ORONO – The University of Maine football team was in a delicate position for Saturday’s Atlantic 10 game against Delaware.

The Black Bears, who might have become demoralized after three straight losses, proved they aren’t ready to give up on the rest of their season.

UMaine let a 13-point lead slip away but caused two fourth-quarter fumbles and cashed in on both while earning a 25-15 victory in front of 4,060 fans at Alfond Stadium.

Coach Jack Cosgrove’s Bears improved to 3-5 overall, 1-4 in league play, with an inspired performance.

“We said, ‘we’re tired of this, we’re tired of losing,'” said senior tailback and Delaware native Montell Owens, who rushed for a team-high 92 yards and two touchdowns.

“When you’re in an adverse situation like this, you’re going to do whatever it takes; you’re going to impose your will on somebody else and that’s pretty much what we did as a team,” he added.

Despite letting Delaware (4-4, 1-4 A-10) control the football and the clock with a methodical ground game, the Bears responded with the game on the line.

Tailback Danny Jones sparked the Blue Hens, coming off the bench to run for 108 second-half yards. Delaware moved 68 yards to the UMaine 12 with a chance to snap a 13-13 tie.

On first down, Jones ran up the middle and was hit hard by tackle Bruno Dorismond, sustaining a separated shoulder on the play that caused him to fumble. Joan Quezada recovered at the UM-13 with 6:28 left.

“It’s a shame because the kid was playing really well and we were about to go take the lead,” said Delaware coach K.C. Keeler. “We had pretty good control of the game at that time.”

The Bears didn’t waste the chance to regain the momentum. Arel Gordon peeled off two 15-yard runs to ignite a 10-play, 87-yard march.

Ron Whitcomb’s 6-yard slant pass to Kevin McMahan in the end zone gave UMaine a 19-13 lead, although freshman Matt Voliva’s second missed PAT of the day left the door open for Delaware with 3:28 left.

“They kept us guessing,” said Delaware’s Rashaad Woodard. “They kept us on our heels the whole drive with the pass and the run.”

The Bears’ defense responded on the Hens’ next play when end Pat McCrossan sacked Delaware QB Sonny Riccio and stripped the ball away. Dorismond, a 281-pounder, scooped it up and lumbered 29 yards before being cut down at the 1-yard line by Aaron Love.

“[I knew] I’d probably never get that shot again, so I tried to run as fast as I could to the end zone,” Dorismond said. “I got caught.”

Two plays later, Owens strode in from one yard out to give UMaine a 25-13 lead with 2:46 remaining.

Delaware threatened, but was stopped on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line. The Bears then conceded two points by sailing a punt snap out of the end zone for a safety, but the victory was secure.

The UMaine defense was on the field for an incredible 28 minutes, 30 seconds over the final 40:04 of the contest. It gave up only 13 points, making two stands inside its own 12-yard line to force field goals.

Senior linebacker Jermaine Walker was superb, making a game-high 17 tackles. John Wormuth added nine and Quezada eight for a unit that lost starting cornerback Daren Stone to an injury in the second quarter.

“The defense came out and we just did our job,” Walker said. “We stayed mistake-free and turnovers just happened. We are a good defense.”

The offense, which was impressive while scoring twice in the first quarter, was stymied on its first four second-half possessions. It was able to execute after the first fumble.

“Really, the running game got that drive going, got things moving,” said Whitcomb, who passed for 134 yards and two TDs and rushed for 53 yards on 11 attempts. “I think we just needed to break out of the pattern of going three-and-out,” he said.

The Bears didn’t have any turnovers.

UMaine scored on the first play of its second series when Whitcomb found McMahan (4 catches, 70 yards) open down the left side for a 47-yard scoring pass.

Voliva’s kick hit the right upright.

UMaine scored again on its next possession, driving 80 yards on 14 plays behind Owens’ determined running. His 1-yard dive made it 13-0 at the 11:36 mark.

BLACK BEARS 25, BLUE HENS 15

Delaware (4-4) 0 7 3 5 – 15

Maine (3-5) 6 7 0 12 – 25

M – McMahan 47 pass from Whitcomb (kick failed)

M – Owens 1 run (Voliva kick)

D – Cuff 1 run (Hobby kick)

D – Hobby 25 field goal

D – Hobby 29 field goal

M – McMahan 6 pass from Whitcomb (kick failed)

M – Owens 1 run (rush failed)

D – Safety, punt snap out of end zone

Delaware Maine

First downs 20 18

Rushing att.-yards 51-184 42-188

Passing comp.-att. 15-23 11-21

Passing yards 158 134

Total yards 342 322

Punts-avg. 4-37.0 5-38.6

Fumbles-lost 2-2 0-0

Intercepted by 0 0

Penalties-yards 4-40 12-79

Rushing

Delaware: Jones 19-108, Cuff 18-33, Michaud 2-29, Riccio 12-14; Maine: Owens 25-92, Whitcomb 11-53, Gordon 5-46, Team 1-(minus 3)

Passing

Delaware: Riccio 15-23-0-158; Maine: Whitcomb 11-21-0-134

Receiving

Delaware: Love 8-78, LaForgia 3-60, Cuff 2-9, Neydt 1-6, Michaud 1-5; Maine: McMahan 4-70, Gordon 4-33, Ry. Waller 1-18, Fersner 1-8, Salomon 1-5

A-4,060