University of Massachusets Athletics
LIVE BLOG: Football Vs. Maine
November 08, 2008 | Football
Nov. 8, 2008
The teams tied for second place in the CAA North face-off on Saturday at McGuirk Stadium as No. 13/13 UMass hosts Maine at 12 Noon. The game pits a pair of schools fighting for FCS playoff berths with UMass (6-3, 3-2 CAA) winning its last two games by a combined 91-7 score and Maine (6-3, 3-2 CAA) taking its last four games in a row. The game will be televised live on Comcast SportsNet with Gary Tanguay and Andy Gresh calling the action.
3:00 p.m. Final score is Maine 21, UMass 20. Before we conclude, let's check in on some other CAA scores:
Delaware 31, Towson 21, 4th
Richmond 27, Hofstra 0, 2nd
Thank you for reading this edition of the football blog. Remember, the Minutemen are back in action next Saturday at New Hampshire, needing to win the final two games to have any chance at a postseason berth. UMass returns home two weeks from today vs. Hofstra.
In one final update from field hockey, the Minutewomen still lead 1-0 in the second half. Let's hope they can hold on and bring home another A-10 championship!
From McGuirk Alumni Stadium, thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of your weekend!
2:54 p.m. Maine's #3 Lamir Whetstone picks off Liam Coen's fourth-down pass, to essentially seal the game to pick up the critical victory and hand UMass a devestating defeat. Tough end to Coen's day on this, his 23rd birthday.
2:51 p.m. The Minutemen make a crucial stop on fourth and three to get the ball back at their own 25 yard line with 2:26 remaining in regulation. The key play of the drive was a 15-yard personal foul penalty assessed to the Black Bears. With over two minutes remaining and two times outs, only needing a field goal to win, there is plenty of time for Liam Coen to mount a drive.
2:44 p.m. After eluding pressure, Liam Coen throws his second interception of the day, this time Andrew Downey made the pick at the 33 yard line. The game's not over though, as even a Maine field goal would give the Minutemen a chance to win the game with a touchdown. The clock is becoming a concern, with only 4:16 remaining in regulation.
2:37 p.m. The Minutemen defense makes a huge third down stop to force a Maine punt. Kash Kiefer's punt is downed at the three yard line. With 5:37 remaining, the Minutemen have their work cut out for them, but there is plenty of time left, so let's see what they can do!
2:29 p.m. UMass responds with a 58-yard touchdown pass and catch from Liam Coen to Jeremy Horne on its first play of the drive. Unfortunately, Armando Cuko misses the extra point, his first missed EP of the year (was 38-of-38). It's becoming eerily similiar to the last time Maine was at McGuirk when the Black Bears missed a potential game-tying extra point late in the first quarter, allowing UMass to escape with a 10-9 win. Hopefully the miss doesn't come back and haunt the Minutemen. There's plenty of time remaining...
Maine 21, UMass 20, 11:39 4th
2:27 p.m. The press box windows are getting fuzzy with the wind-driven rain pointed directly in our direction. It's becoming pretty difficult to see the action without opening the window completely.
Also want to pass along today's attendance: 9,182 hearty souls.
2:25 p.m. As the rain gets heavier as it's been all afternoon, Maine retakes the lead at 21-14. Jared Turcotte runs it in for three yards to cap off the Black Bears' third 6+ minute scoring drive of the game. In total, the drive went 12 plays, 73 yards, for 6:42.
Maine 21, UMass 14, 11:59 4th
2:23 p.m. UMass field hockey scores! Senior Mary Shea scores to give the Minutewomen a 1-0 lead over the Spiders!! We'll keep you updated as the team drives for another A-10 Tournament title!
2:20 p.m. In a weather update, the rain has picked up again, after it slowed in the third quarter. Good thing for the new lights; they are coming in handy this afternoon! The darkness has also forced the lights in the press box to be turned on as it feels like 7:00, not 2:20.
2:14 p.m. Maine is mounting a drive in UMass' territory as the third quarter time expires still tied at 14. This has turned into a 15-minute game with the winner finding themselves in great position for a postseason berth, while the loser puts themselves in a whole.
Some key stats: Maine is up to 42 rushes for 231 yards while only netting 32 passing yards. Tony Nelson had a monster third quarter on the ground, picking up 41 of his 67 rushing yards in the third stanza.
During the third quarter break, a UMass student makes a field goal to win a prize from the Alumni Association...the first time anyone has made the kick all year. Congrats!
2:06 p.m. The momentum is clearly on UMass' side as the Minutemen tie the score at 14 with a Chris Zardas three-yard touchdown run. It marks his fourth touchdown of the season (third via the rushing variety). The drive goes six plays, 51 yards, taking 2:15, keyed by a pass interference call.
Maine 14, UMass 14, 3:41 3rd
2:01 p.m. Great news as offensive lineman Ben Coblyn is back as the Minutemen offense takes the field.
Also, 2:00 means the UMass field hockey team is set to take the field in the Atlantic 10 championship game looking for its second-consecutive conference title. The Minutewomen face the Richmond Spiders, in a game held on the campus of Temple. We'll keep you updated. GO UMASS!
1:59 p.m. Jeromy Miles comes up big AGAIN! He finds himself in the right place at the right time, picking off the errantly thrown ball. UMass takes over, 1st and 10 on its own 49.
1:49 p.m. The Minutemen are back!!! UMass caps off a 12 play, 81 yard drive (taking 4:55), with a five-yard touchdown pass to Ian Jorgensen, who found himself wide open at the left corner of the end zone. He now has 33 career catches, nine for touchdowns (27%)! Other highlights came when Jeremy Horne caught a crucial fourth-and-one pass play for a seven-yard gain. Not long after, Tony Nelson had an impressive first-down run in which he broke six Maine tacklers, before getting brought down.
Maine 14, UMass 7, 10:55 3rd
1:36 p.m. After the band's sensational halftime show in which it debuted a number of new formations (including U-S-A), the second half is set to begin. UMass gets the ball first hoping to cut the Maine led in half.
In some other CAA scores:
Delaware 14, Towson 0
Richmond 7, Hofstra 0
New Hampshire vs. Villanova (set to start at 3:30 p.m.)
Northeastern vs. William & Mary (7 p.m.)
1:23 p.m. Despite the steady rain, the UMass band is on the field entertaining the crowd with its halftime performance.
Also, some key halftime statistics to pass along...Total yards are 206 to 113 in favor of Maine (194 via rushing) while the Black Bears are owning time of possession in a nearly two to one ratio (19:50 to 10:10). Liam Coen has struggled, but still has thrown for 72 yards on 6-of-15 passing. Jermony Horne has led the way with 49 yards receiving on four catches. For Maine, four running backs each have over 35 yards. Pushaun Brown (6 carries, 52 yards), Derek session (8, 47), Jhamal Fluellen (4, 42), and Jared Turcotte (4, 36). The story of the first half has been the running game.
UMass gets the ball first in the second half. Will check back then!
1:17 p.m. UMass punts and Maine takes a knee to end the first half still up 14-0. As the first half concludes, the rain picks up and the fans in attendance are scampering to find some cover during halftime.
1:14 p.m. The CAA's leading receiver Victor Cruz just made his first reception of the day. His 19-yard catch gave UMass a crucial first-down at the 50 yard line. The Minutemen are driving, badly needing a score before the first half concludes.
1:07 p.m. Jhamal Fluellen breaks free for a 26-yard touchdown scamper, capping off a 12 play, 75 yard, taking 7:23 (Maine's new longest scoring drive time-wise to better its first score). An amazing 11 of the 12 plays were rushes as the Black Bears are impressing in the run department. More statistics to come at the half...
Maine 14, UMass 0, 3:59 2nd
1:05 p.m. Maine is still driving, with its current drive going over the seven minute mark. In other news, the crowd is filling in nicely, with the UMass sideline nearly full (as usual), while the opposite side is about 40% full. Maine has a strong contingent at the game as well in this huge CAA clash.
1:02 p.m. Defensive back Brian Ellis is helped off the field with a left leg injury. It doesn't look too serious, but he is being attended to by the medical staff.
12:58 p.m. The game is heating up! There is some heavy hitting happening on the field as Jeromy Miles laid out a Black Bear while a Maine offensive lineman later had a heavy block on a Minuteman lineman going for the tackle. Maine is driving and into UMass territory looking for more.
12:53 p.m. Maine gets a break as Brett Arnold's punt hits off Maine's Derrick Harris, but the referees determine that he was legally blocked into the ball, creating a dead ball. Jeromy Miles, who has a nose for the ball, would have been credited with the fumble recovery if the play stood.
12:48 p.m. The Black Bears stage an impressive 95-yard drive capped off by a two-yard touchdown run by Derek Session. The drive goes 14 plays for 95 yards taking 6:43 (their longest scoring drive in terms of plays, yards, and time all season). The score ends UMass' shutout streak of eight full quarters. It also marks the first time the Minutemen have trailed since the homecoming game on Oct. 18 vs. Richmond.
Maine 7, UMass 0, 12:24 2nd
12:45 p.m. Defensive tackle Brandon Collier gets into the game for the first time since Oct. 18 vs. Richmond. He makes an immediate impact on the first play, combining with Josh Jennings on the tackle.
12:40 p.m. The first quarter ends still scoreless...much different than the last two weeks where UMass scored 42 (vs. Bryant) and 49 (at URI). Not too many stats to pass along. Total yards
Also of note, Sam The Minuteman is racing two running blackberries. What a great mascot! I think Sam won (as usual!). are 99 to 64 in favor of Maine while the Black Bears are leading time of possession, 9:12 to 5:48. Liam Coen has struggled (2-for-6 for 32 yards) against a stellar Maine defense. In fact, the INT was his first in the last 74 pass attempts, with the last pick coming at Northeastern on Oct. 11
During the first quarter timeout, Sam The Minuteman raced two running blackberries! I never thought I'd see the day when blackberries could run! And by the way, Sam won (as usual!).
12:38 p.m. Coblyn Injury Update: He was examined on the sidelines and was just carted off the field and into the locker room.
12:33 p.m. UMass punter Brett Arnold just did a sensational job of getting a punt off after a bad snap. He was able to get the punt off with his left foot, (he's normally righty), and the line-drive rugby style punt was downed by Keiron Brown (who is a feature in this afternoon's game program!) inside the five yard line.
12:29 p.m. Kudos to the UMass Media Relations department for a great showing at today's game. There are currently three full-time Sports Information Directors (Jason Yellin, John Sinnett, and Jillian Jakuba) in attendance, while Maine's Doug DeBiase makes four SID's to the 10 reporters (2.5 per SID) currently in the press box.
12:25 p.m. Maine punter Kash Kiefer just shanked a punt to put UMass in solid field position. In total, the net was only 10 yards. 1st and 10 UMass from its 27 yard line.
12:15 p.m. Bad news to pass along as offensive lineman Ben Coblyn is down with an apparant leg injury. It doesn't look good as the training staff is out to attend to him. It looks like they called the linemen out in order as #74 Stephane Milhim, #75 Chauncey Incarnato, and #76 Justin Sawicki carry #77 Coblyn off the field. Brian Ostaszewski is now in. We'll keep you updated on Coblyn's status...
12:11 p.m. Courtney Robinson breaks up a third down pass attempt to highlight a strong three-and out defensive stand. UMass gets the ball on its own 33 with its offense set to hit the field for the first time.
12:07 p.m. The game is underway! Maine returns the kickoff to its 26 yard line. 1st and 10. Remember to tune into the game on CSN while also keeping updated with this blog!
12:04 p.m. UMass captains Sean Calicchio, Liam Coen, Brandon Collier, and (an injured) Sean Smalls meet with the Maine captains at the center of the field for the coin toss. The Minutemen win the toss and defer until the second half.
12:03 p.m. The band just played its normally rousing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner and the teams hit the field to a loud applause. The attendance seems light compared to the first four home games, but the fans are still filing in...A few minutes until kickoff!!!
11:51 a.m. The UMass band just hit the field for another spectacular pregame show! There was a light drizzle, but it has subsided. Less than 15 minutes until GAME TIME!!
11:45 a.m.: Special note of congratulations, UMass receivers coach Brian Crist and his wife Amy welcomed their third child last night: Caroline Marie, born at 11:59:30 PM. Weighing 7 pounds, 4 ounces. So Caroline misses by 30 seconds of sharing her birthday with Liam Coen. Congrats to the Crists!
11:36 a.m. Here is the pregame weather: Cloudy, 59 degrees, 8 mph SSE
As far as two-deep changes: For Maine, there are no known changes for the Black Bears. Fpr UMass, at RG 71 Rob Getek (neck) is a gametime decision. If he doesn't start, 63 Sean Calicchio will move from C to RG and 61 John Ihne will start at Center ... On the defensive line, DT 56 Brandon Collier (knee) will not start, but will play. 98 Kyle Harrington will move from NT to DT and 51 Shaun Allen will start at NT for his first career start.
11:16 a.m.The Minutemen just hit the field with their black pants and maroon tops. It's the third-consecutive week wearing black pants. Liam Coen is leading the stretching, on this, his 23rd birthday. Hopefully, he can celebrate his birthday with a victory!
11:00 a.m. Good morning and welcome to the UMass football blog! Jason Yellin and Justin Lafleur here from the McGuirk Stadium press box set to bring you all the action in a huge CAA conference game that will have significant postseason implications.
The lights are on, but it looks like the rain will hold off. Armando Cuko is on the field as are a number of Maine special team players. Remember, if you can't make it out to the game, be sure to tune into Comcast SportsNet.
More to come in a bit!
