Raise your hand if you were pleasantly surprised by the effort turned in by the University of Maine football team in Thursday night’s opener at Connecticut.
Yeah, it’s a moral victory but a positive development.
Given the Black Bears’ significant graduation losses, key players missing because of disciplinary issues and injuries, and adjusting to a new coaching staff and offensive scheme, it would have been logical to assume they might struggle.
No so much.
It took UConn — which has 22 more scholarships and plays at the higher Football Bowl Subdivision level — the full 60 minutes to overcome UMaine 24-21 on a late field goal.
Faced with the challenge of taking over the program, 30-year-old head coach Joe Harasymiak demonstrated that the Black Bears have bought into the philosophies implemented by the staff.
His postgame locker room speech to the team conveyed his confidence in the team moving forward.
There was poise, not panic; focused intensity, instead of overexuberance; and resilience in the face of taking on a bigger, stronger, faster opponent.
While there were many noteworthy aspects of UMaine’s performance, none was more impressive than the passing game.
Senior quarterback Dan Collins, for perhaps the first time in three seasons as at least a sometimes starter, appeared both confident and comfortable. He didn’t only lead the offense, he commanded it.
He threw the ball well, uncorking very few ill-advised or poorly thrown passes that had the potential to be intercepted. Even so, UMaine was 4-for-11 on third down.
It was a promising first showing for the scheme designed by new offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who drew up a nice assortment of plays that kept UConn from pinning its ears back even with UMaine struggling to run the ball.
With sophomore wide receiver Micah Wright serving the first game of a two-game suspension for violating the school’s student-athlete code of conduct, one of his peers stepped up impressively.
Junior Jaleel Reed ran crisp routes and demonstrated sure hands, achieving career highs with six receptions for 169 yards and a touchdown. Jared Osumah (4-27) and freshman running back Josh Mack (3-36, TD) also were factors.
Their efforts were magnified by the fact the Black Bears were not able to firmly establish their ground game, which netted 40 yards on 19 attempts.
Much of the credit for the passing success also goes to the offensive line, which did a superb job of protecting Collins. He took only a handful of hits and was not sacked.
Not to be lost in the shuffle was the play of senior Max Andrews of Holden. The former John Bapst star, who until recently was a tight end, proved that he is capable of holding down left tackle at least until injured Jamil Demby (knee) returns in the next couple of weeks.
Despite surrendering 24 points, the defense held its own against a massing UConn offensive line. The Huskies netted 200 yards on the ground, including 95 by elusive quarterback Bryant Shirreffs, who made a handful of would-be tacklers look silly with his slick moves.
Even though the Black Bears gave up a handful of significant pass plays, they contained them well much of the night. Linebackers Chris Mulumba Tshimanga and Sterling Sheffield, safety Jason Matovu and corner Najee Goode (he of the forced fumble and 74-yard TD return) had good nights as did linemen Pat Ricard and Darius Greene.
The most notable area of concern for UMaine was its kicking game — which was without suspended senior punter James DeMartini.
Place-kicker Pat Leonard of Bangor had a challenging collegiate debut. He converted all three PATs but could not connect on field goals of 37 and 47 yards, the latter of which was blocked.
Perhaps the Black Bears should have departed Rentschler Field with a victory, but it is clear that this team — which was picked to finish ninth in the Colonial Athletic Association — might be better than expected.
Next up is a second straight FBS test at Toledo on Sept. 10.