Givans, McDonald and Smith Lead No. 12 Football to Homecoming Win Over Rhode Island

ORONO, Maine—Vinson Givans (Cambridge, Mass.) returned an interception for a touchdown and added 10 tackles to lead the University of Maine football team to a 27-21 win over the Rhode Island Rams in the Black Bears' Homecoming Game. Maine is now 5-1 overall and 3-0 in CAA play while Rhode Island falls to 1-5 and 0-3 in league play.

Maine got on the board first midway through the opening quarter when Warren Smith (Forked River, N.J.) found an open Pushaun Brown (North Brunswick, N.J.) for a 22-yard score.

Smith would help extend the Black Bear lead when he found Maurice McDonald (Paterson, N.J.) for a 41-yard touchdown with 5:37 left in the first half.

Smith would get his third touchdown pass of the day when he found Derek Session (Baltimore, Md.) for a 21-yard score a little over five minutes into the third quarter.

The Rams would get on the board when Bob Bensten found Anthony Baskerville for a 25-yard touchdown to make it 21-7.

After the Black Bears could not convert, Jordan Waxman (Kintnersville, Pa.) hit a beautiful 49-yard punt that  went out at the Rhode Island 3-yardline. The Black Bear defense would make the Rams go to a third-and-nine situation, and Givans intercepted the tipped ball at the two and ran it in for what would be the winning score.

Rhode Island added a pair of scores in the fourth, but Maine would get a crucial first down courtesy of Smith to seal the win.

McDonald had a game-high nine receptions and 139 yards receiving while Brown rushed for a game-high 103 yards. Smith completed 18-of-26 passes for 233 yards and three scores.

Trevor Coston (Greenlawn, N.Y.) notched eight tackles and an interceptions while Jerron McMillian (Hillside, N.J.) added six tackles, including two tackles-for-loss.

Waxman notched five punts inside the 20-yardline.

Bentsen threw for 158 yards and a pair of scores for Rhode Island.