Zurinskas gets start, but QB job not his yet

College Report

ORONO – Bob Zurinskas is 1-0 as the starting quarterback for the University of Maine football team and all is right with the Black Bears’ world – until Saturday against Boston University, when the 18-year-old true freshman has to buckle up his helmet and do it again.

First-year Maine coach Kirk Ferentz, although impressed with Zurinskas’ performance in last weekend’s 17-10 win over Delaware, isn’t about to declare the quarterback controversy that has dogged his 2-6 team the past month officially closed.

“It would be premature to say anything is final, based on the way things have gone,” said Ferentz, referring to having started two previous signal-callers (Jeff DelRosso and Dan DiGravio) prior to Zurinskas. “We all have to come back and prove we can play to a high level again. That’s the way this game is.

“This will be a telling week for Bob,” Ferentz continued, noting Zurinskas has earned the start against BU. “He’s had a little attention now. It’s easy to get distracted. I think he can handle it, but it remains to be seen.”

For his part, Zurinskas came out of the Delaware game pleased with the victory, but critical of his own play.

“I thought I could have run the ball better,” said the Brockton, Mass., native, who ran for 54 yards on 8 carries, including a 29-yard bootleg for the winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. “Everyone’s a little bit faster (than in high school). I have to get used to it.

“You don’t know what to expect,” continued Zurinskas, whose last start prior to Delaware was for Brockton High last November in the Eastern Mass. Division I Super Bowl. “From what the guys said, it’s pretty hard to play football in the Yankee Conference.”

Zurinskas made it look relatively easy. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder directed a conservative game plan against Delaware that featured handing off to his backs. He passed only when necessary, completing 7 of 13 throws for 66 yards with 1 interception. There were some rough spots. He threw behind a few receivers and had to use three timeouts in the first quarter when the UD defense shifted formation.

“There was a little confusion when I had to make a check,” he said.

Ferentz, after viewing the game film, said Monday he was pleased with Zurinskas’s performance and effort, but pointed out the young QB will have to do a little more with a slightly expanded gameplan to obtain the same results.

“BU will have seen him on film, where Delaware hadn’t seen him,” said Ferentz. “We’ll have to have more for Bob.”

BEAR TRACKS…. Senior linebacker Mike Smith suffered a broken metacarpal bone in his left hand during the Delaware game. He is in a cast, but will be able to play with the injury, according to Ferentz…. Fullback Ben Sirmans suffered a sprained ankle against the Blue Hens and is day-to-day. Backup quarterback Jeff DelRosso is sidelined with a shoulder injury and a possible case of walking pneumonia. He’s doubtful for BU…. Offensive lineman Sean Dowd suffered a neck injury and is listed as probable…. Interceptions by Mike Smith and Bill Curry Saturday brought Maine’s season pickoff total to 18, only 4 shy of the all-time, single-season school record set in 1982. Senior safety Claude Pettaway leads the team with 7 picks, tying him for the individual single-season UM record with Norm Tardif (1965)… Senior DB Jamal Williamson has 6 interceptions, tying him for the Maine career record of 16 picks with John McGrath (’84). Pettaway and Williamson rank 1-2 in the Yankee Conference in the pickoff department this season. Maine ranks first in the YC in interceptions and takeaways with 32…. Sophomore placekicker Jeff Mottola’s 29-yard field goal against Delaware was his 11th of the season, giving him the school single-season FG record. – – –

Colby senior defensive tackle Paul Baisley of Glencoe, Ill., has been named the New England Small College Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in a 9-3 win over Bates Saturday. Baisley, a converted tight end, made 12 tackles, including 3 quarterback sacks, as the White Mules upped their record to 1-5. The 6-2, 210-pounder also had a key pass deflection on Bates’ final possession to preserve the win and give the Mules a leg up on winning their third straight CBB title. Colby’s defense limited Bates to 169 total yards.