Braves open new football era

Husson College of Bangor plays its first football game of the Gabby Price era, while the University of Maine engages in another nonconference game, highlighting Saturday’s schedule involving Maine college teams.

Elsewhere, Maine Maritime Academy of Castine also sets sail into the 2003 season with a nonleague contest.

Florida International (0-1) at Maine (1-1), Fitzpatrick Stadium, Portland, 6 p.m.

The 18th-ranked Bears make another goodwill trip to southern Maine, where they’ll face the Golden Panthers, who are in their second year of Division I-AA competition.

UMaine looks to build on last week’s 44-21 thumping of Hofstra by continuing its excellent run-pass mix and its hard-charging defense.

The Bears’ defense encounters an FIU squad that features a similar wide-open, one-back philosophy shown by its previous two opponents. UMaine looks to tackle Dan Joslyn and the front four to open up chances for linebackers Fred Lazo and Jermaine Walker to make a lot of plays close to the line of scrimmage.

Meanwhile, safety Brandon McGowan cements a secondary that must deal with some talented receivers. Freshman Manauris Arias gets his second start at cornerback, while sophomore Joe Olszewski of Alfred steps in at strong safety for the injured Derek Martinez.

“We’re looking at a young team that’s gotten a whole lot better from when we played them last year,” said UMaine coach Jack Cosgrove.

However, FIU lost starting quarterback Jamie Burke to a knee injury, which puts soph David Tabor at the helm. The Panthers, who lost to Indiana State in their opener, have a talented receiver in Rashod Smith (7 catches, 70 yds.).

Offensively, UMaine hopes to pound tailbacks Marcus Williams (133.5 yards per game) and Onyi Momah (59 ypg), then mix in some well-timed passing plays. Frosh QB Ron Whitcomb (26-for-41, 371 yds., 5 TDs, 3 INTs) has a balanced corps of wideouts including Christian Pereira (8 rec., 118 yds., 1 TD) and Ryan Waller (8 rec., 103 yds., 3 TDs).

FIU’s defense also will somewhat mirror what Montana and Hofstra did against the Bears.

“They have switched their scheme a little bit from a 4-3 to a 3-4. We’ve been practicing real hard against that this year and hopefully we’re getting better at it,” Cosgrove said.

Husson (0-0) at Alfred State (2-0), Albany, N.Y., 1 p.m.

The Braves hit the football field for the first time since 1933 when the former Maine School of Commerce last sponsored a team.

Price will take a squad made up largely of Maine high school products on the road for the first of seven games as an NCAA Division III independent this fall.

Husson hopes to hold its own behind an aggressive defense led by Jim Tribou and Chad Bennett and an offense directed by former Fitzpatrick Trophy winner Lee St. Hilaire of Winthrop.

Alfred State thumped Brantford (Ontario) 42-6 in its opener, then edged SUNY-Canton 12-7 last weekend.

Maine Maritime Acad. (0-0) at Mount Ida (0-1), Newton Center, Mass., 1 p.m.

The Mariners look to get off to a strong start with a testy game against the Mustangs.

MMA suffered a difficult last-minute loss to Mount Ida last season in Castine. The Mariners are led by fullback Don Thibodeau and linebacker Dan Rosen.