MIAMI – The University of Maine had some fun in the hot Florida sun Saturday afternoon.

The eighth-ranked Black Bears closed out the non-conference portion of their schedule by posting a convincing 33-7 victory over Florida International at FIU Community Stadium.

Coach Jack Cosgrove’s team improves to 7-1 heading into Saturday’s noon homecoming contest against Hofstra at Alfond Stadium in Orono. It was the Bears’ fifth road game in its last six contests.

UMaine limited the Golden Panthers, who are playing their first season of football, to 28 rushing yards and registered eight quarterback sacks. The Bears also came up with two interceptions and forced three fumbles in the win.

“We’re a pressure defense and I think it’s something that we’ve done a nice job of this year,” Cosgrove said.

Linebackers Brandon McGowan (8 tackles) and Rob Kierstead of South Portland (5 tackles, 2 sacks) headed up the defensive effort for UMaine, which afforded FIU 209 total yards. McGowan came up with an interception, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble.

Eight different Bears registered sacks, including Stephen Cooper, who was credited with four tackles before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with a leg injury.

The UMaine offense accumulated 412 yards, led by the running of sophomore tailback Marcus Williams, who netted 156 yards on 22 carries and scored a touchdown.

“Williams is expected to do that,” Cosgrove said. “We’re a team that wants to run the football. We have to get that from him on a week-to-week basis if we’re going to be any good.”

Senior quarterback Jake Eaton turned in a solid performance, completing 18 of 28 passes for 187 yards and two scores. Wideout Ryan Waller had six receptions for 66 yards and fullback John Gelsomino made six catches for 59 yards.

“For the second week in a row we played a ranked team and could not compete with them,” said FIU coach Don Strock, a former longtime quarterback with the Miami Dolphins.

“Defensively, we hung in,” he added. “But if you are not moving the ball on offense, the defense gets worn down.”

The Bears got on the scoreboard with 4:13 left in the first quarter on Mike Mellow’s career-long 41-yard field goal. UMaine scored again seven minutes later when Eaton capped a seven-play, 74-yard march with a 1-yard scoring run, the 18th of his career.

Eaton has run or passed for a TD in 24 consecutive games.

Eaton had hooked up with Waller on a 35-yard completion to key the drive, which featured strong running by Williams.

The Bears made it 17-0 late in the first half, with Williams providing much of the yardage. Eaton found Waller for a 4-yard scoring toss with 4:39 left.

The Bears did encounter some injury problems as Cooper (ankle), defensive end Brendan Curry (knee), tight end Danny Fusco (ankle) and backup cornerback Maurice Garlic (shoulder) all left the contest because of injuries, the severity of which are not yet known.

BLACK BEARS 33, GOLDEN PANTHERS 7

Maine (7-1) 3 14 6 10 ? 33

FIU (3-4) 0 0 0 7 ? 7

UM ? Mellow 41 field goal

UM ? Eaton 1 run (Mellow kick)

UM ? Waller 4 pass from Eaton (Mellow kick)

UM ? Waller 9 pass from Eaton (kick failed)

UM ? Williams 1 run (Mellow kick)

UM ? Mellow 28 field goal

FIU ? Robinson 1 run (Moss kick)

Maine FIU

First downs 24 10

Rushing att.-yards 44-218 31-28

Passing comp.-att. 19-30 13-24

Passing yards 194 181

Total yards 412 209

Punts-avg. 6-27.5 7-33.6

Fumbles-lost 2-1 3-3

Intercepted by 2 0

Penalties-yards 10-93 9-111

Rushing

Maine: Williams 22-156, Eaton 6-25, Henry 8-17, Momah 5-17, Owens 3-3; FIU: Robinson 5-54, Smith 16-38, Lundstedt 1-(-2), Tabor 2-(-6), Burke 7-(-56)

Passing

Maine: Easton 18-28-0-187, Legree 1-2-0-7; FIU: Burke 9-18-2-106, Tabor 4-6-0-75

Receiving

Maine: Waller 6-66, Gelsomino 6-59, Pereira 4-33, McMahan 2-20, Williams 1-16; FIU: McKinney 5-111, Leath 4-59, Smith 2-12, Struyf 1-1, Robinson 1-(-2)

A?5,303