BOONE, N.C. – The University of Maine football team has reached a point where it is unflappable in the face of almost any adversity, physical or emotional.

The Black Bears demonstrated their resilience again Saturday with their season on the line.

UMaine bounced back from a 10-point, second-half deficit, scoring twice in the last 161/2 minutes while knocking off Appalachian State University 14-13 in an NCAA Division I-AA first-round game played in front of a Maine-shoulda-hosted crowd of 4,311 at windy Kidd Brewer Stadium.

Coach Jack Cosgrove’s fifth-ranked Bears (11-2) travel to Statesboro, Ga., for next Saturday’s second-round contest against No. 2 Georgia Southern. The last time the two schools met was in 1987 when Georgia Southern defeated Maine in a first-round playoff game 31-28 in overtime. Georgia Southern is 28-1 in postseason play at home.

“Our team continues to persevere in a game that requires it if you want to be a champion,” Cosgrove said. “We found another way to win.”

It was only the second playoff victory for the UMaine football program, which won its first playoff game last season.

Senior linebacker Stephen Cooper spearheaded UMaine’s stingy defense, which was without starting strong safety Brandon McGowan (who was out with a knee injury), making 13 tackles, including two key sacks.

Cornerback Jarrod Gomes (11 tackles) was superb, while safety Dave Cusano made nine tackles.

“This team is all about character, perseverance,” said Cusano, who lauded the play of the defensive line. “Heart and desire, that pretty much sums it up.”

The offense, directed by third-string quarterback Jon Meczywor, wore down the Mountaineers behind its formidable offensive line. That group paved the way for sophomore tailback Marcus Williams to pound his way to 157 yards on 29 carries.

“I was just reading blocks,” said a modest Williams, who turned in a game-tying 41-yard touchdown run with 9:41 to play.

“Just like last week, ‘Mez’ is still relatively inexperienced and we don’t want to put too much pressure on him,” Williams said.

Meczywor, making his second straight start in place of the injured Jake Eaton and Chris Legree, was a run threat (12 carries, 38 yards) and was efficient with his throws, completing 7 of 15 for 86 yards and one huge TD.

“I think I was more comfortable,” Meczywor said. “Today the game felt more like the second half of the UNH game from start to finish.”

UMaine bounced back after Appalachian State (8-4) had scored 10 unanswered points in the third quarter. Joan Quezada provided the spark for the comeback when the freshman strong safety made a leaping interception of a Joe Burchette pass at the ASU 33-yard line with 2:37 left in the third.

“I was just trying to get it and secure the ball, get a turnover and give the ball to our offense so they could score,” Quezada said. “We never quit.”

UMaine responded with two clutch throws by Meczywor, after a first-down holding penalty moved the ball back to the 43.

Meczywor hit Christian Pereira on a 16-yard curl route, then fired a 27-yard scoring strike to Ryan Waller, who made a superb catch in the back lefthand corner of the end zone on an out-and-up pattern.

“When he had to step up and make a big throw, he made it,” said UMaine offensive coordinator Bobby Wilder. “He put the ball where it had to be.”

ASU countered, using a 40-yard scamper by Sean Jackson to set up Jeff Wright’s 47-yard field goal that made it 13-7 just 13 seconds into the fourth quarter.

UMaine rallied with a nine-play, 80-yard march. Meczywor’s tough run on a 23-yard keeper was a key play, as was a 13-yard, third-down completion to Pereira.

On first-and-10 from the ASU 26, Waller was called for offensive pass interference in the end zone, moving the ball back to the 41. On the next play, Williams shot through the middle, slipped a tackle, cut outside to the left past another defender, and raced into the end zone.

Mike Mellow’s PAT gave UMaine the lead for good.

“Marcus isn’t a great speed guy, but he was able to make the cut and get it in the zone for us,” Cosgrove said.

ASU got the ball on the ensuing kickoff – for the last time. The hosts, who hurt the Bears in the second half with their toss play, converted one fourth down and got to the UMaine 36. However, Cooper dropped Burchette for a 3-yard loss on a third-down play and forced ASU to punt.

The Mountaineers nearly pinned the Bears deep, but the high punt slipped through the hands of coverage man Andrew Layton and went into the end zone for a touchback.

UMaine allowed the front line and Williams to do the rest. The Bears converted two third downs and got a first down via a face-mask penalty before running out the clock.

“They were huge,” Meczywor said of the third-down plays. “Every first down was taking us closer to a win, going to next week.”

ASU scored on its first two possessions of the second half. Jerry Beard’s 56-yard run set up Burchette’s 1-yard scoring plunge on the opening series. The hosts then drove 61 yards before settling for a 19-yard Wright field goal that made it 10-0.

“Ten points is not that many in football,” Meczywor said. “You don’t want to be down, but we still felt good about the situation.”

UMaine failed to convert an excellent scoring chance in the first quarter when Mellow’s 20-yard field goal try was blocked by Josh Jeffries. That came one play after a bootleg pass to Danny Fusco was broken up in the end zone.

Later, ASU moved the ball to the UMaine 23, but Beard was stopped short by Brendan Curry and Mark Stetson on a fourth-and-1 play.

The Mountaineers threatened again late in the half, but Cooper’s sack of Burchette at the UM-34 thwarted the drive.