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Maine beats Elon 27-26 for outright win of CAA title
ORONO, Maine Black Bears (AP) Earnest Edwards returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, Drew Belcher scored on a 1-yard run and Maine cashed in on a turnover to win the Colonial Athletic Association championship outright by beating Elon Phoenix 27-26 on Saturday.
It's Maine's first outright conference championship since 2013 and 13th overall conference title dating back to 1949.
Elon had a chance to win after forcing a punt with 3:05 left to play, but, after getting intercepted then recovering a fumble on the same play, was stopped on downs at the Maine 42.
Jamehl Wiley's fumble recovery set up Belcher's score before Edwards returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and a 14-7 second-quarter lead. Kenny Doak added a 44-yard field goal, then Edwards returned another kickoff 93 yards for a score and a 24-13 Black Bears lead.
Connor Christiansen grabbed two interceptions and Greg Liggs Jr. snagged another which led to Elon scores. The Phoenix closed to 27-20 on Daniel Thompson's 23-yard TD pass to Cole Taylor. Skyler Davis kicked a career-high four field goals, including two in the fourth quarter to make it a one-point game.
Freshman Ramon Jefferson gained 130 yards on 25 carries for Maine (8-3, 7-1), which had 234 total yards to Elon's 432.
Thompson was 18 of 43 for 250 yards passing and Brelynd Cyphers scored on a 2-yard run for the Phoenix (6-4, 4-3).
Copyright 2018 by AP. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of AP is strictly prohibited.
| Team Stats | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1st Downs | 0 | 0 |
| Rushing | 0 | 0 |
| Passing | 0 | 0 |
| Penalty | 0 | 0 |
| 3rd Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| 4th Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Total Net Yards | 0 | 0 |
| Total Plays | 0 | 0 |
| Avg Gain | 0 | 0 |
| Net Yards Rushing | 0 | 0 |
| Rush Attempts | 0 | 0 |
| Avg Rush Yards | 0 | 0 |
| Yards Passing | 0 | 0 |
| Comp. - Att. | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Yards Per Pass | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties - Yards | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Touchdowns | ||
| Rushing TDs | 0 | 0 |
| Passing TDs | 0 | 0 |
| Other | ||
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Int. Thrown | 0 | 0 |
| Punts - Avg | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Return Yards | ||
| Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Safeties | 0 | 0 |
| Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
| Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
| Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
| Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
| Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
| Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
| Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
| Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
| Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
| Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
| Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
| Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
| Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
| Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
| Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
| Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |