Maine, UNH ready to clash Ninth-ranked Black Bears seek playoff berth, 10-win season

ORONO – The University of Maine football team takes the field for today’s noon Atlantic 10 contest against New Hampshire with a great deal riding on the outcome.

With a victory, coach Jack Cosgrove’s ninth-ranked Black Bears can earn their second straight conference championship and clinch a spot in next weekend’s NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.

UMaine, 9-2 overall and 6-2 in league play, is going after a school-record 10th win. New Hampshire (3-7, 2-6 A-10) hopes to spoil the Bears’ plans and go out on a winning note.

Going into today’s noon contest against traditional rival New Hampshire, redshirt freshman Chris Legree will direct the UMaine offense. Legree, who won the backup job last spring, took over at Richmond after senior Jake Eaton went down with a partially torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

UMaine must turn in a well-rounded defensive performance just in case the offense experiences some inconsistency with an inexperienced quarterback. Senior linebacker Stephen Cooper (85 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 3 interceptions) heads up the unit, which also includes strong safety Brandon McGowan (82 tackles, 2 INTs), LB Rob Kierstead of South Portland (68 tackles, 2 INTs) and senior free safety Dave Cusano (59 tackles, 2 INTs), who returns after getting knocked out during the third quarter of the Hofstra game with a concussion.

The Bears rank second in the league in total defense (260 ypg) and scoring defense (14.4 ppg). They’ll encounter a balanced UNH attack that features senior halfback Stephan Lewis, whose 112 ypg rushing average leads the conference.

Quarterback Mike Granieri has completed nearly 61 percent of his passes for 1,683 yards and 10 TDs with nine interceptions.

“Lewis is a great player,” Cosgrove said. “They’re going to get the ball to him as often as they can.”

UNH has been a big-play offense, having scored from inside the opponents’ 20-yard line on only three occasions all season. The Wildcats are among the league’s most turnover-prone teams (minus-8).

The UMaine offense hopes to be able to exploit a UNH defense that ranks ninth in total defense (424 ypg) and last in scoring defense (31.4 ppg).

The Bears will have devised an offensive package around their new QB, but likely will look to “Pound the Rock,” as is their motto, behind a strong offensive line, senior fullback John Gelsomino and the physical running style of sophomore tailback Marcus Williams.

Williams (95 ypg, 5.4 ypg) last week became the seventh Black Bear to rush for 1,000 yards in a season with a 124-yard effort at Richmond.

UMaine must achieve enough passing balance to keep the ‘Cats off-balance. Freshman wide receiver Kevin McMahan has made 12 catches for 228 yards and 3 TDs in his last two games.

Christian Pereira (35 rec., 344 yds.) and Ryan Waller (33 rec., 508 yds., 7 TDs) have also been effective at the wideout spot.