# 2023 Maine Black Bears football team

The 2023 Maine Black Bears football team represented the University of Maine as a member of the Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference (CAA) in the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Black Bears were led by second-year head coach Jordan Stevens and played home games at Alfond Stadium in Orono, Maine.
The CAA, formerly known as the Colonial Athletic Association from 2007 through 2022, changed its name in July 2023 to accommodate future membership expansion outside of the Thirteen Colonies.

## Transfers
### Outgoing

Over the off-season, Maine lost sixteen players through the transfer portal. Twelve are currently committed while the remainder are still actively pursuing new schools.
| Name | Pos. | New school |
| Elijah Alexander | DE | Unknown |
| Austin Ambush | S | Jacksonville State |
| Tyrese Baptiste | WR | Unknown |
| Navonn Barrett | CB | Lackawanna C.C. |
| Shawn Bowman | TE | Rutgers |
| Freddie Brock | RB | Georgia State |
| Brian Cooey | P | Charleston Southern |
| Antonio Corsi | TE | St. Francis Xavier |
| Jamond DuBose | S | The Citadel |
| Jabari Echols | CB | Merrimack |
| Charles Eberle | LS/LB | New Mexico State |
| Joe Fagnano | QB | UConn |
| Jaylen Long | LB | Monroe J.C. |
| Khairi Manns | DE | Colorado |
| Xavier Nurse | LB | Samford |
| Justin Sambu | DT | Baylor |

### Incoming

Over the off-season, Maine added thirteen players through the transfer portal.
| Name | Pos. | Class | Previous school |
| Alex Berrouet | RB | So | Colorado State |
| Amir Byrd | S | Sr | Rutgers |
| Aidan Cadogan | P | Jr | New Hampshire |
| Joe Gillette | WR | Sr | Lafayette |
| Justyn Haynesworth | DL | Jr | East Carolina |
| Izaiah Henderson | DL | R-Sr | Boston College |
| Joe Horn | IOL | So | UMass |
| Alhaji Kamara | CB | So | Old Dominion |
| Damon Matthews | S | Sr | Rutgers |
| Daniel Plascencia | IOL | So | Southwestern College |
| Brian Santana-Fis | RB | So | El Camino College |
| Rayshad Wallace | DL | Gr | Sacred Heart |
| Zachary Zoglio | LS | Jr | Eastern Michigan |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 6:30 p.m. | at FIU* | Riccardo Silva StadiumMiami, FL | ESPN+ | L 12–14 | 16,878 |
| September 9 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 2 North Dakota State* | FargodomeFargo, ND | ESPN+ | L 7–44 | 15,044 |
| September 16 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 21 Rhode Island | Alfond StadiumOrono, ME | FloSports | L 17–34 | 4,813 |
| September 23 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 5 William & Mary | Zable StadiumWilliamsburg, VA | FloSports | L 3–28 | 7,365 |
| September 30 | 3:30 p.m. | Stony Brook | Alfond StadiumOrono, ME | FloSports | W 56–28 | 5,243 |
| October 7 | 3:30 p.m. | at Richmond | E. Claiborne Robins StadiumRichmond, VA | FloSports | L 31–42 | 6,099 |
| October 14 | 1:00 p.m. | LIU* | Alfond StadiumOrono, ME | FloSports/WFVX | W 24–13 | 8,588 |
| October 21 | 4:00 p.m. | at Campbell | Barker-Lane StadiumBuies Creek, NC | FloSports | L 28–34 | 5,357 |
| October 28 | 1:00 p.m. | Albany | Alfond StadiumOrono, ME | FloSports/WVII | L 21–37 | 3,932 |
| November 4 | 1:00 p.m. | Hampton | Alfond StadiumOrono, ME | WVII/FloSports | L 35–42 | 3,115 |
| November 18 | 1:00 p.m. | at New Hampshire | Wildcat StadiumDurham, NH | FloSports | L 25-44 | 6,727 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||

## Game summaries
### At FIU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Black Bears | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 12 |
| Panthers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Statistics | Maine | FIU |
| First downs | 27 | 13 |
| Total yards | 378 | 305 |
| Rushing yards | 165 | 13 |
| Passing yards | 213 | 292 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 39:05 | 20:00 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Maine | Passing | Derek Robertson | 21-43, 213 yards |
| Maine | Rushing | Tristen Kenan | 24 rushes, 110 yards, TD |
| Maine | Receiving | Montigo Moss | 3 receptions, 50 yards |
| FIU | Passing | Keyone Jenkins | 15-30, 292 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| FIU | Rushing | Shomari Lawrence | 7 rushes, 26 yards |
| FIU | Receiving | Kris Mitchell | 9 receptions, 201 yards, 2 TD |

### At No. 2 North Dakota State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Black Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Bison | 6 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 44 |
| Statistics | Maine | NDSU |
| First downs | 13 | 25 |
| Total yards | 223 | 456 |
| Rushing yards | 106 | 264 |
| Passing yards | 117 | 192 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 25:00 | 35:00 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Maine | Passing | Derek Robertson | 18-29, 117 yards, 3 INT |
| Maine | Rushing | Tristen Kenan | 14 rushes, 55 yards |
| Maine | Receiving | Jamie Lamson | 6 receptions, 42 yards |
| NDSU | Passing | Cam Miller | 14-19, 152 yards |
| NDSU | Rushing | Cole Payton | 8 rushes, 105 yards, 2 TD |
| NDSU | Receiving | Zach Mathis | 4 receptions, 62 yards |

### Vs No. 21 Rhode Island

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams | 3 | 21 | 3 | 7 | 34 |
| Black Bears | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Statistics | Rhode Island | Maine |
| First downs | 25 | 17 |
| Total yards | 440 | 271 |
| Rushing yards | 206 | 84 |
| Passing yards | 234 | 187 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:14 | 27:46 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Rhode Island | Passing | Kasim Hill | 18-32, 234 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rhode Island | Rushing | Ja'Den McKenzie | 17 rushes, 124 yards, TD |
| Rhode Island | Receiving | Kahtero Summers | 6 receptions, 130 yds, 2 TD |
| Maine | Passing | Derek Robertson | 21-31, 187 yards, INT |
| Maine | Rushing | Tristen Kenan | 18 rushes, 84 yards, 2 TD |
| Maine | Receiving | Joe Gillette | 6 receptions, 42 yards |

### At No. 5 William & Mary

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Black Bears | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Tribe | 0 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
| Statistics | Maine | William & Mary |
| First downs | 7 | 18 |
| Total yards | 138 | 390 |
| Rushing yards | 53 | 331 |
| Passing yards | 85 | 59 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 23:08 | 36:52 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Maine | Passing | Derek Robertson | 10-22, 85 yards, INT |
| Maine | Rushing | Tristen Kenan | 12 rushes, 30 yards |
| Maine | Receiving | Rohan Jones | 3 receptions, 33 yards |
| William & Mary | Passing | Darius Wilson | 8-13, 59 yards, TD |
| William & Mary | Rushing | Bronson Yoder | 25 rushes, 163 yards, TD |
| William & Mary | Receiving | JT Mayo | 3 receptions, 29 yards, TD |

### Vs Stony Brook

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Seawolves | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Black Bears | 28 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 56 |
| Statistics | Stony Brook | Maine |
| First downs | 19 | 25 |
| Total yards | 479 | 512 |
| Rushing yards | 131 | 87 |
| Passing yards | 348 | 425 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 29:25 | 30:35 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Stony Brook | Passing | Casey Case | 22-37, 348 yards, 4 TD, INT |
| Stony Brook | Rushing | Shakhi Carson | 9 rushes, 64 yards |
| Stony Brook | Receiving | Jayden Cook | 7 receptions, 117 yards, 2 TD |
| Maine | Passing | Derek Robertson | 25-30, 394 yards, 5 TD |
| Maine | Rushing | Trevin Ewing | 1 rush, 30 yards, TD |
| Maine | Receiving | Montigo Moss | 5 receptions, 108 yards, 2 TD |

### At Richmond

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Black Bears | 17 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 31 |
| Spiders | 14 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 42 |
| Statistics | Maine | Richmond |
| First downs | 17 | 23 |
| Total yards | 421 | 487 |
| Rushing yards | 11 | 96 |
| Passing yards | 410 | 391 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 26:14 | 33:46 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Maine | Passing | Derek Robertson | 18-25, 315 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Maine | Rushing | Tristen Kenan | 1 rush, 15 yards |
| Maine | Receiving | Joe Gillette | 8 receptions, 169 yards, 3 TD |
| Richmond | Passing | Camden Coleman | 25-36, 365 yards, 6 TD, 2 INT |
| Richmond | Rushing | Savon Smith | 12 rushes, 53 yards |
| Richmond | Receiving | Nick DeGennaro | 8 receptions, 113 yards, 3 TD |

### Vs LIU (Homecoming)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Sharks | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
| Black Bears | 7 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
| Statistics | Long Island | Maine |
| First downs | 15 | 21 |
| Total yards | 357 | 339 |
| Rushing yards | 164 | 104 |
| Passing yards | 193 | 235 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 24:19 | 35:41 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Long Island | Passing | Ethan Greenwood | 12-17, 186 yards, TD, INT |
| Long Island | Rushing | Ethan Greenwood | 19 rushes, 100 yards |
| Long Island | Receiving | Michael Love | 3 receptions, 109 yards, TD |
| Maine | Passing | Derek Robertson | 20-32, 235 yards, 3 TD |
| Maine | Rushing | Tavion Banks | 21 rushes, 87 yards |
| Maine | Receiving | Joe Gillette | 8 receptions, 102 yards |

### At Campbell

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Black Bears | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
| Fighting Camels | 7 | 21 | 6 | 0 | 34 |
| Statistics | Maine | Campbell |
| First downs | 21 | 25 |
| Total yards | 492 | 410 |
| Rushing yards | -7 | 168 |
| Passing yards | 499 | 242 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:36 | 32:24 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Maine | Passing | Derek Robertson | 36-52, 503 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT |
| Maine | Rushing | Tavion Banks | 4 rushes, 6 yards |
| Maine | Receiving | Joe Gillette | 6 receptions, 135 yards |
| Campbell | Passing | Hajj-Malik Williams | 26-33, 242 yards, 2 TD |
| Campbell | Rushing | Lamagea McDowell | 26 rushes, 114 yards, 2 TD |
| Campbell | Receiving | VJ Wilkins | 8 receptions, 79 yards |

### Vs Albany

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Great Danes | 10 | 14 | 13 | 0 | 37 |
| Black Bears | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| Statistics | Albany | Maine |
| First downs | 21 | 21 |
| Total yards | 473 | 312 |
| Rushing yards | 149 | 92 |
| Passing yards | 324 | 220 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 29:07 | 30:53 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Albany | Passing | Reese Poffenbarger | 18-30, 324 yards, 2 TD |
| Albany | Rushing | Faysal Aden | 22 rushes, 142 yards, 2 TD |
| Albany | Receiving | MarQeese Dietz | 7 receptions, 150 yards |
| Maine | Passing | Derek Robertson | 29-43, 220 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| Maine | Rushing | Brian Santana-Fis | 3 rushes, 35 yards |
| Maine | Receiving | Michael Monios | 10 receptions, 96 yards, TD |

### Vs Hampton

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Pirates | 7 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
| Black Bears | 7 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 35 |
| Statistics | Hampton | Maine |
| First downs | 14 | 30 |
| Total yards | 409 | 526 |
| Rushing yards | 323 | 151 |
| Passing yards | 86 | 375 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 22:53 | 37:07 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Hampton | Passing | Christopher Zellous | 7-16, 86 yards, TD |
| Hampton | Rushing | Elijah Burris | 14 rushes, 177 yards, 4 TD |
| Hampton | Receiving | Romon Copeland | 3 receptions, 60 yards, TD |
| Maine | Passing | Derek Robertson | 28-46, 349 yards, 5 TD, INT |
| Maine | Rushing | Tristen Kenan | 16 rushes, 88 yards |
| Maine | Receiving | Jamie Lamson | 8 receptions, 180 yards, TD |

### At New Hampshire

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Black Bears | 0 | 17 | 0 | 8 | 25 |
| Wildcats | 13 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 44 |
| Statistics | Maine | New Hampshire |
| First downs | 22 | 20 |
| Total yards | 346 | 373 |
| Rushing yards | 31 | 102 |
| Passing yards | 315 | 271 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 33:10 | 26:50 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Maine | Passing | Derek Robertson | 32-51, 315 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Maine | Rushing | Tristen Kenan | 11 rushes, 50 yards |
| Maine | Receiving | Trevin Ewing | 7 receptions, 79 yards, TD |
| New Hampshire | Passing | Max Brosmer | 16-26, 271 yards, 3 TD |
| New Hampshire | Rushing | Myles Thomason | 16 rushes, 60 yards |
| New Hampshire | Receiving | Logan Tomlinson | 8 receptions, 121 yards, TD |