Even though it’s still September and the college football season hasn’t even reached the halfway stage, Saturday’s Coastal Athletic Association showdown between the University of Maine and Elon at Rhodes Stadium in Elon, North Carolina, is essentially a must-win contest for both teams.
UMaine is 1-3 overall and 1-0 in the conference, and a loss would probably force the Black Bears to win their last six games, all within the conference, to be considered for a playoff berth, even though two of their losses have come against higher-level Football Bowl Subdivision teams.
Elon, on the other hand, is 3-1 overall but is 1-1 in the conference, and another CAA loss would be extremely damaging and all but eliminate the Phoenix as title contenders.
The teams have met six times since 2015 and have each won three. UMaine won last year’s matchup 35-14 in Orono. The game begins at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Following two poor performances in a 55-3 loss to FBS team Appalachian State and an unexpected setback to Merrimack 23-14, the Black Bears bounced back with an impressive performance in a 22-16 loss at FBS and Atlantic Coast Conference school Boston College last Saturday.
The Black Bear offense finally came to life late in the second quarter of the Boston College game, and now it will face one of the best defenses among the 124 schools in the FCS.
Elon’s defense has allowed just 245 yards per game, sixth best in the FCS, along with 14.75 points, which is 11th best.
UMaine’s offense is tied for 110th in yards per game (262) and is 116th in points (13.5).
UMaine’s rushing game has particularly struggled, producing just 76 yards per game and only 2.4 yards per carry. Its yards per game total is 114th.
And Elon’s run defense has been stout, allowing only 80.5 yards per game, for seventh best in the country.
UMaine head coach Jordan Stevens said even though the statistics don’t bear it out, he has seen some improvement in the running game thanks to the insertion of 6-foot-5, 318-pound redshirt freshman Anton Kravchuk at right guard.
“He’s a tough, strong, physical kid who can clear some lanes,” said Stevens, who added that running backs Nick Laughlin and Rashawn Marshall are both continuing to get better after recovering from injuries.
“I believe we can run the ball better, and we have to. It’s not a choice. We will run the football better,” he said.
Elon coach Tony Trisciani called UMaine a “real good football team” and said he was “very impressed” with what he saw on film of the Boston College game.
He said UMaine’s first-year starting quarterback Eddie Buehler is getting more comfortable with every game as he gains experience.
“They have eight returning starters on offense and the four guys up front are doing a pretty good job,” Trisiciani said. “Defensively, they’re big and disruptive. They’re strong and experienced up front. They’re great on third down and in the red zone. They hold teams to field goals.”
Elon’s Elijah Guttman, a redshirt freshman, made the first start of his career last weekend and rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another to lead the Phoenix to a 24-21 win over CAA newcomer Sacred Heart.
He completed 12 of 19 passes for 142 yards.
“They’re a terrific team. They’re well-coached and are aggressive on offense, defense and special teams,” Stevens said. “Coach Trisciani does an excellent job. There’s a big challenge ahead of us going down to North Carolina. We’re going to have to play fundamental football, complementary football, and limit their explosive plays. And we have to be efficient on offense.”
Buehler has completed 69 of 114 passes for 728 yards and four touchdowns. He has been intercepted six times. Laughlin has a team-high 16 catches for 159 yards, and Evan Wallace has 15 for 139 yards. Marshall is the leading rusher with 176 yards on 50 carries.
Linebackers Sam Oppenheimer and Noah Carpenter lead the Black Bears in tackles with 43 and 28, respectively, and safety Jeremiah McGill has 26. Defensive end Chris Bacon has two sacks.
Oppenheimer’s 29 solo tackles leads FCS.
Kamerin McDowell-Moore is Elon’s top rusher with 355 yards on 68 carries and receivers Jaedon Alford, Kenaz McMillian and Jamarien Dalton each have seven catches.
Linebacker Brodie Carroll was the National FCS and CAA Defensive Player of the Week after making a career-high 16 tackles in the win over Sacred Heart. He had a sack and two pass breakups.
He has a team-leading 37 tackles, and Jevean Brown and Tony Hart III each have 20.
Both coaches said ball protection will be an emphasis since UMaine has turned the ball over eight times and Elon has seven. UMaine has forced eight turnovers, but Elon has only forced two.
Elsewhere in Maine
Maine’s six NCAA Division III teams are also in action on Saturday.
The 0-3 Husson University Eagles from Bangor will travel to take on the nation’s 12th-ranked Endicott College Gulls, 3-0, at Hempstead Stadium in Beverly, Massachusetts. Kickoff is at noon, and it is the Conference of New England opener for both teams.
Endicott is the defending five-time league champion, and it will be the Gulls’ Homecoming game.
Maine Maritime Academy, 0-2, will look to avoid a 35th consecutive loss when it entertains 1-2 Curry College at Ritchie Field in Castine for CNE contest beginning at 11 a.m. It will be Rob Marchitello Day, celebrating the career of the two-time first team All-American running back and MMA Hall of Famer.
The state’s other CNE team, the University of New England from Biddeford, will take its 0-3 record to 1-2 Western New England for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
Maine’s three New England Small College Athletic Conference teams will all be home for 1 p.m. games on Saturday.
All three lost their openers on the road last Saturday.
Colby will entertain 1-0 Williams, Bowdoin will await 0-1 Middlebury and Bates will host 1-0 Trinity.