The University of Maine football team hopes its up-and-down season will take another upturn on Saturday when it returns home for a Colonial Athletic Association game against Towson.
Towson Tigers (5-3) at Maine Black Bears (3-5), 7 p.m., Alfond Stadium, Orono: The Bears will have to find some ways to get creative on offense, not only coming off a 13-3 loss at Villanova, but facing a Tigers defense that has been stingy of late.
Towson shut out Delaware 19-0 last Saturday and ranks third in CAA total defense (308.4 yards per game), including third against the run (121.6 ypg).
“Their defense plays very well together and they’ve been probably as opportunistic a defense as I’ve seen in a long time,” said UMaine head coach Jack Cosgrove.
“They held [Delaware] to 112 total yards and six first downs. That’s a big, physical rushing football team that they just clearly dominated on defense,” he added.
Leading the way are linebacker Eric Handy and safety Donnell Lewis (47 tackles each) and LB Jordan Mynatt (41 tackles, 8 tackles for a loss).
The Black Bears will try to get clicking, presumably with sophomore Drew Belcher (50-for-81 passing, 544 yards, 3 touchdowns; 40.5 ypg rushing) directing the offense for a second straight week. He was solid in helping UMaine move the ball against Villanova, but threw a costly interception and also fumbled once.
The Bears will need wide receivers Micah Wright (41 receptions, 521 yds., 3 TDs) and Jordan Dunn (40-426-1) to make some big plays, while tailback Nigel Beckford (98 carries, 318 yds., 4 TDs) must provide a complement to Belcher in the run attack.
However, UMaine ranks ninth in CAA scoring (19.1 ppg) and is seventh in total offense (317.4 ypg).
The Bears need a defense headed by linebacker Randy Samuels (60 tackles, 2 interceptions) and end Trevor Bates (39 tackles, 5 sacks) to stand up strong, especially with tackle Pat Ricard questionable with a right ankle injury.
Towson’s top weapons are QB Connor Frazier (128-for-213, 1,463 yds., 7 TDs), WR Jacquille Veii (33 rec, 368 yds.) and powerhouse tailback Darius Victor (79.4 ypg, 10 TDs).
Husson Eagles (6-1) at Norwich Cadets (5-3), 1 p.m., Sabine Field, Norwich, Vermont: This contest will serve as the championship game of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference, as both teams take 5-0 league records into the game. The winner earns the ECFC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Football Championship.
Defending champion Husson continues to impress on both sides of the ball. Coach Gabby Price’s Eagles rank fifth in Division III total defense (206.1 ypg) and have allowed only 15.3 ppg. Linebacker Ellis Throckmorton (50 tackles) leads the unit.
The versatile offense features tailback John Smith (151.1 ypg, 14 TDs), QB Joe Seccareccia (95-for-160 passing, 1,278 yds., 19 TDs) and wideout Deon Wiggins (23 rec., 375 yds., 8 TDs).
Maine Maritime Academy Mariners (2-5) at Salve Regina Seahawks (6-1), noon, Gaudet Field, Newport, Rhode Island: The Mariners look to build on a 21-20 win over Curry against the Seahawks, who are still in contention to win the New England Football Conference crown.