University of Maine Black Bears Claim Fifth Straight Victory

The University of Maine’s football team celebrated a significant triumph on October 28, 2023, by defeating Stony Brook University 28-21 at Alfond Stadium in Orono. This victory marks the Black Bears’ fifth consecutive win, an achievement not seen since the 2018 season, when the team reached the Football Championship Subdivision playoff semifinals for the first time.

With this latest win, UMaine improved its record to 5-4 overall and 4-1 in the Coastal Athletic Association, while Stony Brook falls to 4-5 and 2-3 in the conference. The game unfolded under challenging weather conditions, but the Black Bears managed to secure a commanding lead early in the second half.

UMaine entered halftime with a 14-7 lead, thanks to a strong first quarter where the team scored two touchdowns within a span of 2:22. Graduate student quarterback Carter Peevy initiated the scoring with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Mo Irefin. Following that, Sincere Baines contributed a 24-yard touchdown run after a notable 45-yard rush that set up the score.

The momentum continued in the third quarter, starting with a seven-play, 79-yard drive leading to Peevy’s 1-yard rushing touchdown, marking his sixth rushing touchdown of the season. Notably, a 44-yard pass from Peevy to Aaron Arteaga was a highlight of this drive, with Arteaga recording his third catch of the season.

Shortly after, Stony Brook’s quarterback, Quinn Boyd, faced a setback when he lost the ball to Christian Thomas during a sack, allowing Kye Pressley to recover it at the Seawolves’ 15-yard line. Three plays later, Peevy connected with freshman running back Daniel Batch for a 14-yard touchdown pass, marking Batch’s first career touchdown and extending UMaine’s lead to 28-7.

Despite the significant deficit, Stony Brook fought back. Late in the third quarter, a pass from Peevy was intercepted by A.J. Roberts at UMaine’s 23-yard line. This interception led to an eight-play drive culminating in a touchdown from Roland Dempster, bringing the score to 28-14. Dempster scored again with 40 seconds remaining in the game, finalizing a 15-play, 62-yard drive.

The Seawolves attempted to mount a comeback with a nine-play, 69-yard drive at the end of the first half, where Boyd completed a touchdown pass to Dez Williams with just 13 seconds left, narrowing the gap to 14-7 at halftime.

Peevy showcased his versatility, completing 14 of 25 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns. He also added nine carries for 51 yards, although he faced challenges with two interceptions, including one in the end zone while seeking to expand the lead.

Baines led the rushing game for UMaine with 12 carries totaling 86 yards, while Rashawn Marshall contributed 44 yards on 19 carries and caught three passes for an additional 40 yards. The defensive unit of the Black Bears performed notably, limiting Dempster to just 22 rushing yards on 14 carries, despite his average of 111.3 rushing yards per game prior to this match.

The Black Bear defense was aggressive, sacking Boyd five times and demonstrating their prowess in the trenches. Christian Thomas led the defense with seven tackles, while Vincent Nwachi and Latrell Couchman each contributed six tackles.

For Stony Brook, Boyd completed 33 of 59 passes for 299 yards and one touchdown, with Williams catching nine passes for 129 yards. Linebacker Anthony Ferrelli recorded a game-high 16 tackles, supported by Aidan Kaler with 13 tackles and Chayce Chalmers with 12.

Looking ahead, UMaine will travel to Hampton for a 1 p.m. game next Saturday, while Stony Brook prepares to host North Carolina A&T at noon on the same day. This victory not only boosts UMaine’s playoff aspirations but also highlights the team’s resilience and determination as they continue their strong season.