UMaine football team meets Colgate Maine Maritime opens at home with Curry

ORONO – The Maine college football season begins today – for two of the state’s five postsecondary programs.

Speculation about how the University of Maine and Maine Maritime Academy might fare will be converted into some hard evidence in the results of today’s openers.

Both the Black Bears and the Mariners are looking to improve upon last season’s finishes.

Colgate (0-1) at Maine (0-0), Alfond Stadium , Orono, 1 p.m.

Coach Jack Cosgrove’s UMaine team will build around a veteran defense as it attempts to shore up an offensive unit that suffered a handful of key losses.

The Bears’ defense returns nine starters, led by linebackers Stephen Cooper and Rob Kierstead, end Damon Boinske and cornerback Devon Goree. They’ll contend with a Colgate offense that lost two starters to injury in last week’s loss at nationally-ranked Villanova.

The Raiders are without starting quarterback Tom McCune (separated shoulder) and fullback Justin Polk (sprained ankle). They’ll be replaced by Rob Markert, who’ll make his second career start, and Matt Kobelski, respectively.

Colgate’s multiple offense, which includes sure-handed end Joe Parker and tailbacks Nate Thomas and Jamaal Branch, likes to mix in some option plays.

One question mark for UMaine is its offense, which likely will rely more on a ground-based attack as it works some unproven wide receivers into the mix. Junior QB Jake Eaton, who ranked third in Division I-AA last season with a .659 completion percentage, also is a running threat.

Tailback Royston English and fullback John Gelsomino are veterans in the backfield, while tight end Chad Hayes of Old Town is a force at tight end.

“I think the main thing is just to get the jitters out, the younger guys,” Eaton said. “There’s a lot of expectations out of me, Chad, Royston and some other guys, so we’re going to have to perform.”

UMaine goes up against a Colgate defense that incurred key losses, including its entire linebacker corps, two linemen and an All-Patriot League cornerback. Linebackers Ron Hampton and Ryan Disch, and corner Max Wynn, are among the key performers.

The Raiders surrendered 397 total yards in last week’s 38-14 loss to Villanova.

Curry (1-0) at Maine Maritime Acad. (0-0), Ritchie Field, Castine, 1 p.m.

The Mariners enter a new era under first-year head coach Chris McKenney in hopes of righting the proverbial ship after struggling through a 1-8 campaign last season.

MMA’s lone victory came via a forfeit win over Curry. The Mariners have switched to an option-based attack that will utilize the skills of QB Patrick Bard of Winslow, fullback Don Thibodeau of Shawmut and tailbacks Justin Cummings of Millinocket and Joel Casavant of Biddeford.

The Colonels, coached by former New England Patriots linebacker Steve Nelson, opened last week with a 20-19 non-league victory over Norwich. Curry was 4-5 last year, including two forfeit losses.