Regardless of UMaine soccer’s report, its quarterback is extra assured than ever
After the College of Maine’s 56-28 win over Stony Brook, UMaine head coach Jordan Stevens known as his group’s quarterback Derek Robertson “the most effective” within the convention.
Robertson accomplished 25 of 30 passes for a career-high 394 yards and 5 touchdowns in that sport. And he continued to roll final weekend in a 42-31 loss at Richmond, finishing 18 of 25 passes for 315 yards and two TDs regardless of struggling a leg harm within the second quarter that ultimately shelved him within the fourth quarter.
His current surge has elevated Robertson’s completion proportion to 62.8 % on the season, which is second finest within the Coastal Athletic Affiliation, behind Monmouth’s Marquez McCray’s 63.4 %. Robertson hopes the momentum will carry the struggling UMaine group to extra wins within the closing weeks of the season.
Robertson will take the sphere on Saturday when the Black Bears entertain Lengthy Island College of their Homecoming sport at Morse Discipline in Alfond Stadium at 1 p.m.
Robertson’s completion proportion is 78.2 for his final two video games alone. And of his seven interceptions and 7 touchdowns on the season, 5 of these interceptions and no landing passes got here in his first 5 video games.
Robertson mentioned the offense is taking part in with much more confidence proper now, and that his personal confidence has grown in current weeks.
“We’ve much more perception in one another. All of the work we’ve been placing within the final couple of weeks [is paying off],” he mentioned. “I’ve a number of belief in every part we’re doing and in everybody round me. It’s actually thrilling.”
He credited his broad receivers, tight ends and working backs for making useful performs, and the offensive line with giving Robertson time to throw.
“They’re all making my job rather a lot simpler,” he mentioned.
The Black Bears will enter Saturday’s sport with a 1-5 report, 1-3 in convention play. LIU is 1-4 and 1-1 within the Northeast Convention, and picked up its first win final Saturday, 23-13 over Sacred Coronary heart.
UMaine has 5 video games remaining and gained’t be going to the playoffs.
However the Black Bears, who had been 2-9 final yr, can nonetheless win some video games down the stretch and construct momentum for subsequent season.
“That’s the objective. We wish to end sturdy, rattle off as many wins as we are able to throughout the closing stretch,” mentioned Robertson, who added that he will probably be returning to the group subsequent season.
The stretch run begins Saturday and Robertson mentioned Homecoming is all the time a particular sport.
“There are all the time a ton of individuals out tailgating early and having fun with themselves,” mentioned the 6-foot-2, 200-pound native of Yonkers, New York, who was the convention’s Co-Offensive Participant of the Week because of his efficiency in opposition to Stony Brook.
Regardless of the group’s report, Robertson firmly believes this system is headed in the fitting course.
“The tradition Coach Stevens is constructing is unbelievable,” Robertson mentioned. “It’s undoubtedly beginning to come into its personal right here. Everybody believes in what we’re doing. It’s all in regards to the course of and it’s going to return. Everyone knows that for positive.”
The Black Bears have opened the playbook the previous few weeks, utilizing trick performs which have labored out properly.
Robertson threw a flea-flicker to broad receiver Montigo Moss for a landing in opposition to Stony Brook and Moss threw a TD cross to working again Tavion Banks in opposition to Richmond.
“Any time you run these forms of performs and execute them, it’s thrilling. It’s enjoyable. It will get all the fellows going,” mentioned Robertson, who is likely one of the group’s captains. He gave credit score to the group’s offensive coordinator, Steve Cooper. “He works tirelessly to get the sport plan prepared each single week.”
Robertson mentioned trick performs preserve defenses guessing and makes them much less predictable.
“The entire objective is to maintain defenses off steadiness. We wish to make certain we aren’t predictable, which we aren’t. We delight ourselves in being aggressive,” Robertson mentioned.
The Black Bears have unfold the wealth with regards to the receiving corps with Joe Gillette main the best way with 21 catches for 326 yards and 5 TDs. Eight of these receptions and 169 yards got here from the sport in opposition to Richmond.
Moss has 19 for 276 yards and two TDs and Jamie Lamson has 19 catches for 180 yards. Tight finish Cooper Heisey has 13 grabs for 91 yards.
Main rusher Tristen Kenan (78 carries, 312 yards), who can also be the group’s fourth-leading receiver (15 catches, 118 yards), will miss the sport with an harm. John Homosexual (34 rushes, 158 yards) and Banks (4-for-10) will substitute him. Banks performed his first sport final weekend after lacking 5 video games with a shoulder harm.
