The University of Maine football team has been an enigma early in the 2014 season.
The Black Bears have been stingy on defense, allowing only 19 points in their first two games. However, their offense has mustered only 20 points and has been inconsistent.
Coach Jack Cosgrove’s squad faces its toughest challenge of the young season when it takes on Boston College of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Maine Black Bears (1-1) vs. Boston College Eagles (2-1), 1 p.m., Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts: UMaine realizes the magnitude of the challenge in taking on a BC team that knocked off then-No. 9 Southern Cal 37-31 last weekend. They don’t plan to be intimidated, rather will focus on their own execution.
“If you put a Towson uniform or a Villanova uniform on BC or USC, you couldn’t tell the difference, for the most part,” said Bears senior safety Khari Al-Mateen.
“It starts and ends with us. If we do the things that we’re supposed to do all the time, I have no doubt that we can win this football game.”
UMaine must try to slow an Eagles offense that is averaging 29.0 points and 431 yards per contest. BC rushed for 352 yards against USC.
The Bears’ defensive standouts include linebackers Chris Mulumba Tshimanga and Randy Samuels and end Trevor Bates of Westbrook. They’ll be trying to contain elusive QB Tyler Murphy, a graduate student who played at Florida.
“He’s a designed run guy in their offense, but in the pass game, if the throw isn’t there, that becomes the scary part because he can be creative off the drop-back,” Cosgrove said.
The stable of backs includes Myles Willis (32-160-1), Jon Hilliman (31-143-2) and Tyler Rouse (33-130-2) and BC’s top receivers are Dan Crimmins (10-79) and Josh Bordner (6-90-1).
“They use a lot of personnel groupings and they’ll attack you,” Cosgrove said of a big, veteran offensive line. “You have sets with six offensive linemen and two tight ends in the game.”
UMaine’s offense must overcome the loss of junior tailback and leading rusher Nigel Jones (39 carries, 137 yards), who is out with an undisclosed upper-body injury. Freshman Nigel Beckford (9-50) and redshirt freshman Jerickson Fedrick will assume those duties.
Sophomore quarterback Dan Collins (18-for-41 passing, 243 yds., 2 TDs, 0 interceptions) hopes to get better protection and make some quicker throws to the likes of senior wideout Damarr Aultman (5 catches, 96 yds., TD) and WR Jordan Dunn (5-28).
The Eagles have allowed 22.7 points and 317.7 yards per game paced by linebacker Steven Daniels (19 tackles, INT), safety Justin Simmons (17 tackles, INT) and LB Josh Keyes (15 tackles, 6 ½ for a loss).
BEAR TRACKS: Senior cornerback Axel Ofori (ankle), senior wideout Art Williams (leg) and sophomore DT Pat Ricard (knee) are all expected to make the trip.
Alfred State Pioneers (0-2) vs. Husson Eagles (0-1), noon, Winkin Complex, Bangor: The Eagles have had two weeks to prepare for their home opener and hope to get their second win.
Husson had difficulty running the ball effectively in its 34-17 opening-game loss at Alfred University and threw the ball often behind QB Joe Seccareccia of Bangor (15-for-39, 134 yds., 1 INT).
The Eagles were solid against the run, but surrendered 297 yards through the air. Safety Stephan Dance (10 tackles) and linebacker Ellis Throckmorton of Bangor (9) head that unit.
Alfred State is coming off a 35-21 loss to Rochester. Husson won last year’s meeting 13-0.
Maine Maritime Academy Mariners (1-0) vs. Massachusetts Maritime Buccaneers (0-1), noon, Clean Harbors Stadium, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts: Pride and the Admiral’s Cup are on the line as these two teams renew their rivalry for the 42nd time.
Maine Maritime is coming off a 42-14 win over Anna Maria during which it rode the 241-yard, two-TD rushing effort of QB Michael Fahey.
Mass. Maritime has won the last three meetings, including last year’s 52-18 blowout in Castine during which the Bucs rolled up 752 yards of total offense.
Saturday’s other games: Colby (0-0) at Trinity (0-0,) 1 p.m.; Bates (0-0) at Amherst (0-0), 1 p.m.; Bowdoin (0-0) at Williams (0-0), 2 p.m.