LAKE CHARLES, La. – The University of Maine football team could easily have fallen victim to self-doubt during Saturday night’s NCAA Division I-AA playoff game.

Playing on McNeese State’s home field, in front of 12,450 Cajun fans, the Black Bears had failed to capitalize on three scoring opportunities, committed two turnovers and lost two starters to injuries – in the first half.

UMaine, making its first postseason appearance in 12 years, then fell behind twice in the third quarter, allowing the partisan crowd to make its presence felt. And even with junior quarterback Jake Eaton suffering through the least productive passing night of his career, coach Jack Cosgrove’s team maintained its poise.

UMaine countered both McNeese State scores with touchdowns of its own, then made three consecutive defensive stands in the fourth quarter to preserve a tense 14-10 victory at Cowboy Stadium.

UMaine, ranked No. 16 in last week’s national poll, earned its first-ever postseason football win. The 9-2 Bears now travel to No. 6 Northern Iowa (10-2) for Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. NCAA quarterfinal at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls.

“To come in here and play a team of McNeese’s caliber in their stadium and walk out with a win, that just makes you feel real good, real proud,” Cosgrove said.

In spite of their struggles, the Bears never became consumed by frustration.

“It’s a tribute to us that we hung in there. We stayed patient, just kept plugging away, and we finally got it done,” said Eaton, who directed two third-quarter scoring drives to answer a field goal and a touchdown by the 10th-ranked Cowboys, who finished at 8-4.

“This is a great win for us,” Cosgrove said. “I thought our guys played with a ton of heart.”

The defense withstood tremendous pressure in the last 18 minutes, thwarting three McNeese scoring bids. Even after losing junior free safety Dave Cusano to a knee injury midway through the second quarter, the Bears preserved a tenuous four-point lead.

The Cowboys threatened during the first minute of the fourth quarter, but forced a 42-yard field goal try by Charlie Hebert that he pushed wide to the right.

Arthur Goodly made his second interception of the game in the end zone on the Bears’ next possession, sparking another drive. This time, UMaine pressured McNeese quarterback Slade Nagle, who fell down while dropping back on a fourth-down pass play with 7:35 left.

“They broke one [TD play] in the second half, but toward the end of the game the guys sucked it up and started playing ‘Black Hole’ defense,” linebacker Stephen Cooper said, referring to their self-appointed nickname.

Cooper made 12 unassisted tackles to lead UMaine. Lennard Byrd made eight tackles, while Lofa Tatupu and Jarrod Gomes registered seven hits each.

The hosts had one more shot after UMaine went three-and-out on its ensuing series. Behind the running of tailback Vick King (33 carries, 195 yards), the Pokes moved to the UM 20-yard line.

On 2nd-and-2, Tatupu and Brendan Curry dropped King for a 1-yard loss. On the next play, end Damon Boinske broke through and tackled King for a 3-yard loss.

On fourth down, King’s pass to the left flat bounced off the helmet of UMaine cornerback Devon Goree and Cooper made a diving interception at the 21-yard line.

“Even though some of the things they did were hurting us, it wasn’t killing us,” said UMaine defensive coordinator Rich Nagy. “The kids did an awesome job. They just stuck together and kept playing.”

“We had our chances in the fourth quarter,” said McNeese coach Tommy Tate.” We had two possessions where we drove the ball inside their 30-yard line and had to go for it on fourth down and just couldn’t convert.”

The Bears iced the game behind workhorse tailback Royston English, who bulled his way to 144 yards on 33 attempts. He carried seven times for 39 yards as UMaine ran out the clock.

“He was a load, man,” McNeese safety Joe Judge said of English. “They just kept pounding the ball, taking it up the field.”

UMaine rushed for 196 yards against a McNeese team that had given up an average of 85 yards on the ground.

UMaine’s formidable offensive line stuck together once again, even after starting center Ben Lazarski went down with a knee injury late in the first quarter and was replaced by sophomore John Kmety.

It didn’t faze the quintet of tackles Zack Magliaro and Matt Hammond, guard Pete Richardson of Millinocket, center Mike Leconte of South Portland and Kmety.

“John Kmety’s had some starting experience,” Richardson said. “He did an amazing job coming back in and taking the place of Ben Lazarski.”

The Cowboys were on their heels most of the first half, but got on the scoreboard first. Hebert kicked a 42-yard field goal with 9:42 left in the third quarter, giving the hosts an emotional lift.

UMaine responded immediately as Byrd took the ensuing kickoff up the middle, then cut outside to the left on his way to a 50-yard return that gave the Bears the ball at the MSU 45.

“I’m very proud of our guys,” Byrd said. “When times get tough it seems like we pull closer together and make the big plays when we need to.”

After three straight runs by English, who posted his fifth consecutive 100-yard rushing game, Eaton rolled to his left and threw to tight end Chad Hayes of Old Town, who dove headfirst inside the end zone pylon for a touchdown.

“We were just waiting for that one big play,” said Eaton, who completed only 13 of 37 passes for 175 yards and was picked off twice. “I think when Chad and I hooked up on that touchdown pass that really gave us the confidence that we could [win].”

The lead didn’t last.

Two plays later, King took a back-side toss to the right and raced through the UMaine defense 58 yards for a touchdown.

“It’s as loud as I’ve ever heard a stadium that I’ve played in,” Eaton said of the crowd’s response. “When Vick [King] broke that run the place just erupted. I was like, whoa! That was the first time I really felt it.”

McNeese couldn’t sustain the momentum.

Eaton re-ignited the Bears, scampering 33 yards on a quarterback draw on the second play of the next possession. He then completed a clutch, 12-yard, third-down pass to Hayes, who twisted and lunged for the first down.

English followed with an 18-yard run on a counter play, setting up his 4-yard TD run with 3:20 left in the third quarter. Chris DeVinney’s PAT kick gave UMaine the margin of victory.

“The running backs, the quarterbacks, the linebackers, they get their names in the paper all the time, but those five guys up front today, they were the MVPs, in my opinion,” Eaton said. “They don’t get enough credit.”

The Cowboys’ talented secondary severely tested the Bears’ passing game. Eaton had trouble getting the ball downfield to his receivers, who were closely covered on almost every play.

“There was no guy we could pick on,” Eaton said. “All the guys are big and fast. Coach [Bob] Wilder just kept talking to me, ‘Don’t get frustrated.’ Those balls were six inches from touchdowns, six inches from interceptions.”

Even though Goodly (14 tackles) intercepted Eaton twice in the end zone and long completions were infrequent, UMaine stuck with its game plan of stretching the MSU defense by throwing downfield, which helped loosen things up for the run game.

The Bears netted 371 yards against the Pokes, who ranked No. 3 in the country allowing only 254 total yards per game.

“I think it was good that coach Wilder kept calling it because it keeps those [McNeese] kids on their heels, even though they were making big plays.”

Stefan Gomes had seven receptions for 108 yards for UMaine.

The Bears held the Cowboys in check in the first half, limiting them to 113 total yards.

Black Bears 14, Cowboys 10

Maine (9-2) 0 0 14 0?14

McNeese State (8-4) 0 0 10 0?10

MS ? Hebert 42 field goal

UM ? Hayes 27 pass from Eaton (DeVinney kick)

MS ? King 58 run (Hebert kick)

UM ? English 4 run (DeVinney kick)

Maine McNeese State

First downs 22 14

Rushing att.-yards 10-196 11-250

Passing comp.-att. 13-37 8-17

Passing yards 175 86

Total yards 371 336

Punts-avg. 6-39.2 6-41.3

Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-1

Intercepted by 2 2

Penalties-yards 3-35 5-64

Rushing

Maine: English 33-144, Eaton 5-41, Williams 2-8, Henry 1-3; McNeese State: King 33-195, Lawton 6-51, Martin 2-12, Sams 1-6, Robin 1-5, Nagle 2-(19)

Passing

Maine: Eaton 13-37-2-175; McNeese State: Nagle 8-17-2-86

Receiving

Maine: Gomes 7-108, Hayes 4-49, Minor 2-18; McNeese State: Martin 4-25, King 2-28, Lawton 1-19, Sams 1-14

A? 12,450