A well-rested University of Maine football team welcomes top receiver Micah Wright back into its lineup when it entertains high-powered James Madison University on Saturday at Alfond Stadium in Orono.
It is the Black Bears’ home opener and the Colonial Athletic Association opener for both teams.
UMaine opened with losses to Football Bowl Subdivision teams University of Connecticut (24-21) and Toledo (45-3) and had a bye last weekend.
Eleventh-ranked James Madison’s only loss came to FBS team North Carolina last weekend (56-28).
Wright, an All-CAA second-team pick who was serving a two-game suspension stemming from a disorderly conduct arrest at a party last May, had 61 catches for 818 yards and five touchdowns last season. His 61 catches and 818 yards ranked fourth in the CAA.
“He can change a game so quickly. He was our leading receiver last year and our deep threat,” said UMaine coach Joe Harasymiak. “We’ve got to do a good job getting him in some [favorable] matchups.
“He is so excited for this game. But he’s got to stay in the moment. He can’t get too hyped up,” said Harasymiak.
James Madison (2-1) at UMaine (0-2), noon Saturday, Morse Field at Alfond Stadium: The Black Bears are looking to snap a six-game losing streak dating back to last season and extend their win streak in home openers and CAA openers to four.
James Madison has averaged 54.7 points and 539.7 yards behind quarterback Bryan Schor and running backs Cardon Johnson and Khalid Abdullah. The Dukes churned out 495 yards of offense against North Carolina.
Johnson has rushed for 297 yards on 50 carries, Abdullah has 272 yards on 46 carries, and Schor has completed 39 of 54 passes for 532 yards and four touchdowns. Schor also has run for 159 yards on 22 carries. The top receivers are Brandon Ravenel (10 catches, 96 yards) and Domo Taylor (9-133).
Abdullah ran for 116 yards vs. UNC.
“Their backfield is definitely the strength of their team,” said UMaine senior linebacker Christophe Mulumba Tshimanga. “And their quarterback likes to run. We’re going to have to stop the run and force them to pass the ball.”
“We’re going to have to change up our fronts and our blitz patterns, and we’re going to have to tackle well,” said UMaine defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman. “They’ll run through arm tackles.”
All three punts James Madison has returned this season have gone for a touchdown: Two by Rashard Davis and one by John Miller.
Ravenel, defensive linemen Andrew Ankrah, offensive tackle Mitchell Kirsch and cornerback Taylor Reynolds were first-team, All-CAA selections in 2015. Linebackers Brandon Hereford (28 tackles) and Dimitri Holloway (18) are the top tacklers.
First-year James Madison coach Mike Houston expects a good tussle from UMaine.
“Maine is a disciplined, hard-nosed, physical football team. They have a very talented quarterback [in Dan Collins], and their defense plays hard,” Houston said.
Collins (28-for-58, 334 yards) and Jaleel Reed (nine receptions, 180 yards) head the pass game, and Darian Davis-Ray (67 yards, 11 carries) is UMaine’s leading rusher. Nigel Beckford, Zaire Williams and Josh Mack also have been effective.
The defense features Tshimanga (22 tackles), strong safety Jason Matovu (16), free safety DeAndre Scott (13) and rover Sterling Sheffield (13) along with All-CAA end Pat Ricard (8).
Alfred State Pioneers (0-3) at Husson Eagles (1-1), 1 p.m. Saturday, Winkin Sports Complex, Bangor: The Eagles look to follow up last week’s 43-23 win over Dean College with a Homecoming triumph over an Alfred State (New York) team they beat 44-2 a year ago. Dean and Alfred State are joining the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference next season.
Husson running back John Smith was the ECFC Offensive Player of the Week last week after he rushed for a school-record 280 yards on 39 carries and caught two passes for 25 yards against Dean. It was his fifth career 200-yard rushing game and school-record, 18th career 100-yard rushing game.
Husson quarterback Cory Brandon has completed 26 of 48 passes for 268 yards. Linebacker Ellis Throckmorton and lineman Luke Washburn headline the defense.
Alfred State has lost to William Patterson (43-13), Brockport State (49-0) and Rochester (55-27). The Pioneers feature freshman quarterback Dashon Turner (34-for-64, 432 yards), running back Hezekiah Williams (47 rushes, 187 yards) and wide receiver Khris Gregg (10 catches, 125 yards) along with linebacker Brandon Davis and strong safety Steven Hubick, who have both been in on 31 tackles.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Engineers (0-3) at Maine Maritime Academy Mariners (1-1), noon Saturday, Ritchie Field, Castine: This will be a game of contrasting offensive philosophies as the Engineers are averaging 217 passing yards per game, and the Mariners have averaged 309 rushing yards.
Maine Maritime’s James Ferrar (39 carries, 211 yards) and Jacob Doolan (27-205) have netted over 100 yards per game, and quarterback Corey Creeger has gained 117 yards on 41 carries while also completing 12 of 23 passes for 267 yards.
MIT’s Udgam Goyal has thrown 113 passes in three games and completed 65 for 651 yards. His favorite receivers are Eddy Garcia-Montes (18-247) and Jared Hanson (16-122). John Robertson has rushed for 241 yards on 64 carries.
Maine Maritime defensive tackle Christopher Ford was named the New England Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week after making 10 tackles in the 42-35 win over Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
Saturday’s other games, 1 p.m.: Colby (0-0) at Williams (0-0), Bates (0-0) at Trinity (0-0), Bowdoin (0-0) at Middlebury (0-0).