Maine forces late fumble, edges William & Mary 35-28

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 2:58 p.m. ET

foxsports

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) Micah Wright returned a punt 67 yards for a backbreaking score and Najee Goode forced a fumble just inside the 20 to halt a last-minute drive and preserve Maine's 35-28 win over William & Mary on Saturday.

Two fumble recoveries were the difference as the Black Bears (5-3, 4-1 Colonial Athletic Association) won their fifth straight in a statistically even battle with a surging William & Mary (3-5, 1-4).

The Tribe fell behind 28-7 in the second quarter before twice pulling within a touchdown in the third. Kendell Anderson pulled W&M to within 28-21.

Then came the punt return. Wright danced left to evade the first W&M tackler, cut upfield to streak past five defenders and stiff-armed the punter at about the 38 en route to the 67-yard return.

A threatening Tribe appeared to have a first down inside the 20 when Goode hit Andrew Caskin and forced a fumble with 39 seconds left.