Maine pounds Shaw Gordon, Fluellen help lead offense

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ORONO – It was a match made out of desperation – and the outcome demonstrated why both teams were reluctant to get overly excited about it.

The University of Maine rolled up 438 yards of offense while showcasing its veterans and some promising young players Saturday afternoon on its way to a 62-12 shellacking of Division II Shaw University of Raleigh, N.C.

Senior quarterback Ron Whitcomb threw for three touchdowns in the first 19 minutes and the Black Bears produced two 100-yard rushers while winning their home opener in front of 4,468 at rainy Alfond Stadium.

“I don’t like the fact the scoreboard kind of got tilted,” said UMaine coach Jack Cosgrove. “I’m not comfortable in those situations as a coach.”

UMaine (2-1), desperate last summer to schedule an 11th game after a Division I-AA school backed out of a verbal contract, paid Shaw $50,000 to come to Orono and, as it turned out, take its lumps.

“I wanted to know, how did that happen,” good-natured first-year Shaw coach Darrell Asberry said of initially learning UMaine was on his schedule. “I know for a fact I can say this will be my last trip to Maine.”

The Black Bears must quickly switch gears to prepare for Saturday’s 1 p.m. game at I-A power Boston College, which was upset by North Carolina State Saturday and fell out of the AP Top 25 poll.

“I do feel like it will be our biggest challenge so far, as far as the I-A teams we’ve played,” said UMaine senior Arel Gordon, who turned in his third straight 100-yard rushing performance (16 carries, 111 yards, TD). “Our focus is already on them.”

He was complemented by highlight-reel runs from newcomers Jhamal Fluellen and Ryan Callahan and Landis Williams’ clutch receiving ability.

Fluellen, a sophomore transfer from Syracuse, racked up 130 yards on six carries, including scoring jaunts of 53 and 24 yards. Freshman speedster Ryan Callahan netted 83 yards on only four carries, among them a dazzling 35-yard TD scamper.

“I’m very excited for both of them,” Cosgrove said.

Williams, a freshman wide receiver who last week caught his first collegiate pass for a score, made two touchdown receptions in the first half and finished with five catches.

“I feel like the offense is now starting to click a whole lot better,” Williams said.

Whitcomb (9-for-28, 66 yards) struggled against Shaw’s man-to-man coverage, but sandwiched TD passes of 7 and 4 yards around a 21-yard scoring toss to Manzi Pierre to help UMaine take a 21-0 lead with 11:54 left in the second quarter. He was intercepted once.

“That’s what we saw, a lot of hit or miss,” Whitcomb said. “That’s going to happen with that type of defense.”

Another bright spot for the UMaine was walk-on freshman kicker Devin McNeill of Portland. Although he came up short on a 39-yard field-goal attempt late in the first quarter, McNeill bounced back to boot two 22-yard field goals and convert all eight extra-point kicks.

“I challenged him and I was very pleased to see he made all his kicks after that [first one],” Cosgrove said.

UMaine led 24-0 at intermission, then tacked on 38 second-half points while showcasing its superior talent and depth.

The hosts also were effective on kick returns. Lamir Whetstone peeled off an 83-yard TD run in the third quarter and also averaged 13.5 yards on six punt returns. He was named Atlantic 10 Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance.

Defensively, the hosts effectively contained the Bears, who netted only 24 rushing yards on 30 attempts. Jermonty Kimbrough did complete 11 passes for 142 yards, including a 9-yard scoring toss to Damon Harrison in the third quarter.

Seniors Mike DeVito (six tackles, two sacks) and Matt King (four tackles) were among the defensive stalwarts for UMaine, which recovered four fumbles and made two interceptions (Manauris Arias, Sean Wasson).

“Guys stepped up and filled the passing lanes and got to the quarterback, got pressure on him, and got a few sacks and it was kind of shut down after that,” King said.

UMaine was without starting senior safety Daren Stone, who served a one-game suspension for violating the student-athlete code of conduct.

UMaine was penalized 10 times for 94 yards.

Chad Green paced the Shaw defense with nine tackles, including a sack.

BLACK BEARS 62, BEARS 12

Shaw (1-2) 0 0 6 6 – 12

Maine (2-1) 7 17 17 21 – 62

M – L. Williams 7 pass from Whitcomb (McNeill kick)

M – Pierre 21 pass from Whitcomb, (McNeill kick)

M – L. Williams 4 pass from Whitcomb (McNeill kick)

M – McNeill 22 field goal

M – Gordon 25 run (McNeill kick)

S – Harrison 9 pass from Kimbrough (kick blocked)

M – Whetstone 83 kickoff return (McNeill kick)

M – McNeill 22 field goal

M – Fluellen 53 run (McNeill kick)

M – Callahan 35 run (McNeill kick)

M – Fluellen 24 run (McNeill kick)

S – Harrison 64 pass from T. Robinson (pass failed)

Shaw Maine

First downs 13 18

Rushing att.-yards 30-24 42-365

Passing comp.-att. 13-33 10-30

Passing yards 214 73

Total yards 238 438

Punts-avg. 9-34.6 3-35.0

Fumbles-lost 4-4 1-0

Intercepted by 1 2

Penalties-yards 7-47 10-94

Rushing

Shaw: Moody 4-15, Coaxum 3-11, Price 8-10, Ellison 3-3, Williams 2-3, Kimbrough 7-0, Brown 1-(minus-4), K. Robinson (1-(minus-6), T. Robinson 1-(minus-8); Maine: Fluellen 6-130, Gordon 16-111, Callahan 4-83, Brusko 5-21, Cotrone 5-20, Pearson 1-4, Randall 1-3, Whitcomb 4-(minus-7)

Passing

Shaw: Kimbrough 11-27-1-142, T. Robinson 2-6-72-1; Maine: Whitcomb 9-28-66-1, Brusko 1-2-0-7

Receiving

Shaw: Pettway 5-98, Harrison 4-89, K. Robinson 3-16, Ellison 1-11; Maine: L. Williams 5-38, Gordon 2-7, Callahan 2-7, Pierre 1-21

A-4,468