The undefeated University of Delaware broke open a close game with touchdowns 1:32 apart in the fourth quarter to beat the University of Maine 44-21 in Newark, Delaware on Saturday afternoon.
Zach Marker’s four-yard touchdown pass to Jake Thaw with 6:48 left following a pass interference call on UMaine extended Delaware’s lead to 30-21 and, just 1:32 later, linebacker Ty Davis returned an interception 34 yards to all but sew up the win.
Quincy Watson’s three-yard run with 57 seconds left capped the scoring.
Delaware, which can’t participate in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs because it is elevating to the Football Bowl Subdivision next season and has more than the 63 scholarships allowed in the FCS, improved to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the Coastal Athletic Association.
UMaine fell to 3-3 and 1-2.
Delaware was clinging to a 23-21 lead with 11:52 remaining in the game when the Blue Hens put together a 10-play, 74-yard drive that culminated in Marker’s pass to Thaw.
A pass interference call on Dorian Blackwell on a third-and-seven incompletion at the UM-11 yard line gave Delaware a first down at the UM-4 and the Hens cashed in two plays later as Marker threw his third touchdown pass of the game.
UMaine started the ensuing drive at its 25-yard line and, on a third-and-five at the UM-30, Davis picked off a Carter Peevy pass and scooted into the end zone untouched to make it 37-21.
Following the kickoff, Peevy was again picked off, this time by KT Seay at the Delaware-38, and he returned it 19 yards to the UMaine-43.
Eight plays later, Watson ran it into the end zone from the three on his sixth consecutive carry of the drive.
It didn’t take the Blue Hens long to dent the scoreboard after the game-opening kickoff.
On their first possession, Marker threw a short pass to Phil Lutz at the Delaware 49-yard line and Lutz did the rest, racing into the end zone for a 56-yard touchdown just 1:52 into the game.
That gave Lutz a touchdown reception in six straight games, which is a school record.
UMaine answered with an eight-play, 60-yard drive capped by Jaharie Martin’s one-yard run with 28 seconds left in the first period.
Peevy completed four of five passes for 53 yards during the drive including a 28-yarder to Mo Irefin and two to Cooper Heisey including a five-yarder in a third-and-three situation at the Delaware nine-yard line.
Delaware regained the lead courtesy of a UMaine turnover.
Nick Karika forced a Brian Santana-Fis fumble and Nic Ware recovered it at the Maine-15 yard line.
Five plays later, Marker found Thaw from six yards out to make it 13-7.
Devin Vaught blocked Nate Reed’s extra-point kick.
The Black Bears answered when Peevy threw a 19-yard TD pass to Montigo Moss with 3:06 left in the half. Joey Bryson’s extra point kick gave UMaine a 14-13 lead which it took into the intermission.
Reed’s 23-yard field goal with 6:37 left in the third period gave the Blue Hens the lead for good and Jo’Nathan Silver’s 40-yard TD scamper 5:11 later expanded the lead to 23-14.
The Black Bears fought back to within two on Tavion Banks’ one-yard TD run with 12:00 left in the game but that was as close as they would get.
Delaware finished with 458 total yards of offense compared to UMaine’s 229.
Marker completed 20 of 31 passes for 279 yards and three TDs. Lutz had five catches for 133 yards and a touchdown and Thaw had five for 34 yards and two TDs. Watson rushed for 66 yards on 12 carries and Silver had 50 on four.
Gavin Moul’s six tackles paced the Delaware defense.
Peevy completed 15 of 25 passes for 147 yards for the Black Bears and had a TD pass. He was intercepted three times.
Moss’ four catches for 51 yards and Heisey’s three for 24 led the receiving corps.
Santana-Fis was the only Black Bear running back with more than 20 yards rushing as he gained 31 on six carries. UMaine was held to just 82 rushing yards on 26 attempts.
Junior defensive end Xavier Holmes had a game-high and career-high 13 tackles for the Black Bears including a sack. John Costanza, Robby Riobe, Christian Thomas and Kesean Dyson each had eight tackles.
UMaine will host Villanova for their Homecoming game next Saturday at 1 at Morse Field in Alfond Stadium.
Villanova is 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the CAA and had a bye this weekend.
Delaware will visit Richmond (4-2, 2-0) for a 3:30 contest.