ORONO, Maine — Points continue to come hard for the University of Maine football team.
The Black Bears failed on two early scoring chances and Towson University scored all 10 of its points off turnovers to escape Morse Field with a 10-7 Colonial Athletic Association victory on Saturday night.
The Tigers (6-3 overall, 4-2 CAA) held the hosts to 6-for-14 success on third down and UMaine (3-6, 3-3 CAA) went 1-for-3 in the red zone.
“We had a couple nice drives, were moving the ball well, were executing and then we get down there [and] when we’re unable to come up with any points, it’s almost like a meaningless drive,” said UMaine quarterback Drew Belcher.
Towson converted in some key situations, speeding 53 yards in three plays to set up Sam Hurwitz’s 19-yard field goal to end the first half and cashing in on a Nigel Beckford fumble in the third quarter.
Tailback Darius Victor (24 carries, 101 yards) and quarterback Connor Frazier (16 of 24 passing, 189 yards) were Towson’s catalysts.
Belcher ran for 68 yards on 16 carries and completed 23 of 31 passes for 150 yards and a score. Beckford made seven catches for 60 yards.
“The turnover battle is what ended up costing us here today. That and us not converting a couple of red-zone opportunities in the first half,” Maine head coach Jack Cosgrove said.
Donnell Lewis paced the Tigers defense with 10 tackles and a forced fumble.
On UMaine’s second possession, Belcher completed five of six throws, including a 26-yard screen pass to Beckford, to spark a 15-play, 93-yard march that consumed 7:46.
The positive vibes dissipated when Sean Decloux missed wide right on a 22-yard field goal with 3:41 left in the half.
UMaine got the ball back two plays later when Mike Kozlakowski (9 tackles) tipped a Frazier pass and Jeffrey DeVaughn intercepted at the Towson 27. But the Bears came up short on a fourth-and-one QB sneak at the 18.
“That’s huge,” Cosgrove said. “We’re playing at home against a team that’s won three straight games. We need to seize the game and we didn’t.”
Towson got the ball back with 50 seconds to play in the half after James DeMartini shanked a 6-yard kick out of bounds at the Tigers’ 38. Two long passes got the Tigers into scoring position and Sam Hurwitz kicked a 19-yard field goal on the last play of the half.
The Tigers scored the game’s first touchdown late in the third quarter after Lewis forced Beckford to fumble and Eric Handy ran it to the UM 6. Two plays later, Victor raced 5 yards around left end for a score.
UMaine responded with 71-yard drive. Belcher was 5-for-6 passing, including a 3-yard scoring toss to Jordan Dunn with 10:28 left.
Towson answered with a solid drive, but Victor was stopped on fourth-and-two at the 20. UMaine could manage only one first down and Towson ran out the clock.