Maine 27, Rhode Island 21

Published Oct. 15, 2011 7:06 p.m. ET

foxsports

Warren Smith threw the first three Maine touchdowns, and the Black Bears held on for a 27-21 win over Rhode Island on Saturday.

After a 22-yard touchdown pass to Pushaun Brown, a 41-yarder to Mauri McDonald and a 21-yarder to Derek Session by Smith, Maine held a 21-0 lead with 9:26 left in the third quarter.

Rhode Island (1-5, 0-3) answered on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Robert Bensten to Anthony Baskerville to close the gap. Then late in the third quarter, Bensten threw an interception from his own 4-yad line to seal Rhode Island's fate. Maine's Vinson Givans ran back the interception 12 yards for a 27-7 lead.

The Rams tacked on two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but it was too late.

Smith finished with 233 yards and three touchdowns on 18 of 26 passing.

Brown led the Rams with 103 yards on 29 carries.