Should Maine Maritime Academy be successful in its fund-raising drive for a $1.2 million lighted, artificially surfaced, multipurpose athletic field, count record-breaking MMA football running back Kirk Matthieu among those who will be most excited.

Matthieu will enter his senior season this fall needing 1,808 rushing yards to become the No. 1 ground gainer in NCAA history, all divisions. With nine games to do it in, he figures a fast home surface instead of Ritchie Field’s combination of hardpan in the heat and muck in the rain will really help.

“The last game of the season we played on turf at Westfield (Mass.) State, and it was an unbelievable difference,” said Matthieu, who has rushed for 4,513 career yards in three seasons, placing him sixth on the Div. III all-time list. “The cutting ability you have on it. You can stop and cut on a dime. It’s a totally offensive game on turf. Even though both teams have great traction, the offense knows where it’s going.”

Matthieu rushed for 237 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries on Westfield’s turf last November. “It should help me out. It should help our team out. And it’s not just for the football team, it’s for everybody,” Matthieu said, referring to the proposed project in Castine.

Mariner head coach John Huard agrees his star back should benefit if the privately funded facility is in place in time for the upcoming season.

“Kirk should average 200 yards a game at least on it,” Huard said. “It magnifies everything he does. He cuts sharper. He accelerates faster.”

As for worrying he might reinjure his surgically repaired left knee on such a surface, Matthieu said he isn’t concerned about the possibility.

“Our field now is harder than a rock. I don’t know how turf could be any harder,” said the Fairfield native. – – –

University of Maine football coach Jack Cosgrove has announced the winners of the spring workout awards given annually to those players who distinguish themselves preparing for the fall.

The Most Improved Offensive Player award was split between wide receiver Frizell Davis, an incoming senior from Detroit, Mich., and Emilio Colon of Haverhill, Mass., Maine’s two-year starting quarterback and an incoming junior.

“Frizell really had a monster spring,” said Cosgrove, following Saturday’s Blue-White exhibition contest, which Davis sat out with a knee sprain. “I expect him to be a big factor for us this fall. And Emilio has played great. So they tied.”

The Most Improved Defensive Player award went to inside linebacker Ross Fichthorn, an incoming sophomore from Madison.

“Ross really showed he’s got a nose for the football and he likes to hit,” summed up Cosgrove.

The Black Bear Award, given annually to the player who embodies exemplary dedication and spirit, both on the field and in the classroom, went to Ray Baur, an incoming sophomore tailback from Ardmore, Pa.

“Ray has done it all,” said Cosgrove….

The Bears did not come out of their spring game injury-free. Strong safety Bob Zurinskas suffered a hyperextended elbow, free safety Greg Kelly limped off with an ankle sprain, and so did outside linebacker Ako Stafford. All are expected to be fine for the start of preseason workouts in August….

Fullback Steve Knight, the former schoolboy star from Marshwood, was candid about his three-game suspension last season stemming from his participation in the student gambling ring that was broken up on campus more than a year ago.

“I’m really looking forward to this year,” said Knight, who will be a junior. “I’m staying out of trouble. No more gambling or anything like that. Things seem to be going my way more than in the past.”