UMaine vs. Elon
Time, site: Saturday, noon, Morse Field, Alfond Stadium, Orono, Maine
Records: UMaine 7-3 (6-1 Colonial Athletic Association), Elon 6-3 (4-2)
Series, last meeting: tied 1-1, Elon 27-22 on 11/14/15
Quarterbacks, UMaine: Chris Ferguson (148-for-251, 1,667 yards, 14 touchdowns, 7 interceptions); Elon: Jalen Greene (27-66, 407 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT)
Top rushers, UMaine: Ramon Jefferson (105 carries-568 yards, 5 TDs), Joe Fitzpatrick (101-388, 3 TDs), Earnest Edwards (32-115, 1 TD); Elon: Jaylan Thomas (85-658, 4 TDs), De’Sean McNair (97-373, 6 TDs), Jalen Greene (61-254, 5 TDs)
Top receivers, UMaine: Earnest Edwards (41 catches-673 yards, 7 TDs), Micah Wright (39-449, 5 TDs), Jaquan Blair (34-450, 3 TDs), Drew Belcher (32-233), Devin Young (27-183, 1 TD); Elon: Kortez Weeks (33-449), Corey Joyner (21-320, 2 TDs), Cole Taylor (16-326), De’Sean McNair (10-105), Matt Foster (9-76, 1 TD)
Defensive leaders, UMaine: Deshawn Stevens (77 tackles, 12.5 tackles-for-loss, 7 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery), Sterling Sheffield (60 tackles, 12 TFL, 8.5 sacks, 2 FR, 1 INT), Taji Lowe (53 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 FR), Darrius Hart (51 tackles, 2 INT), Jeffrey DeVaughn (50 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FR), Kayon Whitaker (32 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks), 1 FF); Elon: Warren Messer (78 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 4 sacks, 1 INT), Daniel Reid-Bennett (52 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FR, 2 FF), Greg Liggs Jr. (52 tackles, 3 INT, 2 FR), Cole Coleman (46 tackles), Marcus Willoughby (44 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 3 sacks), Matt Baker (43 tackles, 12 TFL, 7.5 sacks)
Game notes: UMaine can clinch the CAA outright championship with a victory, while Elon will be looking to sew up a Football Championship Subdivision playoff spot. It is Military Appreciation Day. After losing quarterback and CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year Davis Cheek to a season-ending knee injury, the Phoenix have become one-dimensional. Backup Greene completed just five of 19 passes for 30 yards in a 41-10 loss to Towson last Saturday. The Phoenix have the CAA’s best rushing offense, averaging 221.2 yards per game, while UMaine has the league’s top rushing defense (65.4 yards allowed per game). UMaine is second in the Football Championship Subdivision in rush defense and third in total defense (263.5). Maine’s opponents are averaging only two yards per carry. The Black Bears will fill the box and dare the Phoenix to throw the ball. Greene has struggled in the passing game, but he is a very capable runner. He will have to generate some semblance of a passing attack to loosen up the Black Bear defense. The 5-foot-10 Thomas is having a terrific freshman season, averaging 7.7 yards per carry. Ferguson will return to the lineup for the Black Bears after re-injuring his throwing shoulder in last Saturday’s 28-9 victory over Richmond. Over his past five games, after coming back from his initial shoulder injury, Ferguson has completed 60.1 percent of his passes (113-for-188) for 1,262 yards. Elon sacked the elusive Tom Flacco six times in the loss to Towson, so it will be important for UMaine’s offensive line to protect Ferguson and for UMaine to establish a running game to create a balanced attack. That will open up the passing lanes. Elon’s pass defense is 10th in the 12-team league, giving up 224.6 yards per game. UMaine is 3-0 at home. Elon is 2-2 on the road including an impressive win over national runner-up James Madison (27-24). Elon linebacker Warren Messer and offensive lineman C.J. Toogood were chosen to the All-CAA preseason team.
NCAA Division III First Round
Husson vs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Time, site: Saturday, noon, East Campus Stadium, Troy, New York
Records: Husson 8-2 (6-0 Eastern Collegiate Football Conference), RPI 8-1 (4-1 Liberty League)
Series: First meeting
Quarterbacks, Husson: Cory Brandon (158 of 243, 2,247 yards, 26 TDs, 6 INTs); RPI: George Marinopoulos (140-252, 1,820 yards, 12 TDs, 8 INTs)
Top rushers, Husson: Miece Loureiro (163 carries, 944 yards, 9 TDs), Solomon Hassen (123-783, 10 TDs); RPI: Nick Cella (144-636, 5 TDs), Joe Scaglione (59-255, 4 TDs)
Top receivers, Husson: Kyle Gaudet (57 rec., 938 yards, 12 TDs), Keyshaun Robinson (29-423-7); RPI: Conor Davies (34-359, 3 TDs), Keaton Ackerman (24-291, 3 TDs)
Defensive leaders, Husson: Elvin Suazo (77 tackles, 8 sacks), Jake Dobos (43 tackles), Derek Barden (41 tackles, 6 sacks), Kaleb Caron (41 tackles, 2 sacks), Frank Curran (40 tackles, 6 sacks), Tarik Smith (36 tackles, 4.5 sacks), Quan Soyini (27 tackles, 3 INTs, 7 pass breakups); RPI: Jack Hoggard (88 tackles), Jack Fallon (61 tackles), John Sadak (59 tackles, 3 INTs), Amaechi Konkwo (21 tackles, 6.5 sacks)
Game notes: Two teams with solid recent NCAA Tournament resumes meet for the chance to advance beyond opening-round play in this year’s 32-team field. Husson is making its third straight appearance and fourth in the past five years. Coach Gabby Price’s club scored its first NCAA Tournament victory last fall with a 23-21 victory at Springfield. RPI is in the NCAA field for the sixth time, including last year when the Engineers lost to Wesley College 45-27 in opening-round play at Dover, Delaware. RPI reached the national semifinals in 2003 and also scored a first-round win in 2001. RPI was ranked 14th nationally in NCAA Division III this season before losing to Union College 34-10 in their Liberty League season finale last Saturday. Husson also played Union this year, falling to the Dutchmen 30-7 in their season opener Sept. 1. RPI will have to contend with Husson’s offensive balance, as the Eagles average 230.4 rushing yards and 238.2 passing yards per game, while RPI yields 263.3 passing yards and 82-7 rushing yards per contest. Husson ranks fourth nationally in rushing defense at 53.1 yards per game, while the Eagles allowed 266.9 passing yards per outing. RPI also is fairly balanced offensively, rushing for 155.8 ypg and passes for 207.3 ypg. Husson collected four major ECFC awards this week: senior linebacker Elvin Suazo as defensive player of the year, senior guard Brad Weston as offensive player of the year, senior cornerback Quan Soyini as special teams player of the year and Gabby Price as coach of the year for the third straight season. The Husson-RPI winner will face the winner of Saturday’s first-rounder between Brockport (New York) and Framingham (Massachusetts) State in second-round play Nov. 24.
