Bears look to rebound from loss to Delaware Eagles, Mariners must also show resilience

Resilience is a key ingredient for any football team.

The University of Maine, Husson College of Bangor, and Maine Maritime Academy of Castine all are looking to bounce back and earn victories after tough losses last week.

Maine (2-2) at Richmond (2-2), 3 p.m., UR Stadium, Richmond, Va.: The 12th-ranked Black Bears head on the road for the fourth time in five games looking for their first Atlantic 10 win of the season.

UMaine hopes to iron out some of the pass defense difficulties it experienced at Delaware. The Bears should see fewer passes from a Richmond team that is balanced and adept at running the football.

“What happened last week, I can’t explain it,” said UMaine coach Jack Cosgrove. “It put us in a hole, huge, but our guys responded and played three pretty good quarters of football after that.”

Strong safety Brandon McGowan (32 tackles), safety Daren Stone (28), and linebackers Agean Robinson (27) and Jermaine Walker (26) will try to help the Bears slow a Spider offense that features tailback David Freeman (109 yards per game), quarterback Stacy Tutt (56-for-109, 662 yds., 7 touchdowns, 5 interceptions), and receiver Harry Wilson (14 receptions, 217 yds., 3 TDs).

“He’s frightening,” Cosgrove said of Tutt. “He’s a threat to do both [run and pass].”

Richmond’s 18.5 points per game ranks last in the conference while the Bears are fourth in rushing defense at 103.5 ypg.

Offensively, UMaine is intent on starting better. The Bears totaled 397 yards last week behind a passing attack featuring QB Ron Whitcomb (70-for-113, 780 yds., 8 TDs, 5 INTs) and wideout Christian Pereira (24 rec., 341 yds., 4 TDs).

Pereira made two phenomenal catches against the Blue Hens.

“I suspect our guys our going to come out ready to go because they know the importance and value of having a great start,” Cosgrove said.

The Bears rank only ninth in A-10 total offense (327 ypg).

The Spiders, who had a bye week after a loss to Lafayette, look to linebackers Adam Goboloski (36 tackles) and Brian Burnette (33) to set the tone defensively.

UMaine has won the last three meetings.

The Bears have played in front of an average of 24,698 fans this season. The Spiders have seen only 16,352 spectators the last three games combined.

Southern Virginia (0-4) at Husson (0-5), 1 p.m., Winkin Complex, Bangor: Something has to give in this one as the Eagles and Knights collide in a battle of winless second-year programs.

Husson, coming off a heartbreaking 28-27 loss at Mount Ida, hopes to take advantage of the fact SVU has made the long trek from Buena Vista. While the Eagles are winless in 11 games dating back to last season, the Knights have dropped 13 straight contests.

Mike Prentiss has rushed for 83 yards per game and five TDs to pace the Husson offense.

Bridgewater State (2-2) at Maine Maritime (1-3), 1 p.m., Ritchie Field, Castine: The Mariners, who have been shut out two of the last three weeks, must try to slow down the most potent offense in the New England Football Conference.

The Bears are averaging a league-best 29.5 points and 380 total yards, including 223 via the run and 197 through the air. Brenden Kavey has rushed for 163 yards per game.

MMA ranks second in rushing (193 ypg) behind QB Pat Bard and halfback Buddy Nickerson, but the Mariners have struggled throwing the ball.

Today’s other games (1 p.m.): 2-0 Wesleyan at 1-1 Colby, 1-1 Tufts at 0-2 Bowdoin, 1-1 Williams at 0-2 Bates