ORONO, Maine — The University of Maine’s defense, offense and special teams all performed well at times on Saturday afternoon.
However, each unit had critical breakdowns that collectively were too costly to overcome.
Elon University discovered its running game just in time to manufacture the game-winning scoring drive in the fourth quarter, helping the Phoenix earn a 27-22 Colonial Athletic Association football victory at cold, windy Alfond Stadium.
Freshman tailback Malcolm Summers carried six times for 53 yards on the 66-yard march, including a 13-yard burst around right end for a touchdown that made it 24-16 with 4:21 play.
“They’re an emotional team, obviously, and they executed on that drive,” said UMaine coach Jack Cosgrove, referring to the fact Elon junior receiver Demitri Allison had committed suicide on Wednesday, putting the game in jeopardy.
“It was an emotional week for them, an emotional team day for them,” he added. “They earned a great victory for themselves here today.”
Elon netted only 56 rushing yards and 185 yards overall, but cashed in on two UMaine turnovers to build a 17-0 lead that it did not relinquish.
The Black Bears (3-7, 3-4 CAA) found some late offense behind the passing of quarterback Dan Collins, but they could not overcome their inconsistencies and turnovers and suffered their third straight setback.
“There’s going to be a series of things that are going to show up on both (offense and defense), on special teams,” Cosgrove said.
“We never were great together and that’s why we lose the football game.”
Elon (4-6, 3-4 CAA), which achieved its highest scoring output of the season, got two field goals from John Gallagher and overcame three turnovers.
UMaine rallied in the second half as Collins (23-for-49, 295 yards, 3 TDs), replaced starter Drew Belcher in the first half.
“The game was getting away from us early,” Cosgrove said.
“We felt like we were going to play both of them going into the game and it became Danny’s game as we got behind as we did.”
The Bears scored twice during a two-minute span in the fourth quarter, but a missed extra point kick by backup Sam Lenson with 8:14 remaining left the hosts down 17-16.
Elon then responded with its clutch scoring drive and added a Gallagher field goal before UMaine tallied a meaningless TD as time expired.
Trailing 17-0, UMaine broke the ice when Lenson — replacing injured starter Sean Decloux — booted his first career field goal, a 28-yarder, with 1:30 left in the period.
The Bears closed to within 17-10 about 6½ minutes later when wideout Micah Wright (9 receptions, 198 yds., 2 TDs) got behind the defense to catch a 60-yard scoring bomb down the left sideline.
“I got press coverage, so I saw that and Micah made a great catch and a great run after the catch,” said Collins, seeing his first action since the Stony Brook game on Oct. 24.
Linebacker Christophe Mulumba Tshimanga set up the next UMaine score when he intercepted Connor Christiansen two plays later at the Elon 40. Collins completed passes of 18, 6 and 10 yards to Wright, setting up a 6-yard scoring toss to Jordan Dunn in the back right of the end zone.
However, Lenson’s potential game-tying PAT missed to the right, leaving the Phoenix on top 17-16 with 8:14 left.
“It’s one of many things in the game that ended up contributing to the loss,” Cosgrove said.
That’s when Elon answered with its best offensive possession of the contest with Daniel Thompson having replaced the injured Christiansen at quarterback. A run-game adjustment opened up some room for Summers, who found holes in the defense.
“They just ran their zone (read). Whether we were out of our gaps, those are things we’ll see on tape,” Cosgrove said. “They hadn’t run the football all day long until that drive.”
Summers’ scoring run and the PAT made it an eight-point game, but UMaine couldn’t get a first down on its next series and gave up the ball on downs, leading to Gallagher’s 33-yard field goal with 1:53 to play.
Collins threw a 7-yard TD pass to Wright as time expired.
Elon put up only 109 yards of offense in the first half, but converted four of nine third-down situations and was opportunistic in building a 17-0 advantage.
Elon scored barely two minutes in after Miles Williams sacked Belcher and forced a fumble that was recovered at the UM 16. On the next play, Christiansen rolled right after a nifty play-action fake and found Corey Joyner alone in the back of the end zone.
Joyner was among only three Elon wide receivers who played. The four others, still reeling from the death of their teammate and friend, did not even make the trip to Orono.
John Gallagher added the PAT.
Early in the second quarter, Warren Messer stripped the ball from Collins and recovered at the UM 32. The Phoenix capitalized with Gallagher’s 42-yard field goal with 10:56 left in the half to make it 10-0.
After a three-and-out by UMaine, Christiansen completed two third-down passes to help set up his 8-yard scoring toss, again to Joyner. Gallagher’s kick gave the Phoenix a 17-0 lead with 5:52 to play.
“We didn’t play well in the first half, got behind, played a game of catch-up,” Cosgrove said. “We had opportunities in the first half, but obviously didn’t take advantage of them. We treated them to a short field a couple times with turnovers.”