The University of Maine football team looks to get back on the winning track, Maine Maritime Academy of Castine chases a New England Football Conference championship and Colby College of Waterville renews a traditional rivalry, highlighting Saturday’s football games involving Maine colleges.
Maine Black Bears (3-6) at Towson Tigers (1-8), 2 p.m., Unitas Stadium, Towson, Md.: The Bears continue to limp their way, literally and figuratively, toward the end of the season.
Coach Jack Cosgrove’s team takes a 2-4 league record into a Colonial Athletic Association contest against cellar-dwelling Towson, which is 0-6 in conference play.
UMaine is coming off a 39-24 setback at Massachusetts during which the Minutemen ran back the opening kickoff for a touchdown and returned two interceptions for scores to keep the Bears on the ropes.
“We battled, we fought, but we made way too many mistakes, turning the football over especially and also on our third- and fourth-down opportunities,” Cosgrove said.
The Bears are expected to be without starting tailback Jared Turcotte of Lewiston for the final two contests due to injuries, including a knee problem.
“Jared has been managing a number of injuries,” Cosgrove said. “He hasn’t played in the last two weeks and very, very doubtful about his situation with us right now.”
One bright spot of late has been junior tailback Pushaun Brown, who rushed for a career-high 141 yards against the Minutemen.
“He’s been our backup tailback and done some great things for us. He really responded well Saturday,” Cosgrove said.
The Bears’ offense continues to be led by quarterback Warren Smith, who has completed 173 of 265 passes for 1,734 yards. However, he has thrown for only nine touchdowns with nine interceptions.
Derek Session (45 catches, 546 yds., 1 TD) continues to lead the receiving corps.
Towson’s defense has allowed 34.8 points and 374 yards per game. Opponents have rushed for almost 192 ypg against a unit spearheaded by safety Jordan Dangerfield (9.6 tackles per game), linebacker Donte Blakey (8.8 tpg) and defensive end Frank Beltre (7.1 tpg).
UMaine enters the game with the most porous defense in the CAA, surrendering a league-high 376.4 yards per outing while giving up 26.3 ppg. Teams have passed for 246.7 ypg against the Bears, who feature top-notch linebackers Donte Dennis (87 tackles) and Vinson Givans (67).
Towson has mustered a CAA-low 14.9 points per contest, averaging 294 yards. The Tigers’ QB situation appears to be in flux after junior Chris Hart, the team’s leading rusher (64 ypg), was suspended indefinitely Nov. 5 for a violation of team rules.
Bart Blanchard (45-85, 388 yds., 1 TD, 4 INTs) has appeared in seven games and has wide receiver Hakeem Moore (24-462, 5 TDs) as his most capable target.
“We’re challenged in our own way to get guys ready to play at this point in the season,” Cosgrove said. “We know that they’re going to have a guy that’s a CAA quarterback.”
Endicott Gulls (8-2) at Maine Maritime Academy Mariners (8-1), noon, Ritchie Field, Castine: The Mariners are playing for their second straight New England Football Conference crown and a repeat berth in the NCAA Division III Football Championship.
Coach Chris McKenney’s squad claimed its third consecutive Bogan Division title, while Endicott College of Beverly, Mass., brought home the Boyd Division championship.
MMA pits its vaunted triple-option offense against the Gulls’ stingy defense. The Mariners continue to lead Division III, rolling up 496.2 yards per game on the ground and 520.4 total yards.
A veteran offensive line led by seniors and All-Bogan first-team picks Dan Weamer, the league offensive lineman of the year; Mike Secord and Mike Durrell has paved the way for senior fullback Jim Bower, the nation’s top rusher (169.3 ypg) and the NEFC Offensive Player of the Year.
Quarterback Matt Rende (135.7 ypg) and halfbacks Nic Bourassa (87.1 ypg), the all-division return specialist, and Todd Murphy (66 ypg) have also been key cogs in a unit that has run rampant over opponents.
The Mariners rank fourth in the country, piling up 45.8 points per outing.
Meanwhile, Endicott has been among the NEFC leaders in rushing defense (108.6 ypg), total defense (248 ypg) and scoring defense (15.4 ppg).
Defensive lineman Kevin Eagan was the NEFC Defensive Player of the Year, averaging eight tackles per game, while Craig Lussier checks in with 7.2 tackles per game. Linebacker Nick Scozzaro and defensive backs Kyle Capsalis and Bill Hickey also were first-team Boyd Division choices.
MMA defensive lineman Mark Stambach was the only first-team, all-division defensive player for the Mariners, who placed back Josh Elwell, linebacker Joel Chadbourne and lineman/punter Matt Hebert on the All-Bogan second team.
MMA confronts an Endicott offense that managed 28 points and 324 total yards per game behind a balanced attack. The Gulls are spearheaded by All-Boyd first-team QB Phil Konopka (145-for-268, 1,729 yds., 17 TDs, 3 INTs), running back Mike Lane (108 ypg, 6 TDs), tight end Taylor Allen, guard Nick Molinari and place-kicker Dylan Rushe (31-for-31 PATs, 13-18 FGs).
Bowdoin Polar Bears (2-5) at Colby Mules (4-3), 12:30 p.m., Seaverns Field at Harold Alfond Stadium, Waterville: The Mules will try to earn their first outright Colby-Bates-Bowdoin series crown since 2005 when they take on the rival Polar Bears.
Colby and Bowdoin shared the title last season. The Mules and Polar Bears have played 121 times since the first meeting in 1892, with Bowdoin holding the upper hand with a 66-46-9 record.
The rivalry is the third-longest in college football history.
The Mules have won three straight games overall, including a 42-41 come-from-behind victory last Saturday at Tufts in which Colby scored on the final play of the game to win it.
Today’s other game: Hamilton (1-6) at Bates (1-6), noon.