THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE’S John Ebeling, right, catches a pass for a touchdown as Appalachian State’s Demetrius McCray (10) defends during the second half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday in Boone, N.C. Maine defeated Appalachian State 34-12.
The University of Maine defense shut down Appalachian State and showed off a bigplay offense of its own Saturday afternoon as the Black Bears posted a convincing 34- 12 victory in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
Coach Jack Cosgrove’s Black Bears (9-3), ranked No. 13 in the national polls, advanced to the national quarterfinals next weekend. UMaine will play at Georgia Southern, the No. 3 postseason seed.
The third- ranked Golden Eagles (10-2) beat CAA member Old Dominion 55- 48, coached by former UMaine assistant coach and quarterback Bobby Wilder, in a shootout at Statesboro, Ga.
The other three CAA schools in the playoffs, Towson, James Madison and New Hampshire lost their secondround games Saturday, leaving UMaine as the last team standing.
It was the third victory in seven NCAA playoff appearances for UMaine. The last came in 2002, when the Bears beat Appalachian State 14-13 in Boone.
The defense set the tone for UMaine, shutting down the No. 8 Mountaineers (8-4) on the ground. Appalachian State, which had won 61 of its last 65 games at home, managed only three rushing yards on the day.
Junior linebacker Troy Russell made a team-high nine tackles, including a quarterback sack. Cornerbacks Kendall James and Darlos James added seven and five, respectively, with Kendall making one of the Bears’ two interceptions.
Khari Al-Mateen also had one.
The Bears’ offense also took care of business, rattling off a handful of long scoring plays. They included two touchdown hookups of 44 and 35 yards from Warren Smith to Damarr Aultman, a 2-yard strike from Smith to former quarterback John Ebeling, a 54-yard TD dash from David Hood and Pushaun Brown’s 31-yard scoring jaunt.
Smith went 17-for-26 passing, good for 250 yards, three TDs and one interception. Brown netted 111 yards on 24 carries and Hood finished with 88 yards on four attempts.
Aultman caught five balls for 117 yards with the two scores, while Justin Perillo and Arthur Williams had four receptions each.
Jamal Jackson completed 25 of 45 passes for 272 yards and a score, but was intercepted twice and sacked three times. Brian Quick made seven catches for 41 yards and Andrew Peacock had six for 75 yards to lead ASU.
UMaine resilience
UMaine’s resilience after failing to convert an early scoring opportunity was among the key junctures of the contest.
The Bears went 69 yards on four plays on their first possession, capped by Smith’s bootleg throw on the run to Aultman with only 2:12 gone in the game.
After the UMaine defense registered the second of four straight stops to open the contest, the Black Bears went back on the attack. Sparked by four throws from Smith to Perillo, including a 28-yarder, the Bears raced to the ASU 18- yard line.
The Mountaineers caught a break when an apparent pass interference play in the end zone to Aultman was instead ruled “uncatchable” by officials. The ball hit Aultman in the shoulder pad.
UMaine got a first down, but had to settle for a field goal attempt, but Brian Harvey’s 20-yard try was blocked by Mo Gore with three minutes left in the quarter.
ASU got on the board on its fifth possession, moving 58 yards on seven plays, including a 20-yard TD hookup over the middle from Jackson to Peacock.
However, Doug Alston blocked the PAT try, leaving the Bears on top 7-6 with nine minutes left in the half.
UMaine quickly regained the momentum.
Smith drove the Bears 80 yards on eight plays with a key, third-down scramble that helped set up high 35- yard scoring pass on a post pattern to Aultman.
Harvey’s PAT was blocked, keeping the lead at seven points.
The Bears didn’t let the Mountaineers get back into the game.
A shanked punt by ASU’s gave UMaine the ball at its own 42. The Bears picked up two first downs, the latter on a hard-nosed run off the right side by Brown.
Two plays later, Ebeling — who started the season as UMaine’s No. 4 quarterback — slipped behind the defense in the end zone and caught a 21- yard throw from Smith. Harvey’s kick gave the Bears a 20-6 lead with 8:32 remaining in the third quarter.
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