UMaine Survives Towson Comeback to Win Season Opener

Eddie Buehler threw for 199 yards and two TDs as Maine built a 21-0 lead and held on 21-18.

The University of Maine opened its 2026 football season Thursday night with a 21-18 win over Towson in a Colonial Athletic Association game in Towson, Maryland. Redshirt sophomore Eddie Buehler passed for 199 yards and two touchdowns in his first college start, and the Black Bears built a 21-0 lead with three second-quarter touchdowns. Rashawn Marshall added a 32-yard TD run as part of a balanced attack that saw Maine compile 329 total yards against Towson's 379.

According to the Portland Press Herald, Andrew Indorf connected with Aaron Enterline for a 4-yard TD, then passed to Enterline for a 2-point conversion after a penalty against Maine. The Baltimore Sun reports that Indorf completed 15 of 21 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns in the loss.

Maine was leading 21-15 early in the fourth quarter when the teams had to wait out a weather delay. According to the Portland Press Herald, the game went into a lightning delay with 13:20 left in the fourth quarter. After the game resumed, Towson's Zaydaan Faridi made it 21-18 with a 39-yard field goal, setting up a tense finish.

Towson was inside Maine's 10 twice in the fourth quarter but came away with only three points. According to the Portland Press Herald, the Tigers drove to the Maine 5, but a sack on third-and-3 by Brayden Isaiah forced Towson to attempt a 37-yard field goal, which was wide left. Sam Oppenheimer caused a fumble by wide receiver Cleveland Charlton and Jake Kucera recovered it to clinch the victory.

Despite Towson's edge in total yards, Maine's defense was the difference. The Black Bears recorded six sacks and forced two turnovers in the game. Marshall led UMaine's ground game with 81 yards on 13 carries, while Buehler's touchdown passes went to Malik McNeely (16 yards) and Nick Laughlin (30 yards). The Portland Press Herald notes that Buehler threw TD passes sandwiched around Marshall's scoring run.

Maine will be on the road again for its next game, at Football Bowl Subdivision opponent Appalachian State next Saturday. The Black Bears will look to build on their season-opening conference win as they face a step up in competition against an FBS program. Meanwhile, Towson will look to regroup after its comeback bid fell short in the season opener.