NEWARK, Del. – It could have been one of the most memorable victories in University of Maine football history.

Instead, it may be remembered as one of the most gut-wrenching losses in the program’s 112 seasons.

Brad Shushman kicked a 36-yard field goal in overtime Saturday as second-ranked Delaware rallied from a three-touchdown deficit to earn a 24-21 Atlantic 10 victory over UMaine at Delaware Stadium.

Coach Jack Cosgrove’s Black Bears (5-4 overall, 4-3 A-10) built a 21-0 first-half lead, but had two touchdowns called back by penalties in the second half and could not hold off the resilient Blue Hens (9-0, 6-0 A-10).

“This is as tough a loss as I’ve experienced as a coach at Maine,” said UMaine’s 11th-year head coach. “We asked this team to play a playoff game today and they played their fannies off. Our guys played with a lot of toughness and pride.”

With four losses, UMaine is likely out of the postseason picture after sharing back-to-back Atlantic 10 titles and making consecutive trips to the NCAA Div. 1-AA national quarterfinals.

UMaine came out clicking on all cylinders. The offense mixed the run and pass while manufacturing three first-half scoring drives.

The Bears scored on their first possession, moving 33 yards on seven plays. Conference rushing leader Marcus Williams (26 carries, 111 yards) scored from a yard out and Mike Mellow’s kick made it 7-0.

John Baumgartner’s interception led to UMaine’s next TD. The visitors moved 71 yards on six plays, sparked by a 40-yard pass from quarterback Ron Whitcomb (21 of 34, 246 yards, 1 TD) to wide receiver Ryan Waller (9 catches, 107 yds.).

Whitcomb later fired an 11-yard scoring pass to Christian Pereira to make it 14-0 with 2:17 left in the first quarter.

The Bears responded again after the second of two missed field goals by Shushman. UMaine marched 70 yards on 11 plays, highlighted by a 23-yard pass completion from Mike Mellow to Brandon McGowan on a fake punt.

Williams’ 1-yard plunge with 6:46 to play in the first half put the Bears ahead 21-0.

UMaine appeared to have taken a four-TD lead on its first possession of the second half. The Bears drove to the Delaware 11 and Whitcomb found Dante Fusco on an apparent TD pass, but it was negated by a holding penalty.

The ensuing 38-yard field-goal try by Mellow was blocked by Chris Mooney.

Later UMaine made a defensive stand at its own 10-yard line. However, Whitcomb fumbled and the Hens took advantage of the Bears’ only turnover.

Three plays later, QB Andy Hall (11 of 21, 166 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs) ran it in from 2 yards out to put the hosts on the board with 12 seconds left in the third quarter.

It was the beginning of the end for the Bears’ upset hopes.

The Hens stopped the Bears on the first series of the fourth quarter, setting up an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown by cornerback Sidney Haugabrook with 13:21 remaining.

Again, UMaine put itself in a position to extend its lead. The Bears marched 61 yards on 12 plays to the Hens’ 19-yard line. This time, Mellow’s 36-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide right.

Delaware threatened to tie it on its next two possessions, but Mike DeVito intercepted Hall at the UMaine 10 to end one drive.

The next was even more dramatic.

On fourth-and-7 from the UM 19 with less than four minutes to play, Joan Quezada picked off a Hall pass at the 3 and returned it 97 yards for an apparent game-clinching score.

Instead, the Bears were whistled for roughing-the-passer. Quezada then forced Germaine Bennett (18 carries, 96 yards) to fumble at the 1-yard line, ending that threat.

The Hens got the ball back with 1:41 left after a 15-yard punt return by Haugabrook. On the next play, Hall found a wide-open David Boler for a 39-yard TD to make it 21-21.

The game went to overtime, where UMaine had the ball first. Mellow tried a 35-yard field goal, but Mooney came up with his second block of the game.

The Hens ran three plays to set up Shushman’s game-winner, which cleared the crossbar just inside the right upright.

Jermaine Walker led the UMaine defense with 13 tackles and McGowan registered 12.

BLUE HENS 24, BLACK BEARS 21 (OT)

Maine (5-4) 14 7 0 0 0 ? 21

Delaware (9-0) 0 0 7 14 3 ? 24

M ? Williams 1 run (Mellow kick)

M ? Pereira 11 pass from Whitcomb (Mellow kick)

M ?Williams 1 run (Mellow kick)

D ? Hall 2 run (Shushman kick)

D ? Haugabrook 80 punt return (Shushman kick)

D ? Boler 39 pass from Hall (Shushman kick)

D ? Shusman 36 field goal

Maine Delaware

First downs 23 18

Rushing att.-yards 41-97 43-118

Passing comp.-att. 22-35 11-21

Passing yards 269 166

Total yards 366 284

Punts-avg. 6-38.2 3-41.0

Fumbles-lost 2-1 2-1

Intercepted by 2 0

Penalties-yards 9-72 5-38

Rushing

Maine: Williams 26-111, Zyskowski 1-0, Team 1-(-2), Whitcomb 13-(-12); Delaware: Bennett 18-96, Jenkins 11-35, Team 1-(-2), Hall 13-(-11)

Passing

Maine: Whitcomb 21-34-0-246, Mellow 1-1-0-23; Delaware: Hall 11-21-2-166

Receiving

Maine: Ry. Waller 9-107, McMahan 5-64, Pereira 3-44, Fusco 2-20, Nwosu 2-11, McGowan 1-23; Delaware: Boler 4-56, Long 3-50, Bleymaier 1-45, Bleiler 1-6, Lavelle 1-5, Crescione 1-4

A?22,057