UMaine football stressing need to get off to better starts

ORONO, Maine — It's tough to win a football game when you spot the opponent a sizable early lead.

The University of Maine's football team had gotten off to terrible starts in its last two games: falling behind Montana State 35-0 in a 41-24 loss and spotting Monmouth University a 20-0 lead in a 51-22 setback.

UMaine head coach Jordan Stevens has changed the practice regimen to try to stimulate better starts as the 1-2 Black Bears prepare for a 1 p.m. non-conference game at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts. on Saturday.

This week, at the start of practice, instead of each player going to their position group and working on individual skills, they are lining up on offense and defense and running plays against each other.

"We get out and stretch and get our bodies ready just like we would before a game and then we go best-on-best (top unit offense vs. top unit defense) rather than going to indies (individual skills)," said senior nose tackle and co-captain John Costanza. "Starting fast is the key to winning games and we need to do that."

Graduate student center Joe Horn said the team is well-prepared for every game "but we're beating ourselves. We're making stupid mistakes early in the game."

He also said they need to be more physical and assertive early.

"We have to come out screaming off the ball and be more aggressive early on," said Horn referring to the offensive line.

Graduate student quarterback Carter Peevy agreed.

"We have to come out more ready to play," said Peevy. "We've lost the physical battles early in the last two games. We have to convert on third downs. A lot of that starts with me."

Peevy noted that it is difficult to come back from a large early deficit.

"If you get off to a good start you obviously have a better chance to win the game," the Mercer University transfer added.

Individually, Peevy feels he needs to be more decisive on when he needs to run.

"I've had to scramble and make some plays when I needed to. But there are a couple times I wish I would have run instead of throwing it away or throwing it downfield," said Peevy.

He said Merrimack, 1-2, is a quality team.

"They're going to challenge you. You're going to have to beat them man-to-man," said Peevy. "They've got some good athletes over there but we do, too. We have to play how we know we can and if we do, we'll be just fine."

Costanza said the defense met on Sunday and they stressed that there is a long season left to go and there's time to turn things around.

UMaine will be facing another former UMaine quarterback, Ayden Pereira, after facing Derek Robertson last weekend.

"Ayden is really athletic. He can run around and make plays and extend plays with his feet," said UMaine head coach Jordan Stevens who also noted that they have to stop running back Jermaine Corbett, who is averaging eight yards per carry.

UMaine will be bolstered by the return of co-captain and tight end Cooper Heisey from a shoulder injury. But last year's leading receiver, Jamie Lamson, will again be sidelined by a hamstring ailment.

"Getting Cooper back is huge from a leadership standpoint and from a confidence standpoint," said Stevens.