Defense doesn’t rest for Maine Bears shut out NAIA opponent

loading...

ORONO – Desperately needing a game this season after Youngstown State pulled out, the University of Maine took a chance on playing NAIA member William Penn.

The Black Bears, playing their home football opener as a heavy favorite after paying the Statesmen $40,000 to make the trip to Maine, had everything to lose – but won.

UMaine demonstrated its quick-strike capabilities, scoring three touchdowns during a four-minute span of the second quarter Saturday night during a 28-0 victory in front of 6,642 fans at cool Alfond Stadium.

William Penn, a school of fewer than 1,500 students from Oskaloosa, Iowa, sufficiently challenged the Bears.

“I really give a lot of credit to William Penn,” said UMaine coach Jack Cosgrove. “They really came in here and played probably as good a football game as I thought they were capable of playing.”

Behind a suffocating defensive performance, the Bears (1-1) limited the Statesmen (0-2) to 165 total yards while coming up with two interceptions and two fumbles.

UMaine’s offense, stymied a week earlier by Division I-A Nebraska, showed signs of growth while putting up 388 yards and hitting some long-distance pass plays.

Even so, it was far from the blowout some might have expected.

“You go into a climate like that and you just hope that 1. no one gets hurt, and 2. you just don’t get beat so bad that it demoralizes your team,” said William Penn coach Todd Hafner. “I think if anything we gained confidence out of this, because we played a very good football team tonight and, for at least half of the game, held our own.”

UMaine’s efficient passing attack was paced by quarterback Ron Whitcomb (13-for-20, 200 yards, 2 touchdowns) and tight end Josh Radulski (5 receptions, 68 yards).

Leading 7-0 midway through the second quarter, the Bears broke loose. A 43-yard completion from Whitcomb to Ryan Waller sparked a five-play, 62-yard drive that culminated with a 4-yard scoring toss from Whitcomb to Radulski with 6:26 left in the half.

An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty assessed on the ensuing kickoff and A.J. Littlejohn’s subsequent 58-yard return to the UM 15-yard line provided William Penn’s biggest threat of the evening.

Two plays later, Bears cornerback Daren Stone leaped in the end zone to intercept WPU’s Kentrell Jones (14-for-33, 154 yds.) for the second time in the game.

UMaine capitalized immediately as Chris Legree, part of a quarterback platoon system, threw a long pass down the home sideline to wide receiver Kevin McMahan (4 rec., 87 yds).

McMahan made the catch, but found the sideline blocked by a would-be tackler. He reversed his direction toward the middle, picked up two key blocks, then cut back to the sideline and raced the final 35 yards for the touchdown.

“I was kind of freelancing and got lucky that those guys (Ryan Waller and Ron Waller) had a couple big blocks for me, or else I’d probably be getting in trouble for running backwards,” McMahan smiled.

Bobby Donnelly’s PAT kick made it 21-0 with 5:50 left in the half.

The Bears made another stop and went back to work. Radulski’s diving one-handed catch of a Whitcomb pass for a 20-yard gain ignited a five-play TD drive.

“Ron did a good job getting me the ball,” Radulski said. “I didn’t think I was going to get to that one, to tell you the truth.”

Three plays later, Whitcomb hit Ryan Waller streaking alone down the left side for a 43-yard touchdown hookup that made it 28-0.

The Statesmen penetrated the UM 25 only twice the rest of the way and came up empty. The Bears received strong play from their defensive line, powered by ends Patrick McCrossan (5 tackles) and Matt King (4 tackles, forced fumble, fumble recovery) and tackle Mike Devito (3 tackles, 1 sack).

“We had a hard time all night just adjusting to the strength and the speed of the defensive line,” Hafner said.

UMaine managed only 91 yards and six first downs in the second half. Whitcomb was sacked five times in the contest.

Linebacker Clint Peery posted 11 tackles for WPU and safety Dustin Hodor made nine.

The Bears took 7-0 lead after Jovan Belcher stipped the ball from WPU tailback James Jackson and King recovered at the Statesmen 22.

Teron Allen powered 21 yards on first down, setting up his 2-yard TD run two plays later.

BLACK BEARS 28, STATESMEN 0

William Penn (0-2) 0 0 0 0 – 0

Maine (1-1) 7 21 0 0 – 28

M – Allen 2 run (Donnelly kick)

M – Radulski 4 pass from Whitcomb (Donnelly kick)

M – McMahan 80 pass from Legree (Donnelly kick)

M – Ry. Waller 43 pass from Whitcomb (Donnelly kick)

Wm. Penn Maine

First downs 11 16

Rushing att.-yards 35-11 38-108

Passing comp.-att. 14-33 15-24

Passing yards 154 280

Total yards 165 388

Punts-avg. 9-31.0 5-35.8

Fumbles-lost 4-2 1-1

Intercepted by 0 2

Penalties-yards 6-47 5-60

Rushing

Wm. Penn: Jackson 17-29, Hickson 7-5, Jensen 1-5, Hodor 1-3, Jones 9-(minus 31); Maine: Owens 12-57, Allen 9-37, Pearson 5-31, Legree 4-7, Team 1-(minus-1), Whitcomb 7-(minus-23)

Passing

Wm. Penn: Jones 14-33-2-154; Maine: Whitcomb 13-20-0-200, Legree 2-4-0-80

Receiving

Wm. Penn: Jensen 4-77, Johnson 3-33, Robinson 2-25, Hackett 2-9, Jackson 2-1, Randall 1-9; Maine: Radulski 5-68, McMahan 4-87, Ry. Waller 3-92, Owens 1-23, Gordon 1-10, Allen 1-0

A-6,642