ORONO, Maine — Numerous times on Saturday afternoon, a University of Maine defender appeared ready to take down Villanova quarterback John Robertson.
Often, the shifty junior eluded a tackle or escaped a player’s grasp. The result was several momentum-building plays for the Wildcats.
Robertson used his accurate arm and quick feet to spark the offense as fifth-ranked Villanova piled up 481 yards on its way to a 41-20 Colonial Athletic Association victory over the University of Maine in front of 5,173 fans at drizzly Alfond Stadium.
Robertson completed 16 of 25 passes for 285 yards and four touchdowns and also gained 58 yards on 17 carries to help Villanova improve to 4-1 ( 2-0 CAA).
“He makes the plays,” UMaine senior safety Khari Al-Mateen said of Robertson, who is playing with a partial cast on his left (non-throwing) hand. “He makes the throws when he needed to make them, he breaks tackles, he keeps his feet running.”
Coach Jack Cosgrove’s Black Bears (2-3, 1-1 CAA) were unable to solve Robertson and the multifaceted Wildcats, who rushed for 196 yards and popped several long plays that eventually led to touchdowns.
UMaine could not establish much consistency on offense, especially in the second half, when it netted only 76 yards. The defense was unable to make enough stops and surrendered touchdowns on the Wildcats’ first two possessions of the second half.
“I don’t think we played very well in the second half and obviously that’s a problem,” Cosgrove offered.
“We had a 21-13 football game and we didn’t move the ball on offense and we didn’t stop anybody on defense. The game got away from us there,” he added.
Robertson threw four touchdown passes for the fourth straight game, although he was picked off for the first time in 123 attempts on Najee Goode’s diving interception in the fourth quarter. He spread his throws among nine different receivers and Poppy Livers led the way with three receptions for 87 yards and a TD.
Greg Underwood (70 yards) and Kevin Monangai (55 yards) each scored a rushing touchdown.
UMaine quarterback Dan Collins completed 20 of 35 passes for 210 yards and three scores, but the Bears had trouble running the ball (59 yards) and were stymied in the second half.
Damarr Aultman (9 catches, 88 yds.) and Jordan Dunn (7-47, 1 TD) were the top playmakers.
Leading 21-13, Villanova wasted no time building on its halftime lead. Robertson avoided a sack to convert a fourth-and-3 with a run and a subsequent personal foul put the ball on the 13.
Three plays later, Robertson found Earnest Pettway on a 10-yard scoring pass to make it 28-13.
UMaine quickly punted and ’Nova needed one play to score again.
This time, Robertson threw to Kevin Gilyas, who beat cornerback Sherrod Baltimore for a 43-yard TD hookup. The PAT missed, but the lead was 34-13 only 6:07 into the half.
“Our response in the third quarter was what counted and we didn’t have a good one,” Cosgrove said.
UMaine eventually scored after Darius Greene forced a fumble and Cabrinni Goncalves (8 tackles) recovered at the VU 30. Five plays later, Collins lofted a high, 30-yard pass to Art Williams in the back right-hand corner of the end zone with 3:27 to play.
Villanova answered after a failed onside kick with Underwood’s 18-yard run around right end.
“That’s a good football team and a very skilled group of guys, but we can tackle better and we can come up with some stops better than we did today,” Cosgrove said.
Chris Mulumba Tshimanga made seven tackles for UMaine, while Villanova was paced by 12 tackles, including three sacks, by Don Cherry.
The Bears grabbed the lead on their second possession, driving 82 yards on 12 plays. Collins went 6-for-7 on the march, closing it out with a 25-yard scoring toss over the middle to Williams (4 rec., 87 yds.).
Villanova answered, needing seven plays to go 64 yards. A 28-yard run by Underwood on a direct snap set up Monangai’s 1-yard TD run with 4:42 left in the quarter.
The Wildcats held, got the ball back, and surged 67 yards on five plays. Robertson’s 40-yard pass to Livers set up a 23-yard quick screen for a score, featuring the same combination, only two plays later.
The visitors had a chance to extend their lead later in the quarter, driving to the UMaine 20. However, a pass by place-kicker Chris Gough on a fake field goal was knocked down by Pat Ricard (7 tackles, 1.5 sacks).
UMaine responded, using 39-yard pass from Collins to Aultman to set up Collins’ 2-yard TD toss to Dunn. However, the PAT snap was mishandled, leaving the Bears trailing 14-13.
Villanova kept the pressure on with another scoring drive. Robertson found Lincoln Collins alone on the left side for a 25-yard scoring hookup that gave the Wildcats an eight-point edge heading into intermission.
“I think we have the best quarterback, maybe, in the country,” said Villanova coach Andy Talley.
“When you leave him on the field, it’s a matter of time before he’s going to find somebody open or he’s going to take off and run it himself. He made some big plays today.”