ORONO, Maine — In football, statistics sometimes can be a little deceiving.
Take, for instance, the University of Maine’s 409 passing yards Saturday afternoon against Villanova University.
While a nice number, it did not, by a long shot, portend a positive outcome for the Black Bears.
A statistic more indicated of the day was Villanova’s 314 rushing yards. The Wildcats dominated up front, setting a physical tone in their 35-14 Colonial Athletic Association victory over the Black Bears at damp, chilly Alfond Stadium.
Kevin Monangai established career highs with 30 carries for 192 yards and scored two touchdowns to help Villanova (4-1, 2-0 CAA) hand UMaine (1-3, 0-1 CAA) its second straight loss.
“I thought our inability to stop the run — they ran the ball very well, — established not only a physical but a mental dominance,” said UMaine head coach Jack Cosgrove.
Quarterback John Robertson (14 carries, 79 yards., 1 TD) was instrumental in the effort and the redshirt freshman also completed 11 of 16 passes for 128 yards and two scores with an interception.
Norman White made four catches for 51 yards and a TD.
“They want to try to stack the box on us and try to stop our run,” Robertson said. “So if they’re one-on-one with Norm and Joe Price (3 rec., 43 yds., 1 TD), we’ve got two really good receivers out there that they can’t guard one-on-one.”
UMaine was unable to move the ball consistently against the Wildcats, who racked up seven sacks of Wasilewski. When all was said and done, the junior quarterback established career bests for completions (31) and passing yards (409), but threw for only one score and was intercepted twice.
Senior wide receiver Maurice McDonald caught 10 balls for 93 yards, eclipsing 100 receptions and 1,000 yards for his career. Derrick Johnson added six catches for 44 yards.
The Black Bears were forced to throw more often after spotting the Wildcats a 28-7 lead early in the third quarter. UMaine ran the ball only eight times in the second half and finished with 11 net yards on the ground.
Villanova harassed Wasilewski effectively with its assortment of pressures and sacked him seven times, including two by Devon Bridges.
“We knew they were a blitz-heavy team coming into the game. That’s part of their defensive philosophy,” said Wasilewski, who was knocked down a handful of other times.
“They’re a good team, a good defense, a very fast, athletic defense,” he added.
Ronnie Akins spearheaded the defense with eight tackles, while Antoine Lewis (1 sack) and Joe Sarnese made seven each.
Villanova led 21-7 at halftime, then took command by scoring on its opening drive of the third quarter. It covered 68 yards and 10 plays, including eight runs.
Robertson’s 10-yard scramble around right end made it a three-score advantage.
“They have a good running team. I thought we did a good job against the pass,” said cornerback Kendall James, who led the Bears with 10 tackles.
“They were getting around the corner so fast. I had to make a good tackle most of the time,” he added.
Linebacker Donte Dennis logged nine tackles, Axel Ofori forced a fumble and Doug Alston made an interception.
Villanova pushed the lead to 35-7 early in the fourth quarter on Monanai’s 4-yard run, while UMaine would scratch out only one second-half score, on a 69-yard hookup between Wasilewski and Arthur Williams.
That was all the Bears could muster.
“I’m really proud with the way we came at that,” Wasilewski said of dealing with the deficit. “We never put our heads down and kept battling throughout the football game.”
The Wildcats jumped on the Bears for 21 first-quarter points.
Villaova opened the game by racing 74 yards on only five plays, including Robertson’s 27-yard scoring toss down the left sideline to White. Villanova led 7-0 with less than two minutes gone.
UMaine responded, going 76 yards on five plays. Wasilewski completed passes of 20 and 45 yards to Johnson and Rickey Stevens, respectively, to set up Wasilewski’s 7-yard TD scramble.
Brian Harvey’s PAT made it 7-7 4:37 into the game.
Villanova went back in front after Shane Harris picked off a Wasilewski pass that glanced off McDonald’s hands. The Wildcats needed six plays to cover 49 yards, with Robertson throwing to a wide-open Price for a 26-yard touchdown.
The PAT made it 14-7 with 4:56 left in the quarter.
“I think we did dominate the line of scrimmage,” said Villanova coach Andy Talley. “Any time you can run the ball for 314 yards, it’s a pretty good day.”
The Wildcats got on the board again after the Bears failed to cash in on Alston’s interception. Harvey’s 41-yard field-goal try was blocked by Rakim Cox.
Villanova went back on the march with a run-pass blend and racked up five first downs before Monangai carried 13 yards for a TD at the 9:51 mark.
“That’s what they do,” Cosgrove said. “They had great success.”
Maine got steamrolled. The D-line was manhandled. The linebackers did not fill. The corners and safeties did not contain. Very tenative performance. No attacking, blitzing, just a vanilla scheme. Very difficult to make big plays and create turnovers when back on the heels.
Maine sucks
Something smells and it’s not the defunct paper company in Old Town…Every facet of this operation, including the low-def geezer fest on the WABI “production” is Junior Varsity…
I watched the game on WABI and I was impressed by the camera coverage particularly on pass plays. I don’t think they missed anything. The announcers are what they are… and over the years I’ve gotten used to them and enjoy their collaboration. A winning game/team on the field changes things a whole bunch. Go Black Bears.
A winner changes everything. Agreed. The whole program needs to have a winning attitude. Start with the first impression that is the fossilized broadcast duo of G and W. They can’t even keep up and have zero contemporary experience!
Tine for Pete Warner, Mr. Cheerleader of UMaine Sports, to spin the loss in another blog praising our allegedly underpaid coaches who, as per his recent blog, could easily be hired by larger schools but stay at UMaine because of their loyalty. Surely time for another handsome payraise for Coach Cosgrove.
Maybe I missed it, but did Donte Dennis even play??????
:)
Another 40+ yard failed FG attempt. Shocker!!!! :)
50% decline in attendance from last week’s trainwreck means the fans will just stay home and watch the game on TV since this team has laid another egg at home. Say goodbye to this season.
looks like they need to overhaul the staff. Shorten up the bench and get some of the non players out of the way and resind their free tuition for non performance. The bottom line is that college is not all about sports and the money could possibly be better spent elsewhere like back in the taxpayers pocket.
Villanova outplayed Black Bears in every aspect of game. Re: “WABI -TV Production” the announcers can be justifiably criticized [the constant spiel of George and Walter fawning over each other and reflecting on the “good old days”] but “this it what it is” and it is not likely to change. However, what really annoys me about these broadcasts is the role of Tim Throckmorton as the sideline reporter. Isn’t it supposed to be his role to “provide sideline information” that would add to the viewers’ understanding of the game with respect to what may be influencing what actually is transpiring during the game? Yet, this rarely happens. For example, in last week’s game with Albany, both George and Walter repeatedly wondered aloud why Hood wasn’t playing [“I wonder if Hood is hurt.”] Then yesterday, I can’t recall any explanation being given for why Donte Dennis apparently was not playing. Possibly he did play, or if he didn’t, George and Walter told us why. I just may have missed this. However, my point is — shouldn’t this be Throckmorton’s job to obtain this information from the coaching staff during the game and pass it along to George and Walter? It seems as if Tim’s sole role during game telecasts is to hunt down Coach Cosgrove FOLLOWING the game and to utter, “Tough game, Coach.” This behavior has been going on for years. Yet, Tim continues to underwhelm us with his total lack of insight.
Interesting point re Our Tom. A couple of years ago his ex-wife Emily Ellis (Throckmorton) wrote probably the silliest thing I’ve ever read in the BDNews elevating UMaine varsity athletes, footballers above all, for having the greatest burden placed on them of ALL UME STUDENTS because of being on a highly publicized team. Students with spouses and/or children didn’t matter to her; only varsity athletes had real pressures. Maybe Tim feels similarly and just likes to watch from the sidelines-in awe.
Emily is a pig farker and Tim is useless.
Tell me please why we pay Cosgrove $260,000 with benefits . Why do we even have football? 63 players on tuition. Tell if I send my son to UMaine how much extra it cost me so a few can play sports? Why can’t they sell popcorn like Boyscouts? or have a bake sale . Maybe the would have t play in another division. That is not my point . Sports cost everyone a lot of money and only benefit a few .I would even bet the extra money colleges waste prevents more people from going that the amount on sports scholarships.
All head coaches get lots more beyond their base pay plus who knows what other perks. The only UME president who wasn’t a total cheerleader for expensive football, Peter Hoff, was outsted for his restrained enthusiasm–not opposition, just restrained enthusiasm. His successor, Bob Kennedy, made clear that cutting liberal arts faculty and programs was the wave of the future, along with renovating athletic facilities and building additional ones. Gov. Baldacci, who took 13 or 14 yrs. to get his undergraduate Orono degree, pushed for funding for athletics above all else. It doesn’t matter how bad the football team is, it’s “tradition? that trumps all.
I do not care about tradition. I Care about money . Nothing against sports just it is in now way fair to make me pay for it. Everyone in Maine pays for it some more than others like students.
Of course many of us pay for UMaine sports, with football being far and away the most costly sport. but the powers that be–not least, some influential faculty who either once played collegiate sports or wish they had–keep expanding the perks granted varsity athletes. Far from being at all defensive about the hierarchy at UMaine, they proudly declare that varsity athletes deserve ever more vs. the rest of the student body who deserve far less.
Thanks at least you understand my point. Where is Ted Kozinski lol.
So because the system is wrong It makes it right for UMaine .
Good points. Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Maine Maritime all play the game, lose often win a few times, yet the schools survive without semi-pro football. Vermont and Northeastern stayed in business without any. Maine could make as bold a move, but I doubt there is the will to make it or even a reduction in the program. Maybe pro-hockey is enough for a small far-from-rich state university.
You don’t sound very intelligent.
Good thing I am not . I did not go to college because or money . I would bet I could still score higher on an SAT than half the football players. If you have better facts please tell them.
The team looked kind of flat yesterday. Not sure why but they always do this punt thing at the beginning during warm ups. They punt the ball into the other teams side of the field and then the team runs after it like they are going to tackle someone. Phantom tackling and blocking is what they are best at.
Everybody needs to band together and demand Cozzy gets an extension, which is up after this season.
I for one love the circus behind the crazy uncle. Lock him for at least 3 more years at The U!!!!!!!!!!