Mariners sailing with punishing ground game

Winning is all about generating confidence and momentum.

Maine Maritime Academy has done just that early in the 2005 football season.

The Mariners look to continue their surge today, this time on the road.

Maine Maritime Acad. (2-0) at Mass. Maritime Acad. (0-2), 1 p.m., Buzzards Bay, Mass.: Reminiscent of its days as a dominating force in the New England Football Conference, MMA has established a tremendous rushing attack as the key to its success.

Coach Chris McKenney’s Mariners head into their annual battle for the Admirals’ Cup with the top-ranked run game in the league with a whopping 341.5 yards per contest.

MMA’s offensive line has paved the way for fullback Don Thibodeau to rush for 262 yards per contest and 7.9 yards per carry. The senior is averaging 33 carries per game, helping the Mariners win back-to-back games for the first time since 1998.

MMA has put up almost 25 points per game with senior quarterback B.J. Dunlap directing the offense.

Defensively, the Mariners have been somewhat forgiving while surrendering 396 yards per outing, but have only allowed 17 ppg.

Defensive back Nate Bolduc (10.5 tackles per game) and linebackers Chris Metcalf and Chris Tracy also have been outstanding with 9.5 tpg each.

Mass. Maritime has struggled offensively, putting up only 218.5 yards and 7.0 points per game. QB Mike Blomberg has passed for 152 ypg.

The Buccaneers also have been forgiving on defense, giving up 395 yards and 26 ppg.

Husson (0-1) at Hartwick (1-1), noon, Oneonta, N.Y.: The Eagles come off a bye week looking for their first victory of the season.

Husson, which opened Sept. 10 with a 23-6 loss at Utica, looks to generate more offense this time around.

Hartwick won last season’s meeting 50-20, accounting for the Hawks’ only victory of the season. Hartwick is coming off a 59-41 loss to 16th-ranked Ithaca last weekend.

The Eagles will have to contend with a Hawk offense that likes to throw, having put up 269 yards per game through the air behind QB Jason Boltus (38-for-73, 538 yds., 5 TDs) and receiver Matt Willis (13 receptions, 240 yds.).

Williams (0-0) at Colby (0-0), 1 p.m., Seaverns Field, Waterville: The White Mules kick off their New England Small College Athletic Conference season with a game against perennial league power Williams.

Colby hopes to play the same caliber of stingy defense that helped it go 6-2 last season. The Mules also are counting on tailbacks Aaron Stepka and Chris Bashaw and QB Justin Smith to spearhead what should be a potent offense.

Colby has beaten Williams only once in program history.

Today’s other games: Middlebury at Bowdoin, Trinity at Bates.