The defense kept the University of Maine football team within striking distance throughout on Saturday night.
But the Black Bears’ offense and special teams weren’t able to capitalize despite a handful of scoring opportunities.
Villanova limited UMaine to one field goal in five trips inside the 30-yard line and rode the play of elusive redshirt freshman quarterback Zach Bednarczyk to a 13-3 Colonial Athletic Association victory at Villanova, Pennsylvania.
The Wildcats (4-4 overall, 3-2 CAA) escaped with the help of two missed field goals, an interception in the red zone and UMaine’s failure to make plays in the clutch. They only scored once in five red-zone opportunities.
“[I’m] disappointed in our play in the red zone on offense,” said UMaine coach Jack Cosgrove, whose Black Bears (3-5, 3-2 CAA) watched their postseason aspirations wither amidst a frustrating performance.
“We’ve got to make the field goals when they’re lined up and we’ve got to execute and throw and catch,” he said.
Sophomore Drew Belcher, who asserted himself in last week’s 23-10 home win over Stony Brook, handled the quarterbacking duties throughout. He carried the ball 19 times for a career-best 97 yards and completed 16 of 29 passes for 180 yards.
However, he threw an interception in a critical situation and fumbled when he was sacked.
The Bears converted only four of 12 third-down situations, while Villanova went 9-for-16 on third down.
“We just didn’t do a good job executing,” Belcher said. “I’ve got to take the blame for that … I’ve got to do a better job getting us in the right plays, so it’s on me.”
Senior place-kicker Sean Decloux missed on field goals of 35 and 27 yards, but accounted for UMaine’s only points with a 27-yarder late in the second quarter.
Bednarczyk, who threw two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns in Villanova’s loss to Towson a week earlier, dictated play with his slippery running and timely throwing. He scrambled for a game-best 123 yards on 18 carries and went 12-for-21 through the air for 143 yards and a score.
“I just think we were undisciplined in our rush lanes and we didn’t finish how we should have,” said UMaine’s Trevor Bates.
“This is probably as poor a night of tackling as we’ve had all year,” Cosgrove added.
The Wildcats also missed two field goals, but did not turn the ball over and got stops when needed. The hosts punted only once all night.
Linebacker Randy Samuels piled up 11 tackles, all of them solo stops, to spearhead the UMaine defense. Cabrinni Goncalves made seven stops.
Leading 6-3, the Wildcats finally extended their advantage early in the fourth quarter. Villanova went 76 yards on 11 plays, sparked by a 20-yard burst by tailback Gary Underwood (21 carries, 92 yards; 5 catches, 20 yards).
On third-and-11 from the 14-yard line, Bednarczyk was flushed out of the pocket and ran it into the end zone to make it a two-score game with 11:56 to play.
“Missed tackles, didn’t finish. That’s kind of the story for the defense,” Bates said.
Villanova netted 215 yards on the ground.
The Bears battled to get back in it as Belcher directed two substantial drives.
The first stalled at the Villanova 10 and Decloux pushed a 27-yarder outside the right upright with 9:07 left.
“It’s Division I, we’re supposed to be making field goals. It’s disappointing, very disappointing,” Cosgrove said.
After a quick three-and-out, Belcher’s 43-yard toss to Jordan Dunn (8 catches, 96 yards) on the first play put the Bears at the 15. On third down, wide receiver John Hardy failed to handle a low pass to the end zone from Belcher.
The drive ended when Belcher sailed a throw out of the end zone.
“I had Jeremy (Salmon) on a corner route. I’ve got to get the ball a little bit lower and give him a chance to catch the ball on fourth defense,” Belcher said.
Villanova ran out the last 6:16 to secure the victory.
Both teams mounted scoring threats on their first possessions of the second half.
Belcher marched UMaine to the Villanova 29 before he was intercepted by Shayne Jones at the 10-yard line. Belcher was under pressure as he threw into double coverage.
“A stupid decision,” Belcher said.
Bednarczyk’s nimble feet helped put the hosts in good position on their next march, but he came up a half-yard short at the UM 14 on a fourth-and-seven run.
Villanova might have tried to add a field goal, but Gerard Smith had already missed on attempts of 31 and 39 yards.
On the Bears’ next possession, Belcher had the ball knocked out of his hand while rolling to his right, but Mike Kozlakowski stuffed Underwood on a fourth-and-one play at the 19.
The Bears went three-and-out, which opened the door for the eventual clinching touchdown drive.
UMaine overcame one bad defensive play and a handful of penalties to stay within 6-3 at halftime.
The hosts scored on their second possession. On a third-and-nine play, Bednarczyk found Underwood over the middle and he eluded at least three would-be tacklers on the way to a 64-yard scoring play.
Smith’s PAT kick was blocked.
UMaine then handed the Wildcats excellent field position at its 41-yard line after punter James DeMartini put his knee down fielding a low snap. However, a fourth-down sack by of Bednarczyk by Kozlakowski at the 36 ended the threat.
The Bears responded by putting together a 10-play, 37-yard drive of their own, but Decloux’s 35-yard kick went wide left with 10:41 left in the half.
Villanova moved down the field but stalled out again and Smith hooked a 39-yard field-goal attempt to the left.
The Bears finally got on the board with an 11-play march that covered 69 yards. The key play was a 40-yard throw-back pass down the right side from Belcher to Nigel Beckford (7 carries, 53 yards; 3 receptions, 47 yards).
UMaine couldn’t punch it in, but Decloux booted a 27-yard field goal to make it 6-3 with 25 seconds remaining in the half.