The outcome of the University of Maine’s football season opener at Boston College on Saturday was not unexpected.
The Black Bears’ defense, again expected to be the dominating element of this year’s team, held its own despite being taxed physically by the Eagles in the 24-3 setback at Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
It did so while using numerous players seeing their first significant game action at the college level.
Meanwhile, the offense enjoyed precious little success going up against a veteran BC defense that statistically was among the best in the country a year ago.
Junior quarterback Dan Collins and company were unable to move the ball on the ground and faced constant pressure when trying to throw. Collins was sacked five times.
The offense was operating with converted senior linebacker Cabrinni Goncalves as its top tailback as sophomore starter Nigel Beckford served a one-game suspension for an undisclosed violation of UMaine’s Student-Athlete Code of Conduct.
UMaine has scored only 16 points combined in four meetings with Boston College, of the higher-level Football Bowl Subdivision, since 2006.
That doesn’t mean there weren’t some encouraging developments for the Black Bears, especially on defense.
“We really played a lot of guys, which was exciting,” UMaine head coach Jack Cosgrove said during Monday’s weekly CAA teleconference. “A couple of younger players really played well.”
The defensive effort came even as UMaine used several players who were either first-time starters or stepped into key roles after serving as backups.
That group included redshirt freshman free safety Sinmisola Demuren (5 tackles), sophomore strong safety Darrius Hart (4), senior linebacker John McCabe of Winslow (3), defensive lineman Schuyler Huntington (3) and sophomore free safety Jason Matovu (2).
“I was impressed with the guys that played. They stepped up and played their roles,” Hart said.
“We could have tackled a little bit better, defeated a couple more blocks on the edge, but other than that, we did a good job,” he added.
Christophe Mulumba Tshimanga’s injury early in the game and Goncalves’ heavy load at tailback also meant freshman linebacker Sterling Sheffield made his collegiate debut.
“That’s two three-year starters that aren’t playing for you [at linebacker],” Cosgrove said of Goncalves and Mulumba Tshimanga.
A total of 23 Black Bears made at least one tackle, including junior transfer punter James DeMartini.
The Black Bears were largely untested at safety with Demuren, Matovu, Hart and redshirt freshman Mozai Nelson. That group, led by Demuren and Hart, along with a cornerbacks unit featuring Sherrod Baltimore, Najee Goode, Dawson and Tayvon Hall, more than held its own.
“Our secondary, which was brand-spanking new for the most part, I was really impressed with our two young safeties’ tackling ability, toughness, ability to be in the right place at the right time,” Cosgrove said. “There was a lot of optimism on that side of the football for us.”
The Black Bears did not have many glaring defensive coverage breakdowns, and as a result, BC quarterback Darius Wade completed only 14 of 25 passes for 155 yards with one touchdown.
Cosgrove attributed some of that to the play of UMaine’s defensive line, which is led by ends Trevor Bates of Westbrook and Mike Koslakowski, along with tackles Pat Ricard and Darius Greene.
“Those guys up front played very well and really went toe-to-toe with a bigger group of guys but fought them hard and really competed,” Cosgrove said.
UMaine was credited with only two sacks, by linebacker Randy Samuels and Bates, but was able to get fairly consistent pressure on Wade.
UMaine’s offensive struggles against BC were not unprecedented as the Black Bears have scored only 16 points in four meetings with the Eagles since 2006.
Goncalves netted only 29 yards on 10 carries — UMaine finished with 7 yards rushing overall — but gave his team a solid, physical presence in the backfield.
“What he gave us back there was a guy that knew his assignments, competed hard, didn’t turn the ball over on his carries and protected well, caught a couple passes,” Cosgrove said, “did enough for us to know that we did the right thing by putting him there.”
DeMartini was effective in his first Division I contest, averaging 43.1 yards on seven punts. His emergence should help lighten the load for senior place-kicker Sean Decloux, who handles field goals, PATs and kickoffs for the Black Bears.
Injury update: UMaine appears to have escaped Boston relatively healthy, with junior Mulumba Tshimanga the only obvious casualty. X-rays on the leg were negative, but he reportedly suffered a significant bruise on his lower left leg that could keep him out of action for two to four weeks.
UMaine returns to the practice field Tuesday to start what will be a bye week. The Black Bears next play on Sept. 19 at Tulane of the Southeastern Conference.