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Turnovers were the name of the game in the University of Maine football team’s 30-27 loss to the University of New Hampshire on Saturday afternoon, as both teams threw for three interceptions and lost one fumble.
Even with the loss, the Black Bears secured a first-round bye in the Football Championship Subdivision playoff, as did the Wildcats.
The third quarter featured back-to-back-to-back plays with turnovers, and UMaine senior quarterback Warren Smith’s final pass attempt of the regular season was picked off with just over a minute remaining in the game’s final drive.
The day started with UMaine punting and pinning UNH on their own 7-yard line. UNH senior quarterback Kevin Decker had a pass intercepted on the Wildcats’ first drive, as the ball was tipped and bounced around on the receiver’s body before laying to rest on his shoulder pad, where UMaine junior linebacker Troy Russell scooped it up.
Two plays later, senior running back Pushaun Brown ran 33 yards for the game’s first score, putting UMaine up 7-0.
But Brown was slowed thereafter: He had 77 yards on 20 carries and one touchdown on the day.
UNH answered back on the next drive, with freshman running back Nico Steriti seeing the ball for the first of 21 times, compiling 150 yards and one touchdown, as Decker threw to him and freshman receiver R.J. Harris on the scoring drive.
Harris was the leading Wildcats receiver, with six receptions for 117 yards and two touchdowns on the day.
Decker completed a 34-yard pass to Harris for the first UNH touchdown, tying the game at 7.
After a kickoff went out of bounds, UMaine freshman running back David Hood did most of the work for the Black Bears on the next drive, rushing for 21 yards on eight carries on the drive.
Two third-down completions to sophomore tight end Justin Perillo and freshman receiver DaMarr Aultman kept the drive alive, and Smith was able to cap off another scoring drive to put UMaine up 14-7.
After the Black Bears’ defense, led by sophomore defensive lineman Michael Cole — who had three sacks and six tackles on the day — forced a UNH punt, Smith, Perillo, Aultman and Brown went back to work for UMaine.
Passes of 8 yards to Aultman and 16 yards to Perillo, as well as a rushing attack by Brown and Smith, helped lead UMaine on a 54-yard scoring drive that put them up 17-7 after a field goal by senior kicker Brian Harvey.
Aultman finished as UMaine’s leading receiver that day with 12 catches for 105 yards and a touchdown.
After little action on the next two drives, UNH got the ball back before the end of the half, as Decker and sophomore running back Chris Setian led the Wildcats on a drive to try to score before the half ended.
Aided by UMaine holding and personal foul penalties, UNH was able to get a field goal in before halftime, going into the locker room down 17-10.
Coming out of the half, UNH received the ball, but Black Bears senior defensive back Trevor Coston intercepted a Decker pass. UMaine couldn’t capitalize and punted after a three-and-out.
On the first play after the punt, Steriti rushed for his longest play of the day, going 56 yards to the UMaine 21-yard line, which set up a 10-yard touchdown pass from Decker to freshman receiver Jimmy Giansante. After a missed extra-point attempt, UMaine held a 17-16 lead.
The last 2 minutes of the third quarter would be best described as a coach’s nightmare.
After a UMaine field goal, the next four drives resulted in turnovers; three came on consecutive plays.
When all was said and done, UNH ended up with the ball on the UMaine 18-yard line and Decker threw a touchdown pass to Harris to put UNH up 23-20.
The Black Bears fumbled the ball on the kickoff, giving UNH another chance to score.
They only needed one play, as Steriti ran 18 yards to put the Wildcats up 30-20. In just 15 seconds of play, UNH went from being down four to up 10.
UMaine answered on the ensuing drive, with Smith hitting Aultman and Brown connecting on short plays to pick up first downs. On the third-and-9 from the UNH 10-yard line, Smith scrambled around in the pocket before hitting Aultman to put UMaine within three.
The defense was able to hold UNH from scoring, but on UMaine’s last gasp, a fumbled snap out of the shotgun crushed any hope for a comeback, and Smith was picked off by freshman cornerback Chad Wilkes on a fourth-and-long. UNH was able to take a knee and end the game.
UMaine has not won in Durham since 2001 and will finish the year 8-3 (6-2 CAA), giving the Musket back to the Wildcats.
