University of Maine defensive end Michael Cole made his last game count.

Helped off the field late in Maine’s 26-3 victory over 15th-ranked Delaware Saturday afternoon after nine tackles that included five sacks, Cole is done for the season.

Cole sustained a torn quadriceps tendon in his left leg and will require season-ending surgery, said Andrew Mahoney, team spokesman. Cole confirmed by his Twitter account that he is “out for the rest of the year but back for next.”

A junior from North Brunswick, N.J., Cole garnered national attention for his performance at Delaware Saturday, which included a forced fumble and 41 yards in lost yardage for the sacks.

“You saw him at his best,” Maine Coach Jack Cosgrove said Monday morning in a Colonial Athletic Association conference call. “He certainly was the leader for us out there.”

The CAA named Cole its Defensive Player of the Week. He also received honors from The Sports Network (National Co-Defensive Player of the Week) and the College Football Performance Awards (National Defensive Lineman of the Week and National Defensive Player of the Week).

Cole currently leads the Football Championship Subdivision with seven sacks this season. He has 21 for his career, six and one-half shy of Maine’s all-time leader in that category, Mike Denino, who played from 1986 to 1989.

The Black Bears (2-3, 1-1 CAA) return to action Saturday night against Towson University in Maryland before a homecoming game Oct. 20 against New Hampshire.


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