The streaking University of Maine and Husson University football teams are in the hunt for conference championships.
And two of the other contenders are invading eastern Maine this weekend as Villanova visits Orono for a Colonial Athletic Association matchup and defending Eastern Collegiate Football Conference champ Norwich University travels to Bangor to take on the Eagles.
Both games will kickoff at noon.
UMaine will be seeking its sixth-straight win and trying to go to 5-1 in the CAA against a Villanova team that also is 4-1 in the conference and 6-2 overall.
Husson will be looking for its eighth-straight victory against a Norwich team that has won four in a row. Husson is leading the ECFC with a 5-0 record with Norwich and Mount Ida each at 4-1. Husson is 7-1 overall, and Norwich is 4-4.
UMaine was 0-3 at one point and trailing Bryant University 21-0 before rallying for a 35-31 victory that jumpstarted the five-game winning streak.
“That is as much adversity as you can face in a season,” said first-year UMaine coach Joe Harasymiak. “We did a good job responding from that, and I said after that game that hopefully we’ll look back on that game and say it was the turning point in our season.
“So far, it is. But we’ve got a lot of work to do this week with another ranked opponent coming to Orono,” said Harasymiak. “It’s going to be an exciting day.”
Villanova is ranked 10th in one Football Championship Subdivision poll and 12th in another.
Coach Gabby Price’s Eagles feel they owe the Cadets some payback after last year’s 20-17 loss in Vermont, which ultimately gave Norwich the conference championship and the automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Husson wound up playing in the ECAC Clayton Chapman Bowl Championship game, losing 42-39 to Salve Regina (Rhode Island).
“Certainly, the guys are excited,” said Price, who acknowledged that both teams know what’s at stake. “Norwich is well-coached, and they play very hard. They had a difficult nonconference schedule and have won four in a row. They’re playing their best football of the season.”
If Husson wins and Mount Ida loses to SUNY Maritime, Husson will be the conference champion and will earn the automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Villanova (6-2, 4-1 in CAA) at Maine (5-3, 4-1), noon, Alfond Stadium, Orono: The Wildcats have won the last two meetings and three of the last four. The Black Bears will have to contain quarterback Zach Bednarczyk, who rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown and threw for 143 yards and another touchdown in Villanova’s 13-3 victory last fall. Bednarczyk is their third leading rusher (83 carries, 311 yards) behind Aaron Forbes (79-600) and Javon White (94-447). Taurus Phillips (26 catches-361 yards) is their top receiver. UMaine also will have to figure out how to move the ball against the nation’s second-best defense based on yards per game (259.8) and fifth-best when it comes to points against (15.9). They run an unusual 3-3-5 defense that features linebacker Austin Calitro (62 tackles) and 6-foot-7, 290-pound difference-making defensive lineman Tanoh Kpassagnon (15 tackles for loss, seven sacks). UMaine will need a big game from quarterback Dan Collins (121-231, 1782 yards, 14 touchdowns), and it will have to establish a running game with Josh Mack (70-427) leading the way. Micah Wright (27-421) is the top receiver, and the defense has been led by LB Christophe Mulumba-Tshimanga (70 tackles, four tackles for loss), safety Jason Matovu (61 tackles) and linebacker Sterling Sheffield (47, 4.7 TFL, three sacks).
Norwich (4-4, 4-1 in ECFC) at Husson (7-1, 5-0), noon, Winkin Sports Complex, Bangor: The Cadets have won six of the last seven meetings but will be facing one of the best defenses in the country as Husson is surrendering just 166.6 yards, including only 23 rushing yards, and 15.1 points per game. LB Ellis Throckmorton (53 tackles, 10 TFL) and lineman Luke Washburn (40, 12 TFL, 8.5 anchor the defense). John Smith has rushed for 1,414 yards on 214 carries, and quarterback Cory Brandon is 108-for-183 and has thrown for 1,596 yards and 17 touchdowns. Deon Wiggins (22-328) and Kadeem Edge (18-451) are his favorite targets. Patrick Brown (113-601) and Quincy Williams (89-381) are the top rushers for run-oriented Norwich. Quarterback Philippe Bazinet has completed 88-of-185 for 779 yards, and Pierre Noel and Grant Troxell have each caught 27 balls. Benjamin Hummer (64 tackles) leads the defense.
Nichols College (4-4, 2-3 NEFC) at Maine Maritime Academy (1-6, 0-5), noon, Ritchie Field, Castine: The Mariners will try to snap a five-game losing streak, but its defense, which has allowed at least 35 points in each of its last four games, will have to deal with a quarterback in Chris Mullins who has thrown for 2,180 yards, including 432 in a win over Curry last weekend. Tony Martignoli has caught 45 passes. The Mariners have an impressive running game led by James Ferrar (133-643) and Jacob Doolan (65-555).
Other games: Bates (2-4) at Bowdoin (0-6), 12:30 p.m., Brunswick; Colby (2-4) at Tufts (5-1), 1 p.m., Medford, Massachusetts.