It may have been only the second game of the young season for the University of Maine football team, but Saturday night’s 38-0 victory over Northern Colorado served as a coming of age for a few of the Black Bears’ youngsters.

As UMaine continues to recruit more talented athletes each year, the potential is there for them to make an impact early in their careers.

Saturday’s home opener served as a coming out of sorts for players such as redshirt freshman linebacker Anthony Hicks, sophomore free safety Daren Stone and freshman tailback Keien Williams.

Hicks made a big splash in only his second game at UMaine. Splitting time with senior Agean Robinson, he registered five solo tackles, including a quarterback sack, and returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown.

“This was my first home college game,” said Hicks, a 6-foot-1, 212-pounder from Newark, N.J. “Coach just told me to go out there and play football, just be an athlete.”

Hicks played sparingly at Montana, but Cosgrove realized he and other players could have an impact if given the opportunity.

“We criticized ourselves a little bit as a staff last week [at Montana] for not playing some guys a little bit more because they’re redshirt freshmen or freshmen,” said Cosgrove, who didn’t want some of the youngsters to deal with the pressures of playing in the Grizzlies’ intimidating environment.

“We had gone into the [Northern Colorado] game looking to get some of our younger players more involved,” he added. “We have high hopes for [Hicks] being an excellent linebacker here for us.”

Stone, who played sparingly as a freshman, now holds down the Bears’ pivotal free safety spot. After surviving the Montana game, he bounced back with a strong effort in UMaine’s pass protection against UNC.

“I saw the field well; I was with the quarterback,” Stone said. “It was good reads. I did everything my coach told me.”

The rangy Stone (6-3, 212) of Lockport, N.Y., picked off two passes, returning one 38 yards for a score.

“He had a couple of tough plays [at Montana] and he’s a young guy we’re counting on,” Cosgrove said.

“You saw what he did [Saturday night]. He almost took two [interceptions] all the way back,” he added. “His development is going to be key to our success down the road.”

Other players who moved into more prominent roles included backup tailbacks Montell Owens, a junior, and Williams. Owens netted 36 yards on seven carries spelling star tailback Marcus Williams, while Keien Williams showed off his skills late in the game with seven carries for 51 yards, including a 36-yard jaunt.

Giving younger players exposure and a chance to contribute is increasingly a component of UMaine’s success.

“These are things we have to do to build our entire operation, our football team, for the long season that’s in front of us,” Cosgrove said.

Bears play the numbers game

Senior tailback Marcus Williams turned in his second straight solid performance Saturday while continuing his climb up UMaine’s all-time rushing list.

The 5-10, 230-pounder became the third 3,000-yard rusher in school history with his 85-yard effort against Northern Colorado. Williams, who carried only 16 times, turned in an eye-popping 38-yard TD run that showed off his improved speed this season.

Williams now needs 775 yards to surpass Black Bears career rushing leader Lorenzo Bouier, who amassed 3,828 yards from 1979 to 1982.

Also, UMaine moved up from No. 18 to No. 15 in The Sports Network’s Division I-AA poll and is among six Atlantic 10 teams in the top 18.

Villanova leads the way at No. 5, followed by Delaware (6th), Massachusetts (9th), upstart New Hampshire (10th), which beat Division I-A Rutgers, and No. 18 Northeastern.