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As advertised, University of Maine quarterback Mike Brusko proved a legitimate run threat Saturday night during the Black Bears’ season-opening 21-14 victory over Monmouth.
The rugged, yet shifty, sophomore debuted by rushing for 109 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
Coupled with junior tailback Jhamal Fluellen (25 carries, 125 yds., TD), UMaine demonstrated a steady ground game while netting 278 yards via the run.
However, with Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) and former conference foe Connecticut on the schedule Saturday, Brusko and the offense know they must demonstrate the ability to throw the ball effectively.
“We relied a lot on the running game [Saturday night] and I don’t want to be responsible for us having to do that,” Brusko said, “so I’m going to continue to work hard and I have no doubt that we’ll be able to put together a little more of a passing attack as the season goes on.”
Bears offensive coordinator Kevin Bourgoin kept the pass scheme relatively simple in the opener. Brusko responded by completing of 11 of 19 passes for only 64 yards and was intercepted once.
UMaine went heavy on screen passes and shovel passes between the tackles and only threw the ball down the field a couple of times.
“Mike’s very poised,” said UMaine head coach Jack Cosgrove. “He ran the ball for over 100 yards, but we’ve got to do a better job throwing if we’re going to be a complete offense.”
Brusko has been working hard to learn the intricacies of the offense and develop good timing and rhythm while playing regularly for the first time since 2004 – his senior season in high school.
He is well aware everything wasn’t going to come together in the first game of the season.
“I know personally I have a little bit of a way to go,” Brusko said. “I missed a couple opportunities, especially in the pass game, that I felt like I definitely could have made some plays that I didn’t, but again it’s just going to come with time.”
While Brusko is confident he and the offense will continue to improve, Cosgrove pointed out the need to develop a passing attack and achieve offensive balance.
“I think the thing we made easy for [Monmouth] was to stack up on the line of scrimmage and play eight-, nine-man fronts and that’s awful hard to run against, yet we still had some success running the ball,” Cosgrove said.
Folz shows versatility
Jake Folz showed his value to the offensive line during Saturday night’s victory at Alfond Stadium.
The 6-foot3, 274-pound senior from West Paris, a former Oxford Hills High standout, started at left guard for UMaine. When right tackle Chris Parcells went down with a left foot or ankle injury late in the fourth quarter, Folz took over his spot.
“Luckily, that was one [position] that I got a few starts at last season, so it was pretty easy to transition over there,” Folz said. “It was definitely nice to be familiar with the person you’re working with, he said of right guard Chris Arnao.
Junior Jake Serdy stepped in and filled Folz’s left guard position.
“Jake Folz I know had to switch positions and he did a great job transitioning and we didn’t miss a beat,” Brusko said.
Parcells also handles long-snapping duties on punts, PATs and field goals.
Calderon suffers injury
The Bears’ defense suffered a key loss Saturday when starting free safety Jonathan Calderon went down with an injury.
Calderon was hurt on the first defensive series of the contest and appeared to suffer a laceration to a finger on his left hand. He did not return to action.
Redshirt freshman Levi Ervin of Lisbon Falls and sophomore strong safety Brandon McLaughlin both helped fill the void.
Calderon and Parcells will be evaluated this week to determine their status for the UConn game.
DeVito makes Cosgrove proud
Cosgrove tries to keep in touch with former UMaine players, especially those who are battling to earn spots on NFL rosters.
After Saturday night’s win, he excitedly recounted his afternoon telephone conversation with former Bears defensive tackle Mike DeVito.
“I go, ‘tell me the good news,'” Cosgrove said of a Saturday afternoon cell phone call from DeVito. “He goes, ‘Coach, I just walked out of his [Jets coach Eric Mangini] office. I made the team.'”
Cosgrove was overcome with joy.
“My whole body started shaking,” Cosgrove admitted. “I’ve never felt so good for somebody.”
Cosgrove said UMaine had offered DeVito $1,000 in scholarship money coming out of high school. He became one of the most feared defensive linemen in the former Atlantic 10 conference.
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