It has been a common theme for the University of Maine football team this season.
The Black Bears build up a lead and then rely on their defense to make big plays down the stretch to secure the victory.
It happened again on Saturday as the Black Bears manufactured a 27-0 lead before receiving a pair of clutch plays from its defense late in the fourth quarter to hold off Stony Brook 27-21 in a Colonial Athletic Association game at Stony Brook, New York.
First-year coach Joe Harasymiak’s Black Bears (6-4, 5-2 CAA) kept their Football Championship Subdivision playoff hopes alive.
It was the third straight loss for Stony Brook (5-5, 4-3 CAA).
The victory sets up a huge game with playoff implications for UMaine against archrival New Hampshire on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Alfond Stadium in Orono. The Wildcats also are 6-4 and 5-2, respectively.
Najee Goode’s interception with 1:29 remaining sewed up the win for UMaine just over a minute after Stony Brook gambled on fourth-and-seven at its own 22-yard line and a Pat Irwin pass fell incomplete with linebacker Zach Hume in coverage for UMaine.
UMaine’s ensuing drive stalled, so the Seawolves had one last chance, but Goode ended their comeback bid.
Freshman tailback Josh Mack rushed for 147 yards and opened the scoring with a 12-yard run that capped an 11-play, 56-yard drive with 6:49 left in the first period.
UMaine’s defense produced the second TD when safety Mozai Nelson scooped up a fumble and ran 23 yards for a score with 6:47 remaining in the half.
The Black Bears built the lead to 20-0 when senior quarterback Dan Collins found Jared Osumah for a two-yard TD pass just 28 seconds before the intermission. That finished off a 12-play, 72-yard drive that took 4:19.
Mack scored his second TD of the game midway through the third period when Collins tossed him a 21-yard pass.
But the Seawolves climbed back into the game with touchdowns just 46 seconds apart later in the third quarter.
First, Donald Liotine scored on a one-yard run with 4:19 remaining as the Seawolves marched 74 yards on eight plays.
On the ensuing UMaine possession, Travon Reid-Segure intercepted a Collins pass and raced 12 yards into the end zone.
Then, a pass interference penalty on Osumah nullified what would have been a 29-yard TD pass from Collins to Mack and the Seawolves crept to within six points when Liotine scampered 50 yards with 11:09 to play.
But the Black Bears hung on for their sixth win by seven points or less.
Mack carried the ball 39 times and also caught two passes for 28 yards.
Collins was 16-for-24 for 156 yards and two touchdowns along with the interception.
Micah Wright caught four passes for 47 yards and Osumah finished with four for 24 yards.
Safety DeAndre Scott had made tackles, Christophe Mulumba Tshimanga had six and Darrius Hart and Taji Lowe logged five each for UMaine. Sterling Sheffield had four, including three for losses and two sacks.
UMaine’s defense held Stony Brook to 222 total yards.
Liotine led Stony Brook with eight carries for 94 yards and Jordan Gowins contributed 46 on 10 carries.
Irwin, filling in for the injured Joe Carbone, completed only 5 of 13 passes for 67 yards.
Tyrice Beverette had a game-high 15 tackles for the Seawolves and Shayne Lawless was involved in 11 tackles as was Noah McGinty.