WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. — The University of Maine offense was motivated for Saturday’s game against Monmouth.
The Black Bears, shut out a week earlier by Albany, demonstrated more of their capabilities against the Hawks.
Tailback Jared Turcotte rebounded from a hip/back injury to spark the run game and quarterback Warren Smith responded after being pulled a week earlier, spearheading UMaine to a 31-23 victory at sun-drenched Kessler Field.
Coach Jack Cosgrove’s team (1-1) exhibited balance, resilience and big-play capabilities while churning out 433 yards.
“No turnovers today was big,” Cosgrove said. “I thought we were better on first down than we were last week. We had some key, third-down conversions. I think we ran better, pass-protected better.”
Turcotte, a junior back from Lewiston, shook off the injury to set a physical offensive tone. He powered his way to 144 yards on 29 carries and scored three touchdowns.
“I took a shot last week, but the training staff and strength and conditioning staff did a very good job, got me playing-ready and tried to do things to loosen my back up a little bit.”
Smith, a native of Lacey Township, N.J., directed the offense effectively. He completed 17 of 26 passes for 194 yards and was not intercepted.
“It was great, my first collegiate game in Jersey, and I’m glad I came here and won the game,” said Smith, who was lifted at halftime of the opener but retained the starting job.
“It just comes down to executing and I felt like offensively, at some points, we executed well today,” he added.
Both Turcotte and Smith credited the offensive line — center Garret Williamson, guards Chris Howley and Matt Barber, and tackles Joe Hook, Josh Spearin of Limington and Alex Batanian — with laying the foundation of the success.
“The offensive line did a very good job executing blocks and making calls,” Turcotte said. “The biggest difference today on the offensive side of the ball was the communication.”
The Bears had some issues, including 11 penalties for 100 yards and several defensive breakdowns.
“There were a lot of things that were bothersome, but we’ve got a chance to approach the guys on those things and improve them,” Cosgrove said. “And you get to do it with a win under your belt.”
UMaine seized the momentum in the last 5 minutes, 13 seconds of the first half.
Monmouth QB Kyle Frazier (20-for-36, 240 yards) gave the hosts a 10-7 lead with a 16-yard option run. That came only 3½ minutes after Eric Spillane put the Hawks on the board with a 32-yard field goal.
The Bears responded, getting the ball at the 40 when the kickoff went out of bounds. On fourth-and-one, Turcotte bobbled the handoff, ran into the line, muscled his way away from cornerback Kenny Amsel, and raced around the right side for a 51-yard touchdown.
“It was kind of a botched exchange between me and Warren, so I kind of had to just secure it. I got whatever I could get and ended up bouncing it outside for a touchdown,” Turcotte said.
Brian Harvey’s PAT put UMaine ahead for good at 14-10 with 3:59 left in the half.
Vic Pasquariello’s 26-yard kickoff return helped spark the Hawks (0-2) on another drive, which included a 30-yard pass from Frazier to Bobby Giles. Later, on a fourth-and-inches play from the 3 with 1:26 to play, Monmouth lined up three players in the backfield, without a quarterback.
L.J. Caprio couldn’t handle the shotgun snap and was forced to fall on the ball.
“I just felt very confident running that play,” said Monmouth coach Kevin Callahan. “I certainly didn’t plan on fumbling the snap.”
UMaine extended the lead to 21-10 in the third quarter when a 49-yard bomb from Smith to Derek Session set up Session’s 22-yard jaunt on the next play.
Monmouth came right back, as Frazier’s 38-yard keeper on the first play led to Caprio’s 2-yard TD run with 3:57 left in the third. The Bears led 21-16.
UMaine made it 24-17 on Harvey’s 23-yard field goal two minutes into the fourth quarter, but the Hawks answered with Spillane’s 25-yarder at 9-minute mark.
The Bears finally found some breathing room after Steven Barker returned the ensuing kickoff 64 yards to the Monmouth 17. The squib kick bounced up into his hands.
“It looked like it was going to be played by one of the guys at the front of our wedge, so I was just running up, full speed,” Barker said.
“The return was going to the left and I (saw) a seam right in front of me, so I got it and went with it,” he added.
Three plays later, Turcotte ran it in from 7 yards out to make it 31-20.
Safety Jerron McMillian led the defense with seven tackles and linebacker Vinson Givans had seven tackles and three pass breakups.
Monmouth managed only 87 rushing yards, but the Hawks had three passes and one run of more than 20 yards.
“I feel like we had a few breakdowns, a few mistakes, but all in all we kept together and made plays when we needed to make plays,” Barker said.
Jose Gumbs was in on 12 tackles for the Hawks.