English scores 5 TDs as UMaine rolls

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ORONO – If the Atlantic 10 football season were to continue for another week, the University of Maine would have to be considered one of the most dangerous teams in the conference.

Instead, the Black Bears will have to be content with the ending to the 2000 season, a 55-10 thrashing of New Hampshire on Morse Field at Alfond Stadium.

Coach Jack Cosgrove’s team provided a fitting farewell to its 13 seniors, pushing around the Wildcats’ defense and stifling the league’s second-rated offense with a dominating performance that helped take the chill off the small crowd of 2,272 fans.

UMaine couldn’t have been more dominating.

“We kicked their butt. I don’t get to say that much, so I’m going to say that,” said a proud Cosgrove, whose Bears won three of their last four games to finish 5-6.

UMaine saddled up junior tailback Royston English and rode him to five touchdowns, which ties a conference and UMaine single-game record. His 32-carry, 137-yard effort was made possible by a cohesive offensive line.

The Bears scored on five of their first seven possessions, then tacked on a defensive TD while scoring the most points in the series, which dates back to 1903.

New Hampshire coach Sean McDonnell called the game a nightmare, but gave all the credit to the Bears.

“They beat us in every way I think you can be beat on a football field today and they did it clean, intense, [and] smart,” McDonnell said.

Up front, the UMaine offensive line – tackles Zack Magliaro and Matt Hammond, guards Chris McLaughlin and Justin Szwejkowski and center Brian Williams – set the tone. Senior center Paul Paradis left the game with a shoulder injury after the Bears’ fourth offensive play.

“They were doing whatever they wanted to out there with us,” McDonnell said. “They were knocking us off the football.”

UMaine needed only three plays to score on its first series when English bolted 37 yards on a counter play. The Bears followed with a 13-play, 43-yard march during which English lugged the ball 11 times for 34 yards, including a 1-yard leap that made it 13-0 with 3:06 left in the first quarter.

The ‘Cats closed within 13-3 on Shawn MacLean’s 38-yard field goal early in the second quarter, but the Bears went back to work after their only punt of the half.

The hosts moved 75 yards on six plays, with Dwayne Wilmot catching a 28-yard TD pass from Eaton at the 7:21 mark. UMaine then cashed in a Randal Williams fumble with a 55-yard march highlighted by Eaton’s 31-yard pass to Phil McGeoghan.

English scored from two yards out with 2:41 left and Todd Jagoutz kicked the third of his seven PATs to give UMaine a 27-3 bulge.

“Royston’s a physically gifted guy inside,” Cosgrove said. “We don’t get real complicated with our run scheme. And when that’s working, Jake becomes more effective with the play-action pass.”

Eaton completed nine of 11 passes for 132 yards, setting a UMaine single-season mark for completion percentage at .659 (184 of 279).

The UNH offense, which went into the game ranked second in the A-10 with 420 yards per game, was shut down. Senior strong safety Jason Betts made six tackles and returned a fumble 22 yards for a score to pace a UMaine defense that limited the ‘Cats to a season-low 231 yards.

Ernie Svolto, Damon Boinske and Brendan Curry made five tackles apiece for UMaine, with Svolto posting 11/2 sacks.

“I’m sure a lot of people out there doubted our defense and our team going into the game,” Betts said. “It was definitely a great win to finally have the defense come together; to have the whole team, offense and defense, special teams, click in a lopsided victory like that.”

UMaine didn’t feel its work was done, despite a 27-3 halftime lead. Two weeks ago, UNH wiped out a 28-point halftime deficit to beat playoff-bound Delaware 45-44 in overtime, on the road.

The Bears put the game away in the third quarter, scoring after Jarrod Gomes’ 34-yard kickoff return. A 34-yard pass from Eaton to Wilmot helped set up a 1-yard TD run by English.

The Bears then capitalized on a UNH fumble. Backup QB Jon Bond lined up as a receiver, then launched a 56-yard pass to McGeoghan on a reverse. UMaine scored two plays later on a 1-yard run by English, then iced it 19 seconds later with Betts’ fumble return that pushed the bulge to 48-3 with 4:53 left in the third quarter.

Black Bears 55, Wildcats 10

New Hampshire (6-5) 0 3 0 7 – 10 Maine (5-6) 13 14 21 7 – 55

UM – English 37 run (Jagoutz kick) UM – English 1 run (kick failed) UNH – MacLean 38 field goal UM – Wilmot 28 pass from Eaton (Jagoutz kick) UM – English 2 run (Jagoutz kick) UM – English 1 run (Jagoutz kick) UM – English 1 run (Jagoutz kick) UM – Betts 22 fumble return (Jagoutz kick) UNH – Williams 18 pass from Day (MacLean kick) UM – Christopher 28 run (Jagoutz kick)

New Hampshire Maine

First downs 15 18 Rushing att. – yds 30-76 52-228 Passing cmp. – att. 16-32 10-12 Yards passing 155 188 Total yards 231 416 Intercepted by 0 0 Punts – avg. 8-31.8 4-30.5 Fumbles – lost 3-3 2-0 Penalties – yds 7-35 4-40

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – UNH: Williams 8-39, Ekong 11-26, Day 11-11; Maine: English 32-137, Christopher 2-47, Eaton 5-29, Silva 7-13, Sisay 3-3, Gelsomino 3-(-1)

PASSING – UNH: Day 16-32-0-155; Maine: Eaton 9-11-0-132, Bond 1-1-0-56

RECEIVING – UNH: Peterson 5-45, Messner 3-20, Taylor 2-21, Mallette 2-8, DePalma 1-30, Williams 1-18, Betz 1-8, Ekong 1-5; Maine: Wilmot 5-84, McGeoghan 3-93, Sisay 1-11, Christopher 1-0