ORONO – No game brings out more emotion and intensity among the members of the University of Maine football team than the annual renewal of the rivalry with New Hampshire.

Today, 14 seniors put on the Black Bears uniform for the final time when the Wildcats invade Morse Field at Alfond Stadium for an Atlantic 10 game.

For UMaine (5-5 overall, 3-4 A-10), the 1 p.m. contest will determine whether it fails to finish the season above the .500 mark for the first time since 2000.

For New Hampshire (8-2, 5-2 A-10), there is plenty of incentive as a victory will propel the Wildcats into an NCAA playoff game next week.

To the victor goes the Brice-Cowell Musket, a flintlock rifle made between 1722 and 1745 in Falmouth that is named after two former coaching greats – UMaine’s “Foxy” Fred Brice and Bill Cowell of UNH.

“Because of the natural rivalry that exists between Maine and New Hampshire in all sports, it becomes a very important game,” said UMaine coach Jack Cosgrove.

There is plenty of motivation as far as the Bears are concerned in the 94th meeting between the two programs. UMaine leads the all-time series 43-42-8.

“Thinking you only have one more game left in your college career, I’m just saying, ‘make the best of your last game,'” said UMaine senior defensive end Marcus Walton.

He and his fellow seniors, who already have become the winningest class in UMaine history with a 32-16 record in four seasons, want to end a frustrating season on an uplifting note.

UMaine’s departing seniors include tailback Marcus Williams, the school’s all-time leading rusher with 3,927 yards, along with strong safety Brandon McGowan, defensive tackle Pat Pa’u, wide receiver Christian Pereira, and offensive line standouts Mike Leconte of South Portland and Mark Lehner.

Other senior mainstays include place-kicker and punter Mike Mellow, cornerbacks Devon Goree and John Baumgartner, linebacker Agean Robinson, wideout Ivi Nwosu, long snapper Rob Brooks and defensive back James Henry.

“They’ve been a very successful group in terms of on the field,” Cosgrove said. “They have been a part of the winningest class of seniors that we’ve had at the University of Maine, winning 32 games to this point and that’s a pretty significant statement.”

The on-field challenge for the Bears today again comes on defense. UMaine, which has surrendered a league-high 390 yards per game, must try to slow a wide-open UNH attack that has put up 33.2 points and 416 yards per contest.

The Wildcats are directed by freshman quarterback Ricky Santos, who has passed for 2,481 yards and 26 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. His favorite target is Atlantic 10 receptions leader David Ball (75 catches, 1,316 yds., 14 TDs, 17.5 ypc).

UMaine’s defense should be in better shape with the return of McGowan and Daren Stone from a disciplinary suspension, but Pa’u is out with a broken arm and Walton is nursing an ankle injury suffered last week.

“They play well when the game is on the line. The make plays late in the game,” said Cosgrove, who added UNH’s ability to grab the lead early in games has allowed it to be more aggressive on both sides.

UMaine’s best defense may be the ability of its offense to control the football for long stretches. For that to happen, Williams must be able to pick up consistent yardage via the run as he has his entire career.

However, the Bears also must mix in some well-timed pass plays featuring QB Ron Whitcomb (1,896 yds., 18 TDs, 11 INTs) and wideouts Pereira (52 rec., 707 yds., 9 TDs) and Ryan Waller (27 rec., 305 yds.). That’s especially true against a UNH pass defense that has given up a league-high 255 yards per game.

While UNH has surrendered 390 yards per game, it has given up only 23.3 ppg. Defensive leaders include defensive backs Aaron Thomas (9.6 tackles per game) and Corey Graham (9.4 tpg).