The University of Maine football team gave No. 1 University of New Hampshire everything they could handle Saturday afternoon, but fell 20-12. The Black Bears finish out their season at 5-6 and 4-4 in Colonial Athletic Conference play, while the Wildcats finish atop the CAA with a 10-1 overall record and a perfect 8-0 mark in conference.
The UMaine defense forced six UNH turnovers in three fumbles and three interceptions, constantly bailing out a Black Bears offense that couldn’t get any momentum going. UMaine first-year quarterback Drew Belcher dealt with a struggling offensive line, going 11-25 for just 92 yards, an interception and a rushing touchdown.
The UMaine offense was inefficient, gaining just 11 first downs and 179 total yards of offense.
On the other side of the ball, third-year quarterback Sean Goldrich threw for 169 yards and a score while rushing for 26 yards and a touchdown and tossing three picks.
The Black Bears got on the board first when third-year linebacker Giovanni Goncalves picked off a poor throw from Goldrich on the first offensive play for the Wildcats, giving the Black Bears field position at their own 41 yard line.
First-year tailbacks Jerickson Fedrick and Nigel Beckford led the Black Bears down the field, resulting in a 31-yard from third-year kicker Sean Decloux for an early 3-0 UMaine advantage. Fedrick led the UMaine offense with 42 rushing yards on six carries.
Special teams, a huge strength in the UMaine upset of Richmond University two weeks ago, came up big on the ensuing kickoff when first-year Benjamin Davis forced a fumble that was recovered by fourth-year Khari Al-Mateen, keeping the high-powered UNH offense off of the field.
The Black Bears were unable to convert on the turnover, missing the 45-yard field goal.
The Wildcats took the lead on their first drive of the second quarter, marching 53 yards for a 5-yard touchdown run from fourth-year running back Nico Steriti. The two-point conversion failed, giving UNH a 6-3 lead.
UMaine didn’t give themselves a chance to responded, as fourth-year wide receiver Damarr Aultman fumbled on an end-around that was picked up by UNH on the first play of their drive. Aultman struggled, failing to record a catch and later in the quarter watching a long pass that would have been a sure touchdown fall through his hands.
UNH had a chance to score on their next possession, earning first-and-10 and the UMaine 3-yard line. Goldrich passed for no gain and an incompletion before getting it to the UMaine 1-yard line. On fourth down, Steriti rushed it up the middle but was stopped as the UMaine “Black Hole” defense held.
Goldrich showed his playmaking ability with 7:05 left when he hit fourth-year Jimmy Giansante for a 41-yard run and catch for a touchdown. They converted the two-point conversion for a 11-point lead.
The Wildcats threatened again at the end of the half but Goldrich was intercepted by third-year linebacker Cabrinni Goncalves at the UMaine two-yard line to send UNH into the half with a 14-3 advantage.
Neither offense could gain much momentum in the third quarter. Decloux connected on a 28-yarder before Goldrich led the Wildcats on a methodical 5-minute, 88-yard drive that he capped off himself with a 1-yard rush. The extra point missed, keeping the Black Bears at arm’s length through three quarters.
The Black Bears would not go down without a fight. Belcher led them on a 56-yard drive that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run that brought the score back to a 20-12 UNH lead.
The UNH defense stepped up late, when fourth-year safety Nick Cefalo picked off Belcher on the final drive of the game to ensure the 20-12 victory for the Wildcats.