left in the third.
 
Maine's defense pushed UAlbany backwards as the Great Danes lost 11-yards on their next drive and were forced to punt.
 
The Black Bears began their next drive at their own 45. Facing a third and 21 after a penalty, Peevy scrambled before hitting Trevin Ewing for a 26-yard conversion out to the UAlbany 40. Maine continued chipping away as a 16-yard rush from Tavion Banks brought the Black Bears to the UAlbany two-yard line before Peevy found Heisey for a short score. Maine's two-point conversion would, fail but the Black Bears found themselves on top, 19-14.
 
After forcing another UAlbany punt, Maine's offense churned its way downfield converting on a trio of third downs along the way. A pair of pass interference penalties on the Great Danes eventually set Maine up at the UAlbany two-yard line where Peevy again found Heisey for a touchdown. The Black Bears converted on a two-point try when Peevy handed the ball to Moss who spun in the air to avoid a tackle and floated a pass to Gillette for the creative and successful attempt. The score elevated Maine's lead to 27-14 with 6:59 left in regulation.
 
UAlbany answered just over 1:30 later when Burkett and McGree connected on a 32-yard touchdown. A poor snap caused the Great Danes to miss the point after as Maine's lead stood at seven, 27-20.
 
The Black Bears were forced to punt with 3:02 left to play in regulation as UAlbany began its drive at the Maine 47. The Great Danes began to advance the ball but a pass from Burkett slipped through the hands of his receiver and Gibson was able to snag it, returning the interception 78-yards for a touchdown to put Maine on top for good, 34-20.
 
Maine moves into its bye week and will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 12 when it travels to take on Delaware at 1 p.m.
 
-UMaine-