ORONO – Last fall, there were only three teams among 122 Football Championship Subdivision schools that rushed for fewer yards per game than the University of Maine’s Black Bears and just seven teams that averaged fewer yards per carry.
UMaine averaged 79.7 yards per game and 3.01 per carry en route to a 2-9 season.
The Black Bears became a one-dimensional team, throwing the ball 425 times and running it 290 times.
That made the offense more predictable and opposing defenses were able to focus on stopping the passing game.
But the emphasis on improving the rushing attack was in full evidence during the 18th annual Jeff Cole Memorial Spring Game on a rainy Saturday morning on Morse Field in Alfond Stadium.
The game honors the memory of former UMaine assistant coach Jeff Cole, who died of cancer on Oct. 18, 2004.
Powerful Montana State transfer running back Jaharie Martin broke through the line for a 59-yard run on the second play from scrimmage and bulled his way into the end zone from four yards out two plays later to set the tone for the game.
Near the end of the game, during the red zone competition between the offense and the defense, the fifth-year senior ran 15 yards for a touchdown.
Juniors Brian Santana-Fis and Stone Compton, Cape Elizabeth sophomore Nick Laughlin and redshirt sophomore Symon Sathler also had some impressive runs in which, like Martin, they were able to break tackles and earn extra yards after contact.
“Today was really productive,” said UMaine head coach Jordan Stevens. “We ran the ball really well. They were running hard. [Santana-Fis] has improved immensely, Jaharie brings a work ethic, attitude and a physicality to our offense. People have to make a decision if they want to tackle him.”
Martin weighs in at 230 pounds.
The Black Bears’ most experienced running back, Tavion Banks, missed the game due to a minor injury. He missed seven games last season due to injury.
And last year’s leading rusher, freshman Tristen Kenan, has left the team to deal with some personal issues but is expected to play this fall according to Stevens.
The offensive line included redshirt sophomores Jack Boutaugh from Turner, Xavier Lozowicki, and Anthony Iliano; junior center Joe Horn and graduate student John Olmstead, a transfer from Lafayette who began his career at Notre Dame.
Two other redshirt sophomores who saw playing time last year, Nicolas Cruiji and Tyler Williams, missed the game due to minor injuries.
Martin is from Lakeland, Florida and was primarily a linebacker in high school. He was named the Polk County Defensive Player of the Year. But he was moved from linebacker to running back in the fall of 2019 at Montana State and wound up being a hybrid back which entailed lining up as a running back or a fullback depending upon the team’s needs.
The 6-foot Martin was hard to bring down as he kept his legs moving and used his strength to drive tacklers back.
Santana-Fis is also in his second year with the program but didn’t join the team until right before the season opener at Florida International University in Miami because he had to finish up a summer class. He came to UMaine from El Camino (community) College in California.
“I came here to try to dominate and run hard with bad intensity,” said Santana-Fis, a native of Woodbridge, New Jersey. “Last year, it took me a while to know the plays and get going. Now I’m more comfortable. I’m more in sync with the guys.”
The three quarterbacks vying for the starting position, graduate student newcomer Carter Peevy, a transfer from Football Championship Subdivision playoff team Mercer University (Ga.); senior Anthony Harris and sophomore Caden Drezek all made some good throws and displayed some running ability.
In fact, Peevy scrambled for a touchdown.
The previous two quarterbacks, Derek Robertson and Joe Fagano, were pocket passers who rarely ran. Robertson transferred to Monmouth after last season and Fagnano moved on to UConn the year before.
On the defensive side of the ball, Stevens said among the players who played well and have had a good spring are junior nose guard Shymell Davis, senior tackle John Costanza, cornerbacks Alhaji Kamara, a redshirt junior, and Jamaree Gibson, a redshirt sophomore, and sophomore safety Devin Vaught.
After the spring game, those who received Most Improved Player awards for the overall spring season were Iliano (offense), Vaught (defense), Laughlin (special teams) and Costanza (strength and conditioning).
UMaine will open the season by hosting Colgate on Friday night, Aug. 30 at 7 and will then travel to perennial FCS power Montana State for a game eight days later (Sept. 7) at 8.
“That [Montana State] will be a revenge game,” grinned Martin.
