The University of Maine football team is favored in Saturday’s Colonial Athletic Association home game against a William & Mary team that is winless in its four Colonial Athletic Association contests so far this season.
UMaine has won the last three meetings, including 35-28 a year ago.
The Black Bears still have slim playoff hopes, but a loss to William & Mary would end their bid.
UMaine’s last three games are against Delaware in Portland (Nov. 4), Football Bowl Subdivision team Massachusetts at Fenway Park in Boston on Nov. 11 and at home against Stony Brook on Nov. 18.
UMaine head coach Joe Harasymiak has hammered home the point to his players that they can’t look past the Tribe.
“I’ve learned my lesson as a young coach (not to take any opponent lightly),” said Harasymiak. “You have to take things one game at a time, one practice at a time.”
“Last year was good for us because we played so many close games, even against teams that didn’t have good records,” said special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach Nick Charlton. “William & Mary has played some good teams. You can’t overlook anybody in this conference. It’s going to be a battle.”
“Their record is deceiving,” said UMaine redshirt freshman quarterback Chris Ferguson. “They’ve played some tough teams tight. We’ve got to execute at a high level.”
William & Mary (2-5 overall, 0-4 CAA) at UMaine (3-3, 2-3), Alfond Stadium, Orono, noon: The Tribe has struggled on offense but has a solid defense. Two of their losses have been to Stony Brook by three points and to 6-1 Elon (4-0 CAA) by seven. They held Delaware to 10 points for 54 minutes in a 17-0 road loss and lost to FBS team Virginia 28-10.
William & Mary is 11th among 12 CAA teams in scoring (15.6 points per game) and last in yards per game (280.1). But the Tribe’s defense is third with 23 sacks and second in pass defense (183.6 ypg).
Ferguson has completed 103 of 184 passes for 1,166 yards and 12 touchdowns and he has been intercepted eight times. The Tribe’s fourth-ranked rushing defense (105 ypg allowed) will try to stop the league’s leading rusher in sophomore Josh Mack (146.7 ypg). Mack also leads the league in total offense (169.3 ypg).
William & Mary has used three quarterbacks, who have combined to complete just 51.1 percent of their passes. Its rushing attack features Nate Evans (74 carries, 334 yards) and Noah Giles (40-227). Linebacker Nate Atkins (64 tackles, 2 sacks), strong safety Corey Parker (47), linebacker Josh Dulaney (45, 10 tackles for loss) and end Matt Ahola (27, 5 sacks) headline the Tribe defense and Daniel Kuzjak (22 catches-221 yards) is the top receiver.
UMaine’s defense features linebackers Jaron Grayer (47 tackles), Sterling Sheffield (44, 8 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks) and Taji Lowe (37) along with tackle Charles Mitchell (34, 7 TFL, 3.5 sacks) and end Kayon Whitaker (32, 8.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks). Jaleel Reed is UMaine’s top receiver (22-for-308) followed by Jared Osumah (20-for-220).
Husson (6-1, 4-0 Eastern Collegiate Football Conference) vs. Anna Maria (1-6, 1-3), 1 p.m. Saturday at Paxton, Massachusetts: The Husson Eagles play their final road game of the regular season, hoping to build on a four-game winning streak that has established coach Gabby Price’s club atop the ECFC standings.
Husson, ranked sixth in the latest New England Division III poll, continues to rely on a balanced offense that has averaged 226.1 rushing yards and 183.1 passing yards.
Record-setting senior halfback John Smith resides among the national rushing leaders, ranking fifth in rushing yards (1,240 on 198 carries) in NCAA Division III and fourth in average yards per game (177.1).
Junior quarterback Cory Brandon (97 of 159 passing for 1,236 yards with 12 TDs and two interceptions) has guided a Husson offense that has yielded seven turnovers in its first seven games.
Husson’s defense, led by linebacker Elvin Suazo Jr., lineman Luke Washburn and defensive backs Jean Gabriel and Quan Soyini, has forced 19 turnovers.
Husson’s offense faces an Anna Maria defense that has allowed 44 points and 504.1 yards per game.
Anna Maria does boast the reigning ECFC defensive player of the week in junior defensive end Emmanuel Hans, who had 10 tackles and 2½ quarterback sacks during a 36-34 win over Alfred State, and rookie of the week Brian McLean, a freshman linebacker who also had 2½ sacks against Alfred State.
Bates (0-6) vs. Colby (0-6), 1 p.m. Saturday at Waterville: While both teams are struggling within the New England Small College Athletic Conference, the start of CBB (Colby-Bates-Bowdoin) competition breathes new life into the season for each program.
Bates is seeking its fourth straight outright CBB title, first visiting Colby and then hosting Bowdoin next Saturday in Lewiston. Bowdoin and Colby square off in the final game of the series on Nov. 11.
Bates has defeated Colby each of the last three years, including a 21-19 decision at Lewiston last fall.
Other Maine games: Wesleyan (4-2) at Bowdoin (0-6), 12:30 p.m.
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