ORONO, Maine — University of Maine senior quarterback Dan Collins acknowledges that he and his Black Bear teammates have had a “lot of ups and downs in my career.”
But he also knows that the previous successes and failures won’t matter on Saturday afternoon.
If he and his Black Bears beat archrival University of New Hampshire, UMaine will probably earn a berth to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
UNH is in the same situation. Both teams are 6-4 overall, 5-2 in the CAA.
Meanwhile, the playoffs have already arrived for the 9-1 Husson University Eagles as they travel to Springfield, Massachusetts, for a Saturday showdown with 10-0 Western New England University in the first round of the 32-team NCAA Division III playoffs. Game time is noon.
University of New Hampshire at UMaine, 1 p.m., Morse Field, Alfond Stadium, Orono, Maine: In order to beat the Wildcats, Collins said they have to “stay disciplined and stay true to our technique. We have to play sound football. That’s one thing they do a great job of. We can do a better job of that.”
The Wildcats are coming off a game in which they surrendered 298 rushing yards to Albany’s Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks on 39 carries and squandered a 22-0 lead at home, losing 36-25.
Collins anticipates UNH making adjustments to stop UMaine’s running game.
“So I’ll have to make some great decisions in the passing game. I’ll have to be able to make some plays,” he said.
Collins has always been a high-risk quarterback and the fact he has thrown 16 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions validates that tag.
“I have to take care of the football. I have to play disciplined football. If I can do that and our running back does what he’s going to do, we can win the game,” he said.
If UMaine can establish the running game, that will make life easier for Collins.
UMaine freshman tailback Josh Mack (119 carries-635 yards) is coming off a 147-yard rushing game in the 27-21 win at Stony Brook, which has moved him up to seventh in the CAA in yards-per-game (70.6).
UNH running back Dalton Crossan (169-842) is fourth in the league in rushing yards per game (84.2) and he is also ninth in receptions per game (3.5) but he suffered a possible concussion against Albany and had to adhere to concussion protocol this week, so his status is uncertain.
Crossan ran for 85 yards on 16 carries and caught five passes for 44 yards in a 22-6 win over UMaine a year ago.
“The biggest thing for us on defense will be to communicate,” said UMaine senior defensive lineman Pat Ricard, who will be facing a UNH offensive line that has surrendered 28 sacks, second-most in the league. “They run a lot of junk offenses — trick plays. We have to make sure we’re all on the same page.”
“It will come down to who executes better and who is more physical. It’s going to be an aggressive game,” said UMaine senior center Max Andrews.
Collins has completed 155 of 290 yards for 2,173 yards. Micah Wright is his top receiver (39 catches-567) and Jaleel Reed (18-321), who was the leading receiver when he suffered a thumb injury that sidelined him the past four games, could return.
Sophomore Trevor Knight has completed 170 of 256 yards for 1,642 yards for UNH, with Malik Love (54-460) and Neil O’Connor (42-541) being his primary targets.
UMaine’s defense features Christophe Mulumba-Tshimanga (86 tackles), Jason Matovu (67) and Sterling Sheffield (58, 5 sacks), while UNH has been led by Pop Lacey (62), DeVaughn Chollette (53) and Prince Smith Jr. (5 interceptions).
Husson University (9-1) at No. 23 Western New England (10-0), noon, Golden Bear Stadium, Springfield, Massachusetts: This will feature an intriguing matchup between the Golden Bears’ high-powered offense, which is averaging 460.5 yards and 41 points per game, against the nation’s top-ranked defense in yards allowed per game (152.4), rushing yards allowed (29.4), passing defense efficiency and opponents’ third-down conversion rate (15 percent).
Nick Connell (190-1061) and Dante Aitken (98-509) are a solid one-two punch in the backfield for WNE and quarterback Anthony Service can hurt teams through the air (138-for-220, 1,894 yards, 22 TDs, 2 interceptions) and on the ground (100-374). Mark Dietrich (39-579) and Mohamed Camara (23-373) are the Golden Bears’ top pass catchers.
The New England Football Conference champion Golden Bears and Eastern Collegiate Football Conference titlist Eagles have 28 all-conference performers between them.
Each has their respective league’s Coach of the Year in Gabby Price (Husson) and Keith Emery (WNE) and Defensive Players of the Year in Luke Washburn (Husson) and Sam Edouard (WNE). Washburn (51 tackles, 12 sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss) and Edouard (42 tackles) are both linemen.
Husson also had the Offensive Player of the Year, as junior running back John Smith (277-1,715, 17 TDs) earned the award for the second straight year, and the Offensive Lineman of the Year in senior tackle Nick Lewis.
Cory Brandon completed 140 of 232 passes for 2,015 yards and 23 TDs for Husson. The completions, passing yards and TDs were school records. Deon Wiggins (27-379), Kadeem Edge (24-547) and D.J. Allen (22-101) are his top receivers.
Ellis Throckmorton (61 tackles. 10.5 tackles for loss), Washburn, Logan Steward (39 tackles, 3 interceptions) and Rick Orio (37, 3 fumble recoveries) key the Husson defense while Sam Olsson (60), Kurtis Jolicoeur (58, 8.5 TFL) and Brian Cook (44, 8.5 TFL) lead WNE along with Edouard.