UMaine football disappointed with 5-6 mark MSU victory, Williams mark are highlights

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ORONO – The 2004 University of Maine football team will forever be able to lay claim to one of the great accomplishments in the program’s history.

The Black Bears’ 9-7 victory at Southeastern Conference member and Division I-A Mississippi State on Sept. 18 was an historic occasion.

Among UMaine’s talented individuals, Marcus Williams ran into the record books. The senior tailback from Amherst, Mass., surpassed 1,000 yards (1,090) for the third straight season, in the process becoming the school’s all-time rushing leader with 3,940 yards.

Unfortunately, coach Jack Cosgrove’s UMaine team didn’t achieve enough consistency to reach its ultimate goal, which was to return to its NCAA playoff form of 2001 and 2002.

The Bears went 5-6 overall, their first losing season since 2000, and finished 3-5 in the Atlantic 10. UMaine fell well short of its goals.

“This is a year that had higher expectations,” Cosgrove said. “The achievement that we’re at today is not where we thought.”

UMaine’s six losses came by a total of 42 points (7 points per game). Four of those setbacks were by seven points or less.

“In the conference that we play in, the competition that we’re up against, the margin for error is so, so minute,” Cosgrove said. “We found that out all year long.”

The Bears had legitimate opportunities to win every game.

UMaine’s most glaring weakness was its defense. The Virginia Tech-style scheme implemented by defensive coordinator Rich Nagy has been among the stingiest in the Atlantic 10 in recent years.

This fall, the Bears allowed 403.7 yards per game, worst in the league, and gave up 29.2 points per contest. In 2003, they had surrendered only 308.5 yards and 19.8 points per game.

UMaine gave up 24 points or more nine times.

Opponents were successful passing, rolling up 243.7 ypg. The secondary, paced by Brandon McGowan (101 tackles, 3 interceptions) and Daren Stone (77 tackles, 4 INTs), was susceptible to big plays.

The Bears lacked depth at cornerback, where seniors Devon Goree (67 tackles) and John Baumgartner and sophomore Manauris Arias struggled, especially with Clinton Brown suspended after five games for disciplinary reasons.

“The secondary sometimes gets the blame, but pass defense is team defense,” Cosgrove said. “We have not been able to generate a lot of pressure on the quarterback like we have in the past. Therefore, the secondary has been challenged.”

The front four was led by senior Pat Pa’u, who missed the last three games with a broken left arm, and Mike DeVito, along with Marcus Walton, Matthew King, and Patrick McCrossan. UMaine managed only 16 quarterback sacks as compared to 28 a year ago.

Junior linebacker Jermaine Walker had another outstanding season (98 tackles) and senior LB Agean Robinson (75) was solid along with Joan Quezada and Anthony Hicks.

UMaine’s aim is to shut down the run, force teams to pass, then go after the quarterback with blitzing and stunts.

“We weren’t able to do that this year, there’s no question,” Cosgrove said. “We weren’t as skilled or as talented up front or maybe in the secondary, but that philosophy’s going to remain intact.”

The Bears should return a strong nucleus led by Walker and Hicks at linebacker, Stone and Quezada at safety spots, and some improving linemen led by DeVito, King, and McCrossan. Their challenge is to develop or recruit better cornerbacks and develop more depth and talent in the line.

Offensively, the Bears were forced to cope early with unproven players at tight end and fullback. With a strong line, Williams at tailback, a proven quarterback in Ron Whitcomb, and a talented corps of receivers, they held their own.

UMaine’s 29.2 ppg ranked sixth in the A-10, but a lack of consistency and the inability to make big plays were factors that left offensive coordinator Bobby Wilder’s Bears ranked 10th in total offense (352 ypg).

Whitcomb passed for 2,318 yards and 22 touchdowns on 61 percent accuracy but often didn’t seem to exude confidence in the way he played. He was intercepted 13 times.

“Players like myself have to make big plays in big times or this team’s never going to be successful and that’s basically the story of our season,” he said. “We’ve been right there in a lot of games, but we never went to the next level.”

UMaine’s big playmaker was senior wideout Christian Pereira (58 catches, 818 yards, 10 TDs). Josh Radulski (29 rec., 271 yds., 5 TDs) was outstanding at tight end, while wideouts Ryan Waller and Arel Gordon had productive seasons.

The Bears will need somebody, perhaps injury-prone wide receiver Kevin McMahan or the speedy Gordon, to become the go-to receiver.

Up front, UMaine loses proven performers in guard Mike Leconte of South Portland and tackle Mark Lehner, but center Ben Lazarski, guard Evign Dodge of Berwick, and tackle Ryan Bird will form a veteran core group.

Junior Montell Owens and freshman Keien Williams are left to continue Marcus Williams’ legacy, while fullbacks Ken Henry and Dzigbodi Ababio will have more experience under their belts.

The kicking game, which was a strength much of the season, broke down late. Mike Mellow handled all the kicking, averaging a league-best 43.1 yards on his punts. However, he went only 3-for-7 on field goals and 36-for-42 on PATs, having several blocked.

Rocco Navarro of Portland is the leading candidate to take over the kicking chores.

Gordon emerged as a game-breaking threat on kickoff returns (26.5-yard average) and scored three TDs, including a punt return for a score.

“We’ve just got to try to address all of those type of things and continue to build our players and build the young men in the program to improve,” Cosgrove said in summation.