ORONO – University of Maine football coach Jack Cosgrove knew his team wouldn’t beat No. 2 James Madison with a conservative game plan.

Thus, the Black Bears threw in a few risky wrinkles during Saturday night’s Colonial Athletic Association contest at Alfond Stadium. The strategy eventually backfired.

UMaine was called for a 15-yard penalty on its second onside kick of the game, setting up a 34-yard scoring drive that catapulted James Madison to a 24-10 victory on Morse Field.

“You have to take shots. You have to take chances,” said a subdued Cosgrove. “I’m hurt that I took a chance in a 10-10 game and it didn’t work out for us.

“I’ve got to live with that, because I turned the game around with a call,” he added.

The Bears (2-3, 0-2 CAA) battled one of the country’s top teams, but succumbed to a potent run game sparked by quarterback Rodney Landers.

The poised senior rushed for 156 yards on 27 carries and halfback Eugene Holloman netted 94 yards on 14 carries as the Dukes (4-1, 2-0 CAA) amassed 319 yards on the ground and 427 yards of total offense.

“Their quarterback was extremely good; very fast, very physical,” said UMaine safety Lamir Whetstone. “If you miss a tackle vs. this guy … he’s going to make a big play.”

UMaine couldn’t muster enough second-half offense to take the pressure off the defense.

With senior tailback Jhamal Fluellen (shoulder) sidelined, UMaine received a boost from rugged back Jared Turcotte. The redshirt freshman from Lewiston provided a spark, netting 82 yards on 11 carries.

“He played real physical. He brought his game to another notch,” said Bears QB Adam Farkes. “He really stepped up. He made a lot of good plays.”

However, the hosts were unable to throw the ball consistently after a good first half. Farkes (16-for-32, 168 yards) was under constant pressure and completed only five passes after intermission. He was intercepted three times overall.

“I don’t think we did a very good job of protecting our quarterback,” Cosgrove said.

UMaine unwittingly handed the momentum back to the Dukes with 13:22 remaining after Derek Session’s 35-yard touchdown burst had helped the hosts forge a 10-10 deadlock.

Having already executed an onside kick in the first half, the Bears attempted another. Jordan Waxman popped the ball up along the left sideline, where a JMU player settled under it.

UMaine’s Norman Smith appeared to tip the ball, then collided with the JMU player. The Bears recovered, sending their bench into a frenzy.

However, the officials huddled and the Bears were called for “interfering with the opportunity to field a free kick,” which resulted in a 15-yard penalty and gave the ball to JMU at the UM 34.

In such a case, it is an interference foul if the kicking team contacts the potential receiver before, or simultaneous to, his first touching the ball.

“They got the call right,” Cosgrove said.

The Dukes needed only three plays to score as Griff Yancey’s 12-yard run gave JMU the lead and the upper hand.

“It looked like it was going to work in their favor, but we got that penalty and it kind of swung the momentum there,” Landers said. “We got it overturned, so we knew we had to go down and punch it in with the great field position.”

The Bears never recovered, failing to convert on an ensuing third-and-one run, and punted.

JMU methodically marched down the field – 85 yards on 11 plays in 6 minutes, 27 seconds – with Yancey’s 30-yard scoring run up the middle all but wrapping up the victory.

The Dukes’ trio of talented backs seemed to bounce off would-be tacklers, each extra yard sapping the Bears’ resolve.

“I thought Rodney Landers played the best game of his career,” said JMU coach Mickey Matthews. “We had Rodney and they didn’t. They couldn’t tackle him.”

Senior end Jovan Belcher led the UMaine defense with 13 tackles, while linebacker Sean Wasson posted 11.

The Bears were without starting strong safety Brandon McLaughlin (undisclosed injury), backup linebacker Levi Ervin (knee) and end Jonas Rousseau, who left the team last week for personal reasons.

End Hassan Abdul-Wahid paced JMU with eight tackles, and was in on 11/2 sacks as the Dukes got to Farkes four times.

Despite failing to cash in on opportunities, the game was tied 3-3 at halftime.

UMaine grabbed a 3-0 lead in the first quarter when Brian Harvey capped a 10-play drive with a 27-yard field goal. The Bears might have led 7-0, but tailback Session (5 catches, 32 yards) dropped what appeared to be a sure TD pass in the end zone three plays earlier.

Waxman followed by executing a “bunt” onside kick that was recovered by Donte Dennis, but the Bears failed to convert as Harvey missed a 40-yard field-goal attempt.

It could have been 10-0 at that point.

UMaine limited the visitors to a 26-yard, second-quarter field goal by Dave Stannard, who missed a 28-yarder on the final play of the half.

UMaine has a bye this week and next plays Oct. 4 at Delaware.

pwarner@bangordailynews.net

990-8240

DUKES 24, BLACK BEARS 10

James Madison (4-1) 0 3 7 14 – 24

Maine (2-3) 3 0 0 7 – 10

UM – Harvey 27 field goal

JMU – Stannard 26 field goal

JMU – Landers 30 run (Stannard kick)

UM – Session 35 run (Harvey kick)

JMU – Yancey 12 run (Stannard kick)

JMU – Yancey 30 run (Stannard kick)

JMU Maine

First downs 24 12

Rushing att.-yards 56-319 23-115

Passing comp.-att. 7-14 16-32

Passing yards 108 168

Total yards 427 283

Punts-avg. 5-39.8 6-41.3

Fumbles-lost 3-2 0-0

Intercepted by 3 0

Penalties-yards 1-15 4-40

Rushing

JMU: Landers 27-156, Holloman 14-94, Yancey 10-58, Long 3-15, Team 2-(minus4); Maine: Turcotte 11-82, Session 4-42, Brusko 2-3, Farkes 6-(minus-12)

Passing

JMU: Landers 7-13-0-108, Team 0-0-0-0; Maine: Farkes 16-23-3-168

Receiving

JMU: Williams 4-63, Holloman 2-40; Maine: Session 5-32, Jones 3-47, Brusko 3-34, Fersner 3-28, Turcotte 2-27

A-3,188