Fired-up Black Bears maul Blue Devils

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PORTLAND – It was a game the University of Maine football team was expected to win and the Black Bears took care of business.

More than nine months after losing to Northern Iowa in the NCAA quarterfinals, 13th-ranked UMaine kicked off a new season Saturday night with a lopsided 52-3 victory against overmatched Central Connecticut.

A crowd of 5,710 watched as coach Jack Cosgrove’s Bears manhandled the Blue Devils on Fitzpatrick Stadium’s artificial FieldTurf. Central Connecticut is a Division I-AA program like UMaine, but it does not offer athletic scholarships.

“They didn’t look by us,” said CCSU coach Paul Schudel. “I knew it would be tough, but you’ve got to start someplace, so they’ll know what big-time football’s like.”

UMaine, which scored on its first four possessions, amassed 484 total yards, including 276 through the air. The Bears’ defense limited the Devils to 132 yards.

“It’s very important, to open the season, to see what kind of energy and excitement we had,” Cosgrove said. “It was nice to see us come out and play the way we did.

“Keeping things in perspective… they’re non-scholarship, we’re scholarship,” Cosgrove said.

Even with his top two receivers benched for disciplinary reasons, senior quarterback Jake Eaton completed 12 of 17 passes and threw for four touchdowns. Juniors Stefan Gomes and Paris Minor were suspended Friday for undisclosed violations of UMaine’s student-athlete conduct code and team rules, Cosgrove said.

Their absence merely opened the door for a handful of younger players to show their stuff. Redshirt freshman Ryan Waller led the wideouts with six catches for 86 yards, including TD receptions of 18 and 9 yards, in his collegiate debut.

“I loved it,” said Waller, whose twin brother Ron is a backup cornerback for UMaine. “I was happy to have the opportunity to go out there and show them what I could do. I had a lot of butterflies, but I guess that’s all part of the game. I just wanted to try my best.”

Wideout Christian Pereira caught four for 74 yards, while tight ends Danny Fusco and Josh Radulski, and H-back Kurt Bulwith, made their first career catches and scored their first college TDs. Freshman WR Kevin McMahan also debuted with two receptions.

“You can’t ask for much more out of them, they were awesome,” Eaton said of the younger guys, who are told they have to be ready to step in at a moment’s notice.

“These guys know Paris and Stef are the main guys,” he added. “Ryan, Christian, Ivi (Nwosu), they play hard every day and they’re very well capable of playing against anybody.”

Bulwith had the night’s most impressive touchdown. He grabbed a long pass from Eaton, bounced off CCSU’s Rob McGuire at the 29-yard line, and ran it in.

The offensive line anchored by guard Pete Richardson and tackle Matt Hammond also opened holes for sophomore tailback Marcus Williams, who netted 104 yards on 14 carries and a score.

“The offensive line did an excellent job tonight,” Williams said. “They were destroying Central Connecticut State’s line and their linebackers, and they were really making it easy for the running backs.”

Williams peeled off a 62-yard run that set up the Bears’ second score, his own 2-yard TD plunge.

UMaine’s defense was equally impressive, affording CentConn only occassional success running the ball. Senior linebacker Stephen Cooper led the way with eight tackles and an interception.

Matt DiBiase of South Portland and Brandon McGowan, first-time starters at strong safety, also were outstanding, along with end Brendan Curry.

“Nothing can compare to your first collegiate start,” DiBiase said. “Obviously being home, I couldn’t have dreamt it any better. I think our defense played exceptionally well and I’m glad I was a part of that.”

Sophomore Mike Mellow handled most of the place-kicking chores, converting all six of his extra-point chances and booting a 36-yard field goal, the first of his career. UMaine punted only once, with 3:29 remaining.

Major Cole rushed for 63 yards to pace the Devils, while McGuire notched nine tackles. Derek Pearson’s 42-yard field goal accounted for CCSU’s only points.

UMaine returns to Orono for Saturday’s 6 p.m. home opener against Atlantic 10 favorite William & Mary.

BLACK BEARS 52, BLUE DEVILS 3

Cent. Conn. St. (0-1) 0 3 0 0? 3

Maine (1-0) 28 7 7 10?52

M ? Waller 18 pass from Eaton (Mellow kick)

M ? Williams 2 run (Mellow kick)

M ? Eaton 2 run (Mellow kick)

M ? Fusco 5 pass from Eaton (Mellow kick)

M ? Rulwith 52 pass from Eaton (Mellow kick)

CC ? Pearson 42 field goal

M ? Radulski 2 pass from Eaton (Mellow kick)

M ? Waller 9 pass from Legree (DeVinney kick)

M ? Mellow 36 field goal

CCSU Maine

First downs 10 19

Rushing att.-yards 42-82 38-208

Passing comp.-att. 5-13 17-23

Passing yards 50 276

Total yards 132 484

Punts-avg. 10-31.3 1-41.0

Fumbles-lost 4-0 4-2

Intercepted by 0 1

Penalties-yards 6-50 7-75

Rushing

CCSU: Cole 17-63, Dunston 14-45, Hunter 3-5, Madison 6-(-13), Dolch 2-(-18); Maine: Williams 14-104, Henry 7-28, Eaton 6-27, Gelsomino 4-25, Momah 5-19, Zyskowski 1-3, Legree 1-2

Passing

CCSU: Madison 4-5-0-31, Dolch 1-8-1-19; Maine: Eaton 12-17-0-222, Legree 5-6-0-54

Receiving

CCSU: Ilic 1-19, Atallah 1-12, Ewart 1-11, Frederick 1-5, Dresko 1-3; Maine: Waller 6-86, Pereira 4-74, Fusco 2-27, McMahan 2-19, Bulwith 1-52, Nwosu 1-16, Radulski 1-2

A? 5,710