Joe Harasymiak’s debut as a college football head coach demonstrated that he’s ready for the challenge — and that his team might be better than some may have thought.
The University of Maine nonetheless experienced an excruciating season-opening loss on Thursday night.
Bobby Puyol booted a 37-yard field goal with 11 seconds to play, lifting the University of Connecticut to a tense 24-21 victory over the Black Bears at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut.
Puyol and the kicking game proved to be the difference for the Huskies of the top-level Football Bowl Subdivision.
UMaine, a Football Championship Subdivision program, had a couple of chances to put more points on the scoreboard, but were unable to convert two field goals.
Slippery quarterback Bryant Shirreffs scrambled for 95 yards and on 20 carries and also completed 16 of 23 passes for 162 yards to direct the UConn offense. Behind a behemoth offensive line, the Huskies held a 12 ½-minute advantage in time of possession.
Ron Johnson netted 65 yards on 15 attempts and scored a pair of touchdowns as UConn outgained the Black Bears 362-309. Noel Thomas caught nine balls for 70 yards.
UMaine unveiled a much more multifaceted attack, one led capably by Dan Collins. The senior quarterback went 19-for-33 for 269 yards and two touchdowns and was not intercepted.
Junior wide receiver Jaleel Reed enjoyed a breakout performance with eight receptions for 169 yards and a score. However, the Black Bears managed only 40 yards rushing compared to 200 by UConn.
UMaine had an opportunity to take the upper hand late in the seesaw affair as Collins and Reed hooked up on two clutch third-down passes. However, the Bears stalled at the UConn 30-yard line and a 47-yard field-goal attempt by John Bapst High School product Patrick Leonard was blocked with 1:48 left.
With three timeouts in hand and Shirreffs in charge, the Huskies mounted their game-winning drive, chewing up most of the clock along the way before Puyol converted his winning kick.
UConn had seized its first lead with a quick scoring drive late in the third quarter. A diving third-down catch by Arkeel Newsome set the stage for Johnson’s 21-yard TD run through the left side.
The PAT made it 14-7 with 3:10 left in the period.
UMaine responded, needing only six plays to equalize, with the help of a pass interference penalty. Collins went 4-for-4 for 63 yards, including a 40-yard scoring throw over the middle to Reed.
Leonard’s PAT tied the game with only a second left in the quarter.
The Huskies appeared to be headed toward another score on their next possession, but UMaine’s defense stepped up. Defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman called a corner blitz and Najee Goode burst in from the right side and blindsided Shirreffs, jarring the ball loose.
Goode scooped it up and raced 74 yards untouched to put UMaine back in front 21-14.
The Huskies didn’t waste any time retaliating. A 35-yard scamper by Shirreffs helped spark a six-play, 54-yard drive. A pass interference penalty in the end zone against Jeff DeVaughn later put the ball at the 2 and Arkeel Newsome cruised into the end zone on the next play.
The game was tied again with 6:36 to play.
The teams were tied 7-7 at halftime, despite UConn’s ability to control the football.
The Black Bears struggled with field position during most of the first quarter and found themselves backed up at their own 5-yard line at the 4:35 mark. That’s when Collins and the offensive unit began to find its rhythm.
UMaine covered the distance in seven plays, sparked by a 48-yard completion on a play-action pass from Collins to Reed that took the ball to the UConn 28.
Three plays later, Collins hit a wide-open Josh Mack on a flare pass to the left side and the freshman tailback broke a tackle on the way to his first career touchdown to put UMaine on top with 50 seconds left in the quarter.
The Huskies responded with a 16-play, 75-yard march. The big line and Shirreffs’ quick feet paved the way for Johnson’s 1-yard scoring run with 6:55 remaining in the half.
Puyol’s PAT tied the contest.
UMaine had a chance to regain the lead after Collins passed the visitors into scoring position. The Black Bears came up empty when Leonard’s 37-yard field-goal attempt missed well right of the goal posts.
UConn threatened late in the half, but had burned its timeouts and ran out of time.
Linebacker Christophe Mulumba Tshimanga racked up a team-best 12 tackles to spearhead the UMaine defense. Jason Matovu and Sterling Sheffield posted eight each.
Vontae Diggs registered nine tackles for UConn.
UMaine returns to action on Sept. 10 at Toledo, another FBS opponent.