ORONO, Maine — Six members of the University of Maine football team received Colonial Athletic Association All-Conference honors on Tuesday.
Offensive lineman Bruce Johnson and defensive linemen Trevor Bates and Pat Ricard each received first-team accolades. Wide receiver Micah Wright and senior linebacker Randy Samuels were named to the second team while junior receiver Jordan Dunn was named to the third team.
Johnson receives his second straight first team honor. He started all 11 games at center for the Black Bears and led an offensive line which ranked tied for fourth in sacks allowed (18), down 23 from a year ago.
Bates receives first-team honors for the first time in his career and his third overall all-conference honor. The senior defensive end finished second on the team with 57 tackles and led the team in sacks with 7.5. Bates ranked third in the league in tackles for loss (14.5) and third in sacks.
Ricard, a junior, led the league in tackles-for-loss (16.5), ranked second in forced fumbles (3), sixth in sacks (7.0) and finished fourth on the squad with 53 total tackles.
Wright led all freshmen and finished second in the CAA with 61 receptions, and he was second among freshmen and in the conference with 818 yards. His five touchdowns tied for fifth among FCS freshmen for the Black Bears.
Samuels, a senior linebacker, appeared in all 11 games and led the Black Bears with 72 tackles while adding 7.0 tackles for a loss, and 2.0 sacks.
Dunn, a junior receiver, had a career year, finishing with 56 receptions for 595 yards and three touchdowns.
MMA names new lacrosse coach
Bob Aronson was named Maine Maritime Academy’s head men’s lacrosse coach on Tuesday. He replaces Adam Sherman, who is staying at MMA athletics in a full-time capacity.
Aronson brought the sport of lacrosse to Medfield, Massachusetts in 1994, and led the first varsity program at Medfield High School from 2000 to 2011. During that time, Aronson led the Warriors to 11 quarterfinal appearances, nine final four appearances and five state championships.
He will assume his role on Monday, January 4.
Sherman was the North Atlantic Conference’s Lacrosse Coach of the Year in 2014. He will continue to serve as the football team’s offensive line coach with additional departmental duties. He led the Mariners to four-straight NAC semifinal appearances, including in 2015 after going 6-2 in the NAC.
Mayo in strong start at EKU
Former Messalonskee High School of Oakland basketball standout Nick Mayo is enjoying a strong start to his college career at Eastern Kentucky University.
Mayo averaged 10.0 points-per-game and 3.8 rebounds last week and was named the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week.
Mayo poured in a career-high 20 points and grabbed five rebounds in EKU’s win over South Carolina State on Saturday. He also contributed 12 points and five rebounds at University of North Carolina Wilmington on Monday, and eight points, four boards, a block and a steal in the win over Longwood on Sunday.
Mayo went a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line over the week.