ORONO, Maine — With three games coming up against fellow Colonial Athletic Association contenders Villanova, Stony Brook and New Hampshire, University of Maine football coach Joe Harasymiak knows his team can ill afford to look past Saturday’s road game at William & Mary.
“It’s going to be a big challenge for us,” said Harasymiak, whose Black Bears will be seeking their fifth-straight win. “We play similar styles. They want to run the ball like we do.
“Their running game is coming around. Kendell Anderson was all-league [first team] last year but had a high ankle sprain earlier this season. But he’s back to form,” he said. “They also have an all-league quarterback [Steve Cluley] who has been up and down in some games.”
Defensively, Harasymiak said the Tribe likes to pressure the opponent with different looks.
“If we can stay connected, stay on our blocks and catch them in the right [scheme], we can break a big play,” said Harasymiak.
UMaine (4-3, 3-1 CAA) at William & Mary (3-4, 1-3 CAA), 3:30 p.m., Zable Stadium, Williamsburg, Virginia: UMaine will have its hands full against a team that rallied past Delaware 24-17 in its last game two weeks ago with a 21-point fourth quarter. William & Mary has won eight of its last nine home games. Anderson has averaged 144 rushing yards the past three games, so UMaine will have to tackle well.
Cluley (112-for-188 passing, 1,233 yards, six touchdowns) completed all nine of his fourth-quarter passes against Delaware. He has been intercepted 10 times, and UMaine is coming off a 28-21 win over Rhode Island in which it had five interceptions. UMaine’s defense has scored a touchdown in the last two games. The Black Bears will have to get pressure on Cluley and be wary of his running.
UMaine needs a consistent performance from quarterback Dan Collins (102-for-198, 1,502 yards) against a William & Mary pass defense that is fourth in the FCS (154.1 ypg). UMaine’s passing offense is third in the CAA (214.6 ypg). Micah Wright is UMaine’s top receiver (24 catches, 381 yards). Josh Mack (59 carries, 368 yards) continues to lead the rushing attack.
Linebacker Christophe Mulumba Tshimanga leads the CAA in tackles per game (10.7) and has 64 overall. Safety Jason Matovu has 52 tackles and four pass break-ups.
DeVonte Dedmon is the Tribe’s top receiver (29-437) and was the CAA’s Special Teams Player of the Year last fall. He is averaging 23.5 yards per kickoff return. Linebackers Stephen Lubnow (59 tackles) and Nate Atkins (52) pace the Tribe defense with freshman defensive back Corey Parker (46 tackles, three interceptions).
Husson Eagles (6-1, 4-0 ECFC) at Becker Hawks (2-5, 1-3 ECFC), noon, Alumni Field, Leicester, Massachusetts: Gabby Price’s Eagles will be gunning for their seventh-straight win and their fourth in a row over Becker. The two teams engaged in a wild affair last season with the Eagles posting a 49-30 triumph. The teams combined for 913 yards of total offense.
Becker will be hard-pressed to move the ball against a Husson defense ranked first in Division III in yards allowed per game (160.4) and rushing yards allowed (23.9) and second in passing yards given up (136.6). Senior linebacker Ellis Throckmorton has 47 tackles to lead the defense along with defensive lineman Luke Washburn (37).
John Smith has rushed for 1231 yards on 185 carries, and Cory Brandon (92-for-157, 1,360 yards) has 15 touchdown passes. Deon Wiggins has caught a team-high 18 balls for 297 yards. Becker has been led by quarterback Nas Sinkfield-Shelton (62-for-119, 721 yards, nine touchdowns), who also is the team’s top rusher (56-228). Dejahn Dawkins has 18 catches for 236 yards. Linebacker LaDarrius Carter has a team-high 64 tackles.
Maine Maritime Academy Mariners (1-5, 0-4 NEFC) at Western New England Bears (7-0, 4-0 NEFC), 1 p.m., Golden Bear Stadium, Springfield, Massachusetts: The Mariners have lost three games by seven points or less but will have to play their best game of the season to hang with the Golden Bears. Western New England is averaging 40.7 points and 461.1 yards of total offense and faces a Mariner defense that is allowing 35.5 points and 390.2 yards per game.
Western New England is led by junior quarterback Anthony Service (111-for-165, 1,513 yards, 18 touchdowns; 80 carries, 290 yards) and running back Nick Connell (115-627). Maine Maritime has been sparked by running backs James Ferrar (102-507) and Jacob Doolan (56-447), quarterback Corey Creeger (36-for-87, 769 yards, six touchdowns) and linebackers Cody Chapman (58 tackles) and Cody O’Brien (45).
Saturday’s other games: Bowdoin (0-5) at Wesleyan (4-1), 12:30 p.m.; Colby (2-3) at Bates (1-4), 1 p.m.