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Football: Farkes, Black Bears look to continue magic

Squad goes for second straight win in home opener against Stony Brook

By Adam Clark

Posted on Thursday, September 11th, 2008, 12:00 am

Sean Collins

The Black Bear football squad takes the field in a home game last season.

Following a lopsided defeat at Iowa to open the season, the University of Maine football team was in danger of falling to 0-2 last Saturday when they visited Monmouth.

Trailing late in the fourth quarter, the Black Bears were faced with fourth-and-21 at the Hawks’ 23-yard line with the game on the line.

Quarterback Adam Farkes’ desperation throw to the end zone was deflected off a UMaine player and into the hands of tight end Derrick Buttles for the game-winning touchdown.

“Some say it was luck, some say it was execution,” said junior cornerback Dominic Cusano. “It was just good to come back from a loss with a win.”

The Black Bears look to continue their luck and ride the momentum into Saturday’s 6 p.m. home opener against Stony Brook at Alfond Stadium. This will be the first game since a new state-of-the-art FieldTurf surface was installed during the summer.

UMaine (1-1) dropped a 30-23 decision in double overtime at Stony Brook last season.

“[Stony Brook's] a good football team,” said Head Coach Jack Cosgrove, who with last week’s victory became UMaine’s all-time winningest coach with 81 wins. “We played them last year and they got us in double overtime in a game we felt like we were in charge until late in the game when we let it get away.”

“This year we’ve got two entirely different football teams,” added Cosgrove. “We have a lot of guys back from a year ago who are more experienced now.”

Cosgrove returns to a veteran-laden squad as UMaine returns 15 starters. Included in that group are defensive end Jovan Belcher, the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and preseason All-CAA running back Jhamal Fluellen, a 1,000-yard rusher in 2007.

Also returning is Farkes, who is entering his first season as the full-time starter after beginning last season as the backup to Michael Brusko and splitting time throughout the year.

Farkes threw for a career-high three touchdowns last weekend and ran two successful drives late in both halfs that resulted in scores.

“It was good to see him steady,” Cosgrove said of his sophomore signal-caller. “I like the two-minute drill at the end of each half where he was right on the money, not only with his throws, but he made a couple of nice decisions running the football.”

“That’s something with the improvisation and creativity that we haven’t seen here,” he added. “Perhaps we saw it the last couple years with [former Walter Payton Award winner] Ricky Santos of UNH. That’s what separates a good team and an average team.”

After inconsistent quarterback play from Brusko and Farkes last year, who tried to fill the void left by four-year starter Ron Whitcomb, Farkes has been aided by the quick development of a new offensive line and Fluellen, one of the top backs in CAA.

Fluellen ran for more than 100 yards in the first two games of the year and ranks second in the CAA in rushing.

“We’ve got some good guys up front, but like any team, when you have a guy that’s as explosive as that, it brings so much to the table,” Farkes said of his senior running back. “It relaxes the whole offense.”

Despite ranking near the bottom of the conference in passing offense (127.0 yards per game) and scoring offense (16.9 points per game) last year, Farkes believes things are finally starting to work on offense.

“Our whole offense is getting more comfortable,” he said. “Through the spring, summer, and camp and stuff, we continued to get closer and are finding our identity.”

While the UMaine offense finally got going last weekend, Stony Brook (1-1) has an explosive offense of its own, led by freshman running back Edwin Gowins. Gowins received Big South Freshman of the Week honors in the first two weeks of the season.

“They really took it to Colgate [42-26 in week one],” Cosgrove said. “They did a nice job against an Elon team that is ranked. They’re a good, tough opponent. We’re going to have to play a really outstanding football game Saturday.”

Going against an offense that has averaged 31 points per game in its first two games, the experienced UMaine defense doesn’t appear intimidated.

“Our linebackers and [defensive] line believe that no one can run on us and our secondary has the confidence that no one can pass on us,” Cusano said.

Before, during and after the game on Saturday, there are also several festivities lined up. Prior to the game, the field will be dedicated to Phil and Susan Morse who will be honored for their donation for the new turf surface. At halftime, the 1965 football team, which won the Yankee Conference title and competed in the Tangerine Bowl, will be honored as well. Following the game, a fireworks display will take place.

“It’s a night game, first home game. It’s going to be unbelievable,” Cusano said. “A lot of guys are probably going to go out there and be clueless. The adrenaline is going to be pumping.”