| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JVST | 7 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 27 |
| MAINE | 21 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 55 |
Ferguson, Jefferson lead Maine to 55-27 FCS playoff win
Maine airs it out for 41-yard TD
Chris Ferguson connects with Earnest Edwards for a Black Bears touchdown.
ORONO, Maine -- Chris Ferguson threw for five touchdowns, Ramon Jefferson ran for a career-high 186 yards with a touchdown and seventh-seeded Maine used a big first half to defeat Jacksonville State 55-27 on Saturday in the second round of the FCS playoffs.
The Black Bears (9-3), who play at second-seeded Weber State next weekend, won a playoff game for the first time since 2011 and did it by piling up a season-high 42 first-half points.
Ferguson threw three scores in the first quarter, two to Earnest Edwards, for a 21-0 lead. Zerrick Cooper hooked up with Jamari Hester for a 36-yard score late in the first quarter and a 70-yarder early in the second to bring the Gamecocks (9-4) within a touchdown. Ferguson responded with his fourth TD pass, Edwards scored on a 3-yard run, the second time Maine cashed in on a short field after a Jacksonville State fumble, and Jefferson scored for a 42-14 lead.
The five-time reigning Ohio Valley Conference champions collected 14 penalties for 136 yards. The Gamecocks finished 1 of 14 on third down and 2 of 6 on fourth, despite piling up 477 yards. Cooper a sophomore transfer from Clemson, was 19 of 44 for 365 yards with an interception.
Maine, the Colonial Athletic Association champs, won a playoff game at home for the first time, with a season-high 268 yards on the ground and Ferguson throwing for 159.
Game Information
2023 Conference USA Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 8-0 | 13-1 |
| New Mexico State | 7-1 | 10-5 |
| Jacksonville State | 6-2 | 9-4 |
| Western Kentucky | 5-3 | 8-5 |
| Middle Tennessee | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Louisiana Tech | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| Sam Houston | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| UTEP | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| Florida International | 1-7 | 4-8 |
2023 Coastal Athletic Association Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| UAlbany | 7-1 | 11-4 |
| Villanova | 7-1 | 10-3 |
| Richmond | 7-1 | 9-4 |
| Elon | 6-2 | 6-5 |
| Delaware | 6-2 | 9-4 |
| Towson | 4-4 | 5-6 |
| Rhode Island | 4-4 | 6-5 |
| William & Mary | 4-4 | 6-5 |
| New Hampshire | 4-4 | 6-5 |
| Campbell | 4-4 | 5-6 |
| Monmouth | 3-5 | 4-7 |
| Hampton | 3-5 | 5-6 |
| Maine | 1-7 | 2-9 |
| North Carolina A&T | 0-8 | 1-10 |
| Stony Brook | 0-8 | 0-10 |
NCAAF News