WHERE: Robins Stadium, Richmond, Virginia
WHEN: 3:30 p.m. Saturday
STREAMING: FloFootball
ALL-TIME SERIES: Richmond leads, 15-14.
KEY STAT: 5, the number of touchdown passes Maine quarterback Derek Robertson had in last week’s 56-28 win over Stony Brook after having none in the first four games of the season.
OUTLOOK: The Black Bears will look to build on last week’s win, their first of the season and highest-scoring game since a win over Jacksonville State in the 2018 FCS playoffs. A Maine offense that struggled against tough competition over the first month found its way last week, with Robertson having the best game of his career, completing 25 of 30 passes for 394 yards and five touchdowns. Montigo Moss, Joe Gillette and Jamie Lamson are Maine’s top three receivers, and all got open last week. Hampton ran for 241 yards in a 31-14 win over Richmond last week, so this could be a game in which Maine’s running game, which averages a Coastal Athletic Association-low 99 yards per game, on track. Richmond’s defense is led by linebacker Tristan Wheeler, who will make his 43rd straight start Saturday. … Richmond has already used three starting quarterbacks this season, and could use a fourth in this game. Freshman Camden Coleman made his debut last week in the second half, going 24 for 34 for 224 yards and two touchdowns. In his weekly media conference call Monday, Coach Russ Huesman was non-committal when asked who will be under center this week, and that means Maine’s defense needs to be ready for whoever takes the snap for the Spiders. Maine Coach Jordan Stevens said starting safeties Robby Riobe and Shakur Smalls, who each missed last week’s game with injuries, along with linebacker Darius McKenzie, the team’s leading tackler, are all day-to-day. Freshman linebacker Jabari Odoemenem made the most of increased playing time with nine tackles last week for the Black Bears. Like Maine, Richmond has struggled on third down, converting a conference-low 20.7% of third down opportunities. The Spiders were just 1 of 11 on third down in last week’s loss.
OF NOTE: Huesman called Maine “the best 1-4 team in the country.” Huesman cited Maine’s tough schedule against FBS opponent Florida International, along with nationally ranked North Dakota State, Rhode Island, and William and Mary as the reason that he thinks highly of the Black Bears … One of Richmond’s three losses was to Michigan State of the Big 10. The Spartans beat the Spiders 45-14 on Sept. 9 … The Spiders beat Stony Brook, the team Maine beat last week for its first win, 20-19 on a field goal with 46 seconds left in the game on Sept. 23 … Maine won three of its last four games at Richmond, including a 28-9 victory in 2018, its last trip to Robins Stadium… The Black Bears have forced two or more turnovers in four of their first five games … The Spiders are tied for first in the nation with a pair of defensive touchdowns. Richmond is leading the conference with 11 turnovers gained … With 56 points last week, Maine saw its scoring average jump from just under 10 points per game to 19 points per game.
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