Buffalo native Eric Lewis came back to haunt his hometown University on Thursday night. Lewis, who went to Williamsville East HS, returned a Chad Salisbury interception 34 yards for a touchdown with just over 10 minutes to go in the third quarter to spark the University of Maine to a 30-13 win over the University at Buffalo in the season opener for both schools at Fitzpatrick Stadium before 4,998 fans. The Bulls were trailing 16-6 when Lewis stepped in front of a Salisbury pass on the far sideline and went untouched into the end zone to stem the Bulls' momentum.

The loss was the first in season openers for fourth year head coach Craig Cirbus, whose team opens the home schedule next Saturday versus Lock Haven at 7 pm at UB Stadium.

Maine quarterback Mickey Fein was 17-of-27 for 211 yards and three touchdowns for the Black Bears. He was intercepted once by sophomore Jeff Lawrence (Austintown, OH/Austintown-Fitch HS).

The Bulls were sluggish in the first half picking up just two first downs in the first quarter and trailed 16-0 before rallying late in the half. After the second of three Mickey Fein to Drew O'Connor touchdown passes, the Bulls marched 74 yards in 16 plays in 4:20 to cut the lead to 16-6 on a five-yard touchdown run by junior Josh Roth (Conewango Valley, NY/Pine Valley).

Maine increased their lead to 30-6 with 3:01 left in the third quarter when Fein hit O'Connor for a school-record third touchdown catch.

The Bulls cut the lead to 30-13 with 8:00 left in the fourth quarter when Roth scored his second touchdown from two yards out. Roth led the Bulls with 62 yards on 17 carries. Drew Haddad (Westlake, OH/St. Ignatius) led all UB receivers with seven catches for 98 yards. Kali Watkins (Rochester, NY/W. Irondequoit) added five receptions for 48 yards.

Senior linebacker Antonio Perry (Elmira, NY/Elmira Free Academy) led the Bulls with nine tackles while Eric Pipkins (Pittsburgh, PA/Valley) had eight tackles, including two for loss. Carlos Spencer (Buffalo, NY/South Park) also had eight tackles for the Bulls. Freshman Bob Dzvonick (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler) added six tackles for UB, including four solo stops.