Last season, a soft defense that was particularly susceptible to the pass plagued the University of Maine football team.

So far this year, the defense has been strong for the 2-2 Black Bears, who are coming off Saturday’s 31-7 victory over Albany in Portland.

The unit directed by defensive coordinator Rich Nagy ranks statistically among the best in all of Division I-AA.

UMaine is No. 2 in the nation in pass efficiency defense rating (75.05) and is fourth in total defense (227.5 yards per game) and ninth in scoring defense (14.5 points per game).

With the exception of Division I-A Nebraska, the Bears have played a less-than-grueling schedule thus far. It has included Atlantic 10 member Richmond, I-AA nonscholarship team Albany and NAIA member William Penn.

Even so, the statistics point to a stingy defense.

“That speaks well for our defense, their performance, their attention to detail,” UMaine coach Jack Cosgrove said after the Bears held Albany without a first down in the first half Saturday night. “Our defense showed up big.”

Seniors Jermaine Walker (linebacker), Jarrod Gomes (free safety) and Joan Quezada (strong safety) headline a defense that has given up only 80 yards per game via the run and 147 ypg through the air. Walker has a team-best 35 tackles, while junior cornerback Daren Stone has made five interceptions.

The team has tremendous confidence in the defense and the offense is improving.

“They’re going to be mad if they let people score,” said Bears quarterback Ron Whitcomb. “That’s a great thing to have and something that I was used to coming [to Maine]. The ‘Black Hole’ defense was a bear, and it’s right back to where it was.”

UMaine will be put to the test Saturday when the Bears travel to Harrisonburg, Va., to take on defending national champion James Madison (3-1). The fifth-ranked Dukes lead the A-10 in scoring (47.5 ppg) and are second in total offense with 504 ypg, including an average of 285 rushing yards.

Bears breaking in rookies

UMaine continues to utilize the talents of numerous newcomers.

Among the freshmen who made contributions against Albany are offensive lineman Ryan Canary, who made his first career start at left guard, and classmate Jacob Serdy, who saw considerable action up front.

“We tried to have a couple young guys involved, Canary and Serdy, who we think are going to be excellent football players,” Cosgrove said.

Several other offensive players got into the statistics column for the first time in their careers. Freshman tailback Wellington Talkpa made his initial carries, rushing four times for eight yards.

Meanwhile, five receivers made their first career receptions. They included junior H-back Anthony Cotrone, freshman wide receivers Rodney Salomon and Kenneth Fersner, frosh tailback Jerron Pearson and junior QB Whitcomb.

Whitcomb was credited with a catch after one of his passes was batted into the air by a defender and he tracked it down and caught it for an 8-yard gain.

The Bears’ offense continues to make progress and knows the defense is behind it.

“We’ve definitely established our identity as a team and we’re a real close-knit group and I think we’re headed in the right direction,” Whitcomb said. “Good things are to come, we’ve just got to pick it up on offense. We’ve got a great defense and we’ll win games with that.”