University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
4-4 , 2-3
Maine
4-4 , 3-2
#19 Minutemen Fall At Maine, 19-9
October 31, 2009 | Football
Oct. 31, 2009
ORONO, Maine - No. 19 UMass suffered a tough 19-9 loss at Maine on Saturday night as both teams moved their records to 4-4 overall. The Minutemen fell to 2-3 in the CAA while Maine is now 3-2 and in second place in the North behind New Hampshire (7-1, 4-1). UMass defense was strong throughout the game as Tyler Holmes (16 tackles) and Eric Dickson (14 tackles) led the way. Scott Woodward saw his most time at quarterback in relief of Kyle Havens and finished with 149 yards on 15-of-28 passing.
Maine took a 19-7 lead on a nifty 71-yard drive down the field that finished with a Warren Smith 5-yard rush with 8:46 to go in the fourth. The Black Bears attempted a two-point conversion in hope of taking a 21-7 lead, but UMass picked off the pass attempt and returned the ball for the first defensive two-point conversion in school history. Junior Ke'Mon Bailey intercepted Smith in the end zone and returned the ball 100 yards to bring UMass to within 19-9.
The Minutemen were driving in an effort to cut the deficit to one score but Woodward was intercepted by Donte Dennis with 6:28 left in the game. It was Dennis' second pick of the game.
UMass' last scoring chance was thwarted on an intercepted by Trevor Coston with 3:11 left in the fourth to seal the game.
The Black Bears took advantage of UMass' third turnover of the game as a fumble early in the third quarter as Maine built its lead to 13-7 as Jordan Waxman kicked a 32-yard field goal with 8:55 left in the third quarter.
Maine took a 10-7 halftime lead as Tyrell Jones hauled in a 7-yard pass from Warren Smith with 1:04 left in the first half. The drive started on an UMass interception that gave the Black Bears the ball at the UMass 46-yard line.
The Minutemen had taken its first lead of the game at 7-3 on a Jonathan Hernandez 1-yard plunge with 3:04 left in the first half. UMass' dive down the field was fueled by a 30-yard pass to Matt Silver and a 19-yard snag by Julian Talley.
Maine opened the game's scoring on a 25-yard field goal by Waxman with 1:25 left in the first as he kicked with the win. The Minutemen's Armando Cuko missed a 24-yard shot into the wind, 5:35 into the game showing the weather's impact on the game.
After not catching a ball in the first half, Victor Cruz had eight second half catches for 73 yards.
UMass returns to McGuirk Stadium for its final two regular-season home games with a pair of Noon games on Nov. 7 vs. Northeastern and Nov. 14 vs. James Madison.
Team Stats
UMASS 0, MAINE 3
MAINE - Waxman 25 yd field goal 14 plays, 72 yards, TOP 8:00
UMASS 7, MAINE 3
UMASS - J. Hernandez 1 yd run (Armando Cuko kick), 11 plays, 77 yards, TOP 3:47
UMASS 7, MAINE 10
MAINE - Ty. Jones 7 yd pass from Smith (Waxman kick) 8 plays, 46 yards, TOP 1:51
UMASS 7, MAINE 13
MAINE - Waxman 32 yd field goal 7 plays, 8 yards, TOP 2:43
UMASS 7, MAINE 19
MAINE - Smith 5 yd run (Smith passintercepted), 6 plays, 71 yards, TOP 2:03
UMASS 9, MAINE 19
UMASS - Ke'Mon Bailey 98 yd PAT return
