The Maine Black Bears mauled the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 31-28 Saturday night to add to the talley of FCS victories over FBS teams in 2018.
Maine 31 at Western Kentucky 28
The Hilltoppers against the Black Bears sounds like a story out of colonial or pioneer history, but this one happened last night. Western Kentucky, of C-USA, led 21-0 at the end of the first quarter. This was accomplished by a pick-six sandwiched between two touchdown passes. After that point, Maine outscored the Hilltoppers 31-7 in what can only be described as a mauling. This included a scoop-and-score sandwiched between three touchdown passes. At the end, Maine’s Jordan Swann, mauled a potential game-tying field goal attempt by Western Kentucky with his big paw.
(According to the Real News Stylebook, “When the Maine Black Bears win an athletic contest, it must be described as a ‘mauling’.” Not sure this mauled punctuation is passing RN style, though. Where is that little beige rag, anyway?)
This now makes six FCS victories over FBS teams in 2018.
A couple of other things are now put on notice. Western Kentucky may have fallen-off their recent streak of good teams and bowl games. They are now 0-2 on the season. Their defense looked porous last week at rushing-monster Wisconsin, and now this. The Tops play at Louisville next Saturday, so things may get worse before they get better.
Maine was picked near the bottom of the tough Colonial by some publications. This now appears to be a gross underrating. Their first game was a mauling of projected FCS powerhouse, and Colonial mate, New Hampshire, 35-7. Now, after an open weekend, they play at Central Michigan. This is going to be a danger-zone game for Central Michigan as the Chippewas were mauled by Kansas on Saturday, 31-7, ending the Jayhawks’ 46-game road losing streak.
(Incidentally, the RN Stylebook says, “If the Kansas Jayhawks win a football game, it ‘may’ be described as a ‘mauling’. However, if they lose a football game, it most certainly must be described as a ‘mauling’.”)
Mauled by the Jayhawks, and with a road game in the interim against Northern Illinois, Central Michigan is going to have to look alive against Maine.
Or is that, play dead?