It isn’t often a Division I football player from Maine has the opportunity to play a game in his hometown.

Rocco Navarro of Portland and Bobby Donnelly of neighboring Westbrook will have that chance tonight when the University of Maine faces Albany at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.

The contest is part of the university’s continuing effort to cater to alumni and fans in southern Maine.

Navarro, a former Portland High player, is the Black Bears’ punter.

Donnelly, who was primarily a soccer player at Westbrook High but played in three football games as a senior, is UMaine’s placekicker.

Albany (0-3) vs. Maine (1-2), 6 p.m., Fitzpatrick Stadium, Portland: The Black Bears want desperately to get back into the win column after a disappointing Atlantic 10 loss to Richmond two weeks ago.

However, they won’t enjoy the comforts of home.

“It’s an ‘away’ game,” said UMaine coach Jack Cosgrove. “It does take you off of your home field and into another environment, so the routine is different than being at home.”

UMaine hopes to avoid turnovers, which led to its downfall the last time out. The offense looks to improve its run-pass balance and its efficiency in third-down situations and inside the 25-yard line.

Senior tailback Montell Owens (63 yards per game, 4.7 yards per carry) heads the ground assault behind a line that includes freshman first-time starter Ryan Canary at left guard.

Ron Whitcomb and Chris Legree will split the quarterbacking chores. Whitcomb has thrown for 526 yards and four touchdowns with four interceptions. The receiving corps is led by wideouts Kevin McMahan (18 receptions, 297 yards, 3 TDs) and Arel Gordon (10 rec., 51 yds.).

The Bears face an Albany defense that features standout linebacker Colin Disch, who ranks second in Division I-AA with 13.7 tackles per game.

“They have a great set of linebackers, they play tough up front, and they really make it hard on teams to move the football against them,” Cosgrove said.

Albany has struggled offensively while playing a tough early schedule that included Atlantic 10 contenders Hofstra and Massachusetts. Quarterback Dani Bocanegra directs a multiple offense that has mustered only 6.7 points and 157 total yards per game.

Linebacker Jermaine Walker (10 tackles per game) and safety Jarrod Gomes (6.7 tpg) spearhead the UMaine defense.

BEAR TRACKS: Bears junior defensive end Matt King is out for the season with torn finger ligaments in his right hand sustained against Richmond. King was UMaine’s No. 4 tackler with 15, including 61/2 for negative yardage (21/2 QB sacks) … UMaine is 6-6-1 all-time in Portland, having won the last four games there.

Nichols (0-3) at Maine Maritime Academy (3-0), 1 p.m., Ritchie Field, Castine: The Mariners hope to continue their early season roll, going after their fourth straight win. MMA hasn’t won four games in a year since it went 5-5 in 1998.

Last week, Curry dared MMA to throw and got burned by quarterback B.J. Dunlap, who passed for 201 yards and four TDs. The Mariners should expect Nichols to jam up the line of scrimmage in an attempt to stop powerhouse runner Don Thibodeau, who leads the New England Football Conference with 206 yards per game.

The Bison have been penned up offensively, averaging a league-low 174 ypg while scoring only 15 ppg.

MMA continues to look to Brandon Hamilton, Chris Metcalf, and Nate Bolduc to set the tone for the defense.

Mount Ida (1-3) at Husson (0-2), 1 p.m., Winkin Complex, Bangor: The Eagles make their 2005 home debut with a Homecoming contest against the Mustangs.

Mount Ida has won both previous meetings, twice scoring in the final minute to upend Husson.

Husson hopes to tighten up its defense after a 54-28 loss last week at Hartwick College. Former LTC standouts Bobby Gilbert out of Foxcroft Academy and Chad Bennett of Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield head the Eagles’ defense with 13.5 and 10.5 tackles per game, respectively. Adam Scott also has averaged 10.5 tackles.

Husson has surrendered 470 yards per contest thus far.

Offensively, the Eagles have a balanced ground game led by Darius Charlton (83 ypg) and Ryan Leon (61 ypg).

Mount Ida of Newton Center, Mass., is coming off a 65-49 victory over Becker. Tailback Antwan Harris turned in a rec-ord-breaking performance, rushing for 377 yards and four touchdowns on 47 carries.

The 377 yards were the 10th most in Division III history.

Today’s other games: Colby (1-0) at Middlebury (0-1), Tufts (1-0) at Bates (0-1), Bowdoin (1-0) at Amherst (1-0).