There’s nothing like a game against a high-level opponent to get the competitive juices flowing to open the football season.
That’s the scenario for the University of Maine, which makes the step up to Football Bowl Subdivision competition when it plays Boston College of the Atlantic Coast Conference on Saturday afternoon.
Coach Jack Cosgrove’s Black Bears open against the Eagles in the first of back-to-back games against FBS foes.
In addition to the experience of playing the likes of Boston College and Tulane (Sept. 19), UMaine athletics will receive a total of $725,000 in guarantee money for the contests — $400,00 from BC and $325,000 from Tulane.
Husson University of Bangor and Maine Maritime Academy of Castine also kick off their seasons on Saturday.
Maine Black Bears at Boston College Eagles, 1 p.m., Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts: UMaine steps up to face a bigger, faster, stronger and deeper BC squad. The Black Bears are 2-10 all time against FBS opponents but beat Massachusetts 24-14 in 2013.
A handful of key dynamics include the Black Bears’ ability to get pressure on the quarterback, avoiding turnovers on offense and using enough depth to weather an afternoon of punishment by the Eagles’ big offensive front.
The teams meet for the third time in four years after last year’s 40-10 win by BC during which the hosts wore down the UMaine defense. The Eagles have five new starters in the line, but their approach may be similar.
“Power run game success [by the opponent] is very demoralizing. It physically and then mentally takes you out of the football game,” Maine head coach Jack Cosgrove said.
UMaine features a stout defensive front headed by noseguard Pat Ricard and end Trevor Bates of Westbrook, while a deep linebacking corps is led by Chris Mulumba Tshimanga and Cabrinni Goncalves. The Eagles look to tailback Jon Hilliman (860 yards, 13 touchdowns in 2014) to set a physical tone running the ball.
The Black Bears also need to get pressure on BC sophomore quarterback Darius Wade, a first-year starter, in order to help out a youthful secondary.
“If we can get to and create problems in the mind of a young quarterback, then I think that’s what you try to do,” Cosgrove said.
Top returning receivers for BC are Sherman Alston (16 receptions, 175 yards, two touchdowns) and David Dudek (13-148-1).
UMaine’s offense expects to be severely tested by a veteran BC defense that returns seven starters off a unit that ranked No. 2 in the country while allowing 94.5 yards per game a year ago. Leading returning tacklers include safety Justin Simmons (76 tackles, two interceptions) and linebacker Steven Daniels (72 tackles, one INT).
The Black Bears are intent upon demonstrating more production on offense behind an improved line anchored by senior center Bruce Johnson. Junior Dan Collins gets the start at quarterback and sophomore Nigel Beckford is the tailback. Top targets include redshirt freshman wide receiver Micah Wright and sophomore wide receiver Jared Osumah.
One way UMaine hopes to combat BC’s size and depth advantage is by using a lot of guys to minimize fatigue and sustain stamina as the game wears on.
“We’re going to play and find out a lot about our guys these first two weeks,” Cosgrove said.
“[If] it’s an FBS team letting you hang around after three quarters, then all of a sudden it’s them with a lump in their throat and you with the excitement and the adrenaline,” he said.
Alfred Saxons at Husson Eagles, noon, Winkin Complex, Bangor: Coach Gabby Price’s squad begins its quest for a second straight Eastern Collegiate Football Conference title and NCAA postseason berth against a team from the highly regarded Empire 8 Conference.
Husson, 8-2 a year ago, is 0-3 all time against Alfred, which went 5-5 last season, including a season-opening 34-17 win over the Eagles. The Saxons held Husson to 51 rushing yards and passed for 297 of their 439 total yards in the victory.
Husson features hard-driving tailback John Smith, senior quarterback Joe Seccareccia and wideout Deon Wiggins.
Maine Maritime Academy Mariners at SUNY Maritime Privateers, noon, Throggs Neck, New York: Coach Chris McKenney pits his option-based Mariners against the Privateers of the ECFC in the first meeting between the programs.
Maine Maritime Academy seeks a third straight Division III national rushing title after netting 394 ypg last season behind New England Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year Jacob Doolan, who amassed 1,180 yards and eight TDs in 2014 and quarterback Michael Fahey (1,047 yards rushing, 10 TDs).
SUNY Maritime went 4-6 a year ago.