ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine football team will host N.C. A&T in a CAA conference game on Saturday, Sept. 27 as part of Friends and Family Weekend in Orono.
Broadcast Details:
Saturday's game will be live streamed on FloCollege and on locally on Fox 22. The game can be heard locally in Bangor on 92.9 FM The Ticket, in the Portland markets on 100.5 FM and 1310 AM, and nationwide at GoBlackBears.com and on the TuneIn app.
Game day information regarding tickets, tailgating and Alfond Stadium can be found here.
| Maine (0-4, 0-1 CAA) vs N.C. A&T (1-3, 1-0 CAA) |
CAA Battle -- The Black Bears and the Aggies will square off for the first time in program history and for the first time in CAA history. It is the second CAA game of the season for both sides as the Black Bears lost by a single point, 28-27, at William & Mary while NC A&T defeated Hampton, 33-30.
Last Time Out -- The Black Bears were defeated by Georgia Southern onÂ
Saturday, Sept. 20, 45-17. Carter Peevy scored the lone offensive touchdown on a 25-yard rush while Devin Vaught registered a pick-6, the first interception and defensive touchdown by a Black Bear on the season.
Top of the CAA for Baines -- Sincere Baines has been a breakout player for the Black Bears all season as he is making the most of his first year at the DI level after spending two seasons in DII. His 7.49 YPC is the highest mark in the CAA and the 6th-best mark in all of the FCS. He also ranks fourth in the CAA in both total rushing yards (352) and rushing yards per game (88.0).
THOMAS CONTINUES HIS IMPACT
Christian Thomas has emerged as not only one of the best defensive players in the CAA, but the entire FCS as he is ranked 14th with 43 tackles, 31st with 5.5 tackles for loss and 30th with 20 solo tackles.
In the CAA, he ranks 3rd in total tackles, fourth in tackles for loss and seventh in solo tackles.
Against Stonehill in the last home game, he registered a sack, 2.5 tackles or loss and 5 tackles.
FRONT LINE SHERMAN
Elias Sherman, a transfer out of Central Missouri, had his best game of the season in the CAA opener for Maine as he registered a team season-high 2.5 tackles for loss and his first sack of the season by the Black Bears defense in their matchup against William & Mary.
His 4.5 tackles for loss on the season are the 10th-most in the CAA and he is ranked 7th with 2 sacks on the season in the CAA, tied with teammate Nicolas Kalume
TOP OF THE DEPTH CHART
Scott Woods and Mo Irefin are the clear #1 and #2 wide receivers on the Black Bears as they each eclipsed 100 yards for the season last time out.
Woods leads Maine with 17 catches and 1118 yards, trailed by Irefin's 10 receptions for 114 yards.
Woods joins Baines as the only two Black Bears to register a receiving touchdown on the season.
O-LINE PRESENCE
Maine will be leaning on a veteran group of their offensive line once again as the combination of Kocan (LT), Iliano (LG), Cruji (C), Boutaugh (RG) and Williams (RT) saw every snap on offense against Liberty and four of the five saw every snap in week two against William & Mary and week three against Stonehill.
This starting group has only allowed 7 sacks on the season, highlighted by only allowing 1 sack on week two at CAA opponent, William & Mary. The offensive line as a whole has only allowed 10 sacks in four games, two games being played against FBS programs.
SECONDARY STRENGTH
The Black Bear secondary has recorded 16 pass breakups through the first four weeks, with 8 breakups coming against Stonehill.
Led by a pair of All-CAA Preseason Honorable Mentions in Jamaree Gibson (CB) and Devin Vaught (FS), the Black Bears broke up 31 passes a season ago and generated 10 interceptions, three of which came from Vaught. Vaught was a big performer on week one as he set a new career-high with 8 solo tackles and is coming off of a game against Stonehill in which he broke up a pair of passes.
Vaught leads the Black Bears with 4 pass breakups and registered the only interception of the season for Maine so far, a 76-yard pick-6 against Georgia Southern.
Jake Kucera started at strong safety after having a strong camp, he appeared in only three games last season for the Black Bears but has seen the bulk of the snaps at safety this season.
PRESEASON HONORS
The Black Bears had five members listed on the All-CAA Preseason list.
Trevin Ewing was named to the All-CAA Preseason Team as a kick returner while Carter Peevy, Jamaree Gibson, Devin Vaught and Christian Thomas all were named to the Honorable Mentions list.
CLOSE CALL
Since 2013, Maine is 27-21 in games decided by seven points or less.
Maine is 0-2 in one possession games in 2025.Â
In 2023, Maine was on the losing end of all three of its games which were decided by 7 points or fewer and they were 1-1 on such games in 2024.
A Maine Win Would:
... The first win of the season for the Black Bears.
... The first CAA win of the season for the Black Bears.
... The first win over N.C. A&T in program history.
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Tale of the Tape
| Maine (CAA) |
Category |
N.C. A&T (CAA) |
| 15.3 (14) |
Points |
20.3 (11) |
| 288.3 (13) |
Total Offense |
286.8 (14) |
| 172.5 (2) |
Rushing Yards |
125.3 (7) |
| 115.8 (14) |
Passing Yards |
161.5 (12) |
| 4/2 |
Rushing TDs/Passing TDs |
7/3 |
| 29:16 (9) |
Offensive Time of Possession |
30:09 (5) |
| 28.5 (8) |
Points Allowed |
46.0 (14) |
| 339.0 (2) |
Total Defense |
469.5 (12) |
| 147.0 (6) |
Rushing Yards Allowed |
249.8 (13) |
| 192.0 (6) |
Passing Yards Allowed |
219.8 (7) |
| 7/8 |
Rushing/Passing TDs Allowed |
15/6 |
| 22.0 (14) |
3rd-Down Conversions |
32.3 (10) |
| 47.5 (12) |
3rd-Down Conversion Defense |
38.8 (4) |
| -3 (13) |
Turnover Margin |
-6 (4) |
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