WHERE: Delaware Stadium, Newark, Del.
WHEN: 1 p.m. Saturday
STREAMING: FloFootball
ALL-TIME SERIES: Delaware leads, 26-11. The last meeting was a 34-24 Delaware win in the 2021 season opener in Orono.
KEY STAT: 6, the number of turnovers Maine’s defense forced over the last two games, both wins.
OUTLOOK: The Black Bears come off their bye week with their third consecutive road game. A strong second half was a key in each of Maine’s last two games, road wins at Merrimack and Albany. The Black Bears held Merrimack scoreless in the second half and allowed just six second-half points to the Great Danes. A Delaware offense averaging 42 points and just under 471 yards per game, both second in the Coastal Athletic Association, will challenge the Black Bears. The Blue Hens have used a pair of quarterback, Ryan O’Connor and Zack Marker, In last week’s 42-35 win over Monmouth, Marker took all the snaps, throwing for 298 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Marcus Yarns is a dangerous multiple threat for Delaware, and accounted for 228 yards (142 rushing, 86 receiving) in last week’s win. Maine Coach Jordan Stevens added that Jo’Nathan Silver gives the Blue Hens another tough runner. “Tackling both those guys will be a full day’s work right there,” Stevens said. Linebacker Kesean Dyson and defensive end Xavier Holmes lead Maine’s defense with 2.5 sacks each. Maine corner Alhaji Kamara leads the CAA with three interceptions.
Delaware Coach Ryan Carty sees a Maine team that’s playing with a lot of confidence. “We see a 3-2 team that’s coming off a bye and coming off a big win over a ranked team on the road,” Carty said. Maine quarterback Carter Peevy was 20 of 24 for 202 yards and two touchdowns in the 34-20 win at Albany, but the story of the Black Bears offense has been the rejuvenated run game. After gaining 100 yards or more four times in 2023, Maine has run for at least 100 yards in all five games this season. The Blue Hens allow an average of just 94 yards per game on the ground, so Maine’s running game will be tested. Jaharie Martin leads Maine with 266 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Tavion Banks has 210 yards and a touchdown. Linebacker Gavin Moul leads the Blue Hens with 30 tackles. KT Seay has two interceptions.
OF NOTE: The Black Bears and Blue Hens have a special connection in Tubby Raymond. Known primarily for his long tenure as Delaware’s head coach from 1966 to 2001, Raymond began his career as an assistant coach at Maine in 1951, and served as Maine baseball’s head coach in 1952 and 1953 … This is Delaware’s final season in the CAA. Next year, the Blue Hens will move up to the FBS level and join Conference USA… Stevens and Sean Goldrich, Delaware’s quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator, worked together on the same coaching staff at Yale for three seasons. Goldrich also spent one season as wide receivers coach at the University of New England in Biddeford.
