One step forward, two steps back. That’s been the story of the University of Maine football team this season, and the Black Bears definitely went backwards Saturday in a 43-17 loss at Elon.

After a winless September, Maine (1-4, 1-1 Coastal Athletic Association) begins its October slate by hosting Sacred Heart (1-3, 1-1) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday (FloSports). Here are three storylines as the Black Bears look to snap a four-game losing streak.

Could change be coming at QB?

Starting quarterback Eddie Buehler struggled against Elon, completing 14 of 35 passes for just 88 yards. Caden Drezek, a junior, got his first action of the season in the fourth quarter, throwing a touchdown pass to Kevin Jackson to cap a 75-yard drive.

Maine coach Jordan Stevens was adamant that he never considered a QB change after Buehler’s less-than-stellar outing against Merrimack. But in Monday’s CAA news conference, Stevens was noncommittal when asked if Buehler would start.

“We’re just looking at that during the week here,” Stevens said.

Stay tuned.

Special teams, special teams, special teams

Without context, the total yardage in Maine’s most recent loss (Elon 376, Maine 315) doesn’t look all that bad. So, why the lopsided defeat? It’s because the Black Bears gave the Phoenix short fields, primarily via special teams miscues.

Elon blocked two punts in the first quarter, the first leading to a field goal and the second resulting in a safety. A 24-yard Elon punt return in the third quarter put the Phoenix at Maine’s 43, leading to a touchdown, and a muffed punt by the Black Bears late in that quarter resulted in another Elon field goal.

Throw in a 31-yard Elon touchdown drive after Maine turned it over on downs in the fourth quarter, and you see that the Phoenix offense didn’t have to do much to score. Sacred Heart (18.8 points per game) hasn’t lit up the scoreboard this year, but if Maine doesn’t clean up its special teams, that won’t matter.

A spark in the run game?

It wasn’t all bad news for Maine against Elon. After rushing for just 174 yards on 93 carries — 1.9 yards per carry — in three games since its season-opening win, the Black Bears rushed for 167 yards on 34 carries against Elon.

Can Maine repeat that? Well, consider that New Hampshire, which had averaged just 2.6 yards per carry prior to last week’s game at Sacred Heart, rushed for 181 yards on 29 carries (6.2 average) against the Pioneers. Perhaps the Black Bears can have similar success.