Sports

Bears sluggish in season opener, prevail over Huskies in OT

The Maine Campus | The Maine Campus

By Adam Clark

Posted on Sept. 03, 2009, at 11:55 p.m.

The Maine Campus | The Maine Campus

The last time the University of Maine football team played a Division II squad was two years ago. In that game, they defeated Shaw University handily by a score of 62-12.

On Thursday night, UMaine opened their 2009 campaign against another Div. II team, St. Cloud State (Minn.). This game was far different.

The Black Bears clawed their way back from being down three different times in the game and held off the scrappy Huskies, prevailing in overtime 34-27 at Alfond Stadium.

The No. 19 Black Bears stand 1-0 after the victory, while St. Cloud State drops to 0-2.

After the Huskies took a 24-20 lead with 8:42 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Black Bears responded with a 13-play drive lasting 6:43, culminating with a 10-yard touchdown run by Derek Session.

With 1:59 left in the game, the UMaine defense could not stop St. Cloud State as they marched down the field and tied the game on a 30-yard field goal with six seconds remaining.

In overtime, the Black Bears received the ball first and scored on a 1-yard run by senior quarterback Mike Brusko.

Unlike late in the fourth quarter, the Black Bear defense was up to the challenge, forcing an incomplete pass on fourth down to end the game.

UMaine’s vaunted running attack was without All-American fullback Jared Turcotte due to a groin injury, but managed to rack up 245 yards. The Huskies out gained the Black Bears in total yards, 362-346.

The Black Bears were led by Brusko, who had 165 total yards (101 passing; 64 rushing) and two touchdowns on the ground.

Session carried the ground game with 22 attempts for 122 yards and a touchdown. Desmond Randall scored the other UMaine touchdown in the first quarter on an 80-yard kickoff return.

Sophomore Jordan Waxman converted two field goals to round out the Black Bears’ scoring, while senior linebacker Brandon McLaughlin had 13 total tackles, including 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

UMaine begins Colonial Athletic Association play next Saturday when they travel to play conference rival Northeastern University.

Campus Currents: Football