Confident Bears are prepared to play 6th-ranked Panthers

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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Relaxed and confident. That’s the best way to describe the University of Maine football team Friday afternoon as it went through a half-speed practice in the comfort of the UNI Dome.

Coach Jack Cosgrove’s Black Bears appeared to be loose, but ready to play as they prepared for today’s 2:30 p.m. NCAA Division I-AA quarterfinal against Northern Iowa.

The game can be seen live on WABI-TV (Ch. 5) in Bangor or heard on WZON radio (620 AM) in Bangor.

Sixteenth-ranked UMaine, coming off the program’s first-ever postseason victory last week at McNeese State, takes a 9-2 record into the contest against the No. 6 Panthers (10-2) at Sheriff Field. Both teams have won four in a row.

While the Bears have again ventured into unfamiliar playoff territory, the approach is largely the same.

“Coming here, it’s going to be a great atmosphere and we’re looking forward to that,” said junior safety Dave Cusano. “I don’t know how many people are giving us a chance to win two away playoff games two weeks in a row. We’re just going to have to make it happen again.”

UMaine players marveled at the atmosphere in the cavernous UNI Dome. After getting a feel for the sandpaper-like consistency of the artificial turf, the Bears went to work with their usual preparations.

“It’s a business trip,” Cusano said. “It’s just like punching a clock… There’s no added stress on the workouts. We know what we have to do.”

What UMaine has to do is beat a Northern Iowa team that is 5-0 at home this season. The Panthers are coming off a 49-43 road win over No. 3 Eastern Illinois last week.

The Gateway Conference champions clearly have an edge playing at home, but the Bears don’t mind being the underdog.

“This team just gets looser and looser as we go on,” said junior quarterback Jake Eaton. “I think we’re just starting to learn to play together and starting to learn how good we can be.

“When you play in the Atlantic 10, you have to prepare at your best every single week,” he added. “We try to use that to our advantage in the playoffs.”

Both teams feature balanced offenses that prefer setting up the pass with the run. Northern Iowa features the running talents of halfbacks Adam Benge (103.6 yards per game, 13 touchdowns) and Richard Carter (69.7 ypg, 7 TDs).

The Panthers, who average almost 199 yards on the ground, prefer the one-back alignment, but can use two backs with a tight end.

“One’s got 1,000 yards and the other one’s borderline 1,000. That’s pretty indicative of ability and a high level of performance running the ball,” Cosgrove said.

UMaine’s stingy defense, which has allowed only 113 rushing yards per contest, is surrendering 321 yards overall. The Bears, led by linebacker Stephen Cooper (107 tackles, 3 interceptions), Cusano (64 tackles, 2 INTs) and ‘backer Lofa Tatupu (62 tackles, 3 INTs), also must contend with a team that has a solid pass game.

Junior college transfer Griff Jurgens splits quarterbacking duties with freshman Tom Petrie. The pair have combined for more than 1,800 yards passing and 10 touchdowns. They’ve been intercepted 14 times.

Jake Soliday, an all-conference wideout, leads the receiver corps with 51 catches for 791 yards and six TDs. Tight end Ryan Hannam has 38 receptions for 373 yards.

“I think they’re 50/50 run-pass,” Cooper said. “Our main focus as a defense is to stop the run. Once we stop the run, we get after them blitzing, get our D-line after their quarterback and make plays on defense.”

Northern Iowa, which averages 344 total yards, also features a dangerous placekicker in Mac Hoambrecker. He has converted 35 of 37 PATs and has made 16 field goals in 22 tries, including 10 of 12 between 30 and 49 yards.

The UMaine offense will attempt to put points on the scoreboard against a solid Panther defense that has given up 21 points and 351 yards per game.

“They play more of a zone concept, less pressure,” Cosgrove said. “They try to sneak some pressures in at times, but they’re obviously not as aggressive in that regard as McNeese was or we are.”

The Bears will attempt to force NIU to deal with senior tailback Royston English, whose 116 yards per game rushing ranks 20th in I-AA. English, who has five straight 100-yard efforts under his belt, has been dealing with a sore right foot injured in last week’s game.

Backups James Henry and Marcus Williams both have seen some game action.

“Jimmy and Marcus have both done a nice job for us when called on,” Cosgrove said. “They’re game-tested and game ready.”

The Panther defense is spearheaded by linebackers Adam Vogt (120 tackles) and Casey Tierney (103), along with safety Ken Harris (85). NIU must deal with the Bears’ well-rounded pass game.

Eaton struggled a bit against an exceptional McNeese secondary, but made some clutch throws. He has completed 175 of 318 passes (.550) for 2,373 yards and 20 TDs with nine interceptions.

Wideouts Stefan Gomes (67 rec., 895 yds., 9 TDs) and Paris Minor (54-772-3) team up with tight end Chad Hayes of Old Town (32-431-8) to give NIU plenty to think about.

UMaine boasts one the nation’s top kick returners in Lennard Byrd, who is averaging 27.9 yards on kickoffs and 10.7 yards on punts. Kicker Chris DeVinney of South Portland has made 36 of 43 PATs and 8 of 11 field goal tries.

The Bears believe they can beat the Panthers and earn a spot in the Division I-AA “Final Four.”

“We don’t fear anybody we play, but we respect them,” Eaton said. “You can’t treat it any different. We’ve just got to be ourselves. The things we’ve been doing is why we got here. We don’t want to change anything.”