By Andrew Stefanilo
The University of Maine football team is 3-0 for the first time since 2002 following their 35-22 win against Bryant University on Saturday.
Senior quarterback Marcus Wasilewski led the Black Bears with four touchdown passes and a touchdown run. He added 67 rushing yards to go along with 263 through the air. The senior spread the ball around effectively on Saturday, with all four touchdown passes going to different receivers.
“I think that’s the loudest kickoff since I’ve been here so far,” Wasilewski said of the home crowd. “It was really good to see the support that we have.”
The Bulldogs outplayed UMaine for most of the first half with a solid rushing attack. Bryant used its three running backs to pound the ball on the ground and wear out the Black Bear defense.
“I think they, in a lot of ways, are the best team we’ve played so far,” UMaine head coach Jack Cosgrove said.
Sophomore running back Paul Canevari lead Bryant with 18 rushes for 101 yards and two touchdowns.
Wasilewski put the Black Bears on the board first with a 3-yard quarterback draw play to cap off their opening drive after Bryant missed a field goal the previous possession.
The Bulldogs answered on their next drive with a solid balance of running and passing. Junior running back Ricardo McCray and Canevari provided some tough yards on the ground.
After UMaine forced two incompletions in a row, Bryant snuck a draw play to Canevari on third down for the 7-yard touchdown to tie it up at seven.
After stopping UMaine on the ensuing drive, Bryant scored again on a 42-yard run by Canevari on just his second touch of the afternoon. A costly Black Bear penalty gave Bryant 15 yards to help set up the score.
After both teams forced each other to punt, UMaine started another drive from their own 14 yard line. UMaine went three and out after a run for no gain, a sack and a screen pass. This forced them to punt again from deep inside their own territory.
Bryant continued their trend of blocking punts from the week before, this time for a safety that put them up 16-7.
“I think it’s five blocked kicks but I’m not a big stats guy,” Bryant head coach Marty Fine said. “There’s only one statistic that matters and we have a lot of work to do.”
The Bulldogs had an opportunity to open up the game when sophomore wide receiver Jose Depadua beat the UMaine secondary deep but dropped the pass from senior quarterback Mike Westerhaus.
After some back-and-forth play and a turnover-on-downs by Bryant, UMaine got back on the board when Wasilewski hit junior wide receiver Damarr Aultman for a 51-yard touchdown pass with 3:11 remaining in the first half.
On Bryant’s next drive, Westerhaus was hit as he threw back across the field and UMaine senior linebacker Troy Eastman intercepted the ball, setting the Black Bears up with excellent field position on the Bulldog 28 yard line.
“They did a roll out away and the whole week our defensive coordinator was just telling me to be aware of anything coming backside,” Eastman said. “So I just stayed home and the pressure made him throw the pass and he didn’t see me.”
On a 3rd and 8, Wasilewski hit senior wide receiver Derrick Johnson for a 16-yard touchdown pass to put UMaine up 21-16 right before the half.
UMaine got the ball to start the second half and immediately began establishing the run. Senior running back Ricky Stevens had two rushes for first downs on the first drive before Bryant forced another punt.
After stopping Bryant’s next drive, Wasilewski scrambled for a long run into red zone territory. On the next play, he hit senior tight end Justin Perillo on a fade route for the touchdown to put UMaine up 28-16.
The Bulldogs’ next drive resulted in a missed field goal from 47 yards out. When UMaine took over, Stevens ran the ball for 20 yards to start the drive off. Sophomore running back Nigel Jones also took a carry for over 20 yards later in the drive. On third and goal, Wasilewski hit freshman wide receiver Jordan Dunn with no time remaining in the third quarter for the 9-yard touchdown pass.
“I think their players are just a little bit bigger, just a little bit stronger and a little bit faster,” Fine said.
With under two minutes remaining, Westerhaus threw a 58-yard pass to senior wide receiver Jordan Harris for the touchdown. They failed on the ensuing two-point conversion, however, allowing UMaine to run out the clock and hold on for the 35-22 victory.
“It doesn’t feel a lot like last week that’s for sure, but it’s a win. Each and every week that’s what we’re in the business for,” Cosgrove said.
The Black Bears travel to Illinois to play Big Ten foe Northwestern University. UMaine’s second Football Bowl Subdivision matchup this season kicks off Sept. 21 at 3:30 p.m.