Bears want 3rd straight victory Husson eyes 1st winning season

With the days quickly growing colder and shorter, football players are well aware the season will soon be over.

These final Saturdays have even greater significance for college seniors, some of whom will be playing football for the last time on their home fields – or at all.

Rhode Island (4-5) at Maine (4-5), 2 p.m., Alfond Stadium, Orono: The Black Bears go after their third consecutive victory in the hope of sending their 16 seniors off Morse Field for the final time as winners.

The task won’t be an easy one for UMaine, which encounters the third-ranked rushing offense in all of Division I-AA. Rhode Island brings its vaunted option attack to Orono having racked up 317 yards per game via the run.

Freshman fullback Joe Casey (119 yards per game) is the top rusher in the Atlantic 10, while quarterback Jayson Davis (75 ypg) also is a dangerous threat.

“It’s a different type of an offense,” said UMaine coach Jack Cosgrove, who today coaches his 147th game, the most in program history.

“I’ve felt a sense of excitement on the part of our defense to rise up and defend this offense, but there haven’t been a lot of teams that have been very successful stopping this,” he said.

The Bears must play assignment football, with each man sticking to his area of responsibility in order to hold the Rams in check. Linebacker Jermaine Walker (90 tackles) has been on a tear of late for UMaine, while LB John Wormuth (56) and safety Jarrod Gomes (47) also are among the Bears’ leaders.

URI won three of its first four, but has dropped five of six with the most recent win coming against Villanova.

UMaine must play honest to avoid getting burned by the pass as Davis has thrown for 850 yards and five TDs.

The Bears look to continue improving in their new offensive set the usually features four wide receivers and a single running back. UMaine hasn’t piled up points in its wins over Delaware and Northeastern, but QB Ron Whitcomb (1,570 yds., 10 TDs) has been able to establish a better passing rhythm.

Wide receiver Arel Gordon continues to be a dual threat, having caught 48 passes for 350 yards while netting 4.7 yards per carry as a running back. Tailback Montell Owens (540 yds.) is another tough runner.

While the Bears rank last in the A-10 in total offense (299 ypg), the Rams’ defense has allowed 401 ypg. URI’s top hitters are Virgil Gray, Mizraim Farley and Raquan Pride, each of whom has 52 tackles.

“I know that we’ve improved tremendously on the offensive side of the football in the past few weeks,” Cosgrove said. “We keep gaining confidence in what we can do.”

Husson (3-3) at William Paterson (4-5), 1 p.m., Wayne, N.J.: The Eagles will try to cap their first winning season since the program’s inception in 2003 with a win over the Pioneers.

Husson is coming off back-to-back victories over Becker College, while William Paterson of the New Jersey Athletic Conference shocked second-ranked Rowan 20-19 a week ago.

The Pioneers have shown tremendous improvement since 2004, when they lost a 12-9 decision at Husson. They have given up 18.3 points and 288 yards per outing.

They’ll contend with a diverse Eagles offense that features the tailback trio of Julius Williams (476 yds., 10 TDs), Ryan Leon (425 yds., 8.2 ypc) and Darius Charlton (336 yds.).

Husson quarterback David Chase (990 yds., 10 TDs) has been a good passing threat throwing to the likes of Kyle Poissioner (13 rec, 230 yds., TD) and Jeremy Shorey (13 rec., 219 yds., 2 TDs).

WP quarterback Sean Ryan has passed for 1,221 yards and six scores, wit Kareen Moon grabbing 40 passes for 435 yards and two TDs. Strong safety Andy Howell (76 tackles) is the defensive stopper.

Bobby Gilbert (34 tackles) and Shane Rogers (33.5) lead the Husson defense.

Colby (6-1) at Bowdoin (6-1), 12:30 p.m., Whittier Field, Brunswick: There’s a lot at stake in the 117th renewal of this rivalry, the third-longest in Division III football. The winner claims the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin series championship and locks up second place in the New England Small College Athletic Conference standings.

Colby has won three straight CBB titles and 13 overall. Bowdoin is a 15-time winner in the series, which began in 1966.

The Polar Bears (13.7 ppg) and White Mules (15.9 ppg) have kept opponents in check defensively. Mike Bracco (58 tackles) and Andrew Heaney (56) lead Colby, while Bowdoin is paced by Shaun Kezer (75 tackles) and Dave Donahue (71).

Colby’s Aaron Stepka is the league’s top rusher (661 yds.), while Ricky Leclerc of Bowdoin has passed for 1,359 yards and 11 TDs this season.

The Mules’ pass defense has been suspect (213 ypg), but the Polar Bears have surrendered 202 ypg on the ground.

Today’s other game: Bates (1-6) at Hamilton (1-6).