UMaine football team opens season with tight win over Norfolk State Spartans

PHOTO COURTESY NORFOLK STATE ATHLETICS

ORONO, Maine — The projected strength of the 2014 University of Maine football team was its defense.

Even with two starters not in the lineup, that more veteran unit carried play during Saturday night’s season opener.

The 2oth-ranked Black Bears shut down Norfolk State to the tune of 100 yards and 10 first downs, setting the tone for a season-opening 10-6 victory in front of 6,951 fans on Morse Field at Alfond Stadium.

With the Spartans virtually devoid of a passing game, UMaine clamped down despite playing much of the evening in its own end. Sophomore linebacker Christophe Mulumb Tshimanga piled up 14 tackles to provide a potent presence in the middle.

Coach Jack Cosgrove’s squad was without starting linebacker Cabrinni Goncalves, who was serving a one-game suspension for violating UMaine’s student-athlete code of conduct. Senior Randy Samuels posted seven tackles in his first start at linebacker, while redshirt freshman Austin Brown made seven tackles behind a front four spearheaded by end Trevor Bates of Westbrook (5 tackles, interception) and tackle Matthew Wilson (5 tackles).

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