Bears look to play spoiler vs. rival Wildcats

It had been hoped today’s renewal of the traditional football rivalry between the universities of Maine and New Hampshire might have postseason implications for the Black Bears.

Instead, coach Jack Cosgrove’s 22nd-ranked team will try to play a spoiler role when it faces the No. 10 Wildcats in a noon Atlantic 10 showdown on Morse Field at Alfond Stadium.

With UMaine (6-4, 5-2 A-10) expected to miss the playoffs regardless of the outcome, the team is hoping to derail a bid by New Hampshire (7-3, 4-3 A-10) to qualify for the 16-team NCAA field as an at-large pick.

There is still plenty at stake for the Bears, who will try to regain possession of the Brice-Cowell Musket, the spoils in the 96th meeting between the two programs dating back to 1903.

UMaine also hopes to send its 13 seniors off on a positive note.

“I am amazed at how they bounced back from last weekend,” Cosgrove said of the Bears’ gut-wrenching 10-9 loss at No. 3 Massachusetts.

“It’s not like, ‘oh we’re done and let’s go home; what are we playing for now?” he added of the team’s positive and resilient outlook.

UMaine enters the contest with one of the top defenses in Division I-AA. The Bears lead the nation in total defense (227.9 yards per game) and rank second in rushing defense (60.9 ypg), third in sacks (3.6 per game), fourth in tackles for a loss (8.0 per game) and sixth in scoring defense (12.5 points per contest).

That said, the Bears must contend with a Wildcat offense that ranks second in I-AA in scoring (38.2 ppg), third in total offense (420.1 ypg) and ninth in passing offense (259 ypg).

And New Hampshire has picked apart UMaine the last three seasons, averaging 52 points and 533 yards per game while winning all three games.

“You don’t stop them,” Cosgrove said. “I think you have to find ways to reduce their ability to hurt you.”

Senior end Matt King (57 tackles, 10.5 sacks), senior tackle Mike DeVito (27 tackles, 7 sacks) and senior strong safety Daren Stone (44 tackles) are among the leaders who will try to keep a potent Wildcat unit in check.

UNH features the most potent passing combination in the country in junior quarterback Ricky Santos and record-setting wideout David Ball. Santos has thrown for 1,196 yards and 23 touchdowns on 69 percent accuracy with only four interceptions.

Ball, who this season broke future NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice’s NCAA record with his 51st TD reception, now has 56. He trails Rice’s standard of 4,693 receiving yards) by 221 yards and also has caught a scoring pass in 27 career games.

“When you have two marquee players, two guys with the ability of Santos and Ball, that really puts a strain [on the defense] because I think they have a special connection, an operation between each other, that is unique,” Cosgrove said.

The ‘Cats also have good run threats in Chad Kackert (44 yds., 3 TDs), Chris Ward (366 yds., 6 TDs) and the elusive Santos (357 yds., 10 TDs). And Keith LeVan (54 catches, 518 yds., 3 TDs) is another receiving standout for UNH.

“New Hampshire is just so diverse and does so many things with such talent on offense,” Cosgrove said. “All the guys they throw at you, and the imagination that they use to create mismatches to create opportunities for their guys to excel, it’s a constant strain on a defense.”

The Wildcats have been less than stellar on defense, allowing 23.7 points and 322 yards per game.

UMaine (20.4 points, 296 yards per outing) hopes its steadily improving offense can turn in its most complete effort of the season. Senior quarterback Ron Whitcomb is the catalyst, passing for 1,196 yards and 8 TDs with seven INTs while also providing a steady run presence.

The Bears also rely heavily on senior tailback-receiver Arel Gordon, who has rushed for 823 yards and 5 TDs while catching 46 passes for 435 yards and two scores.

Senior guard Justin Roberts is the leader on a line that also will try to spring run-pass threat Jhamal Fluellen.

“Turnovers are important. And you’ve got to possess the ball, you’ve got to keep it away from your opponent, and obviously that would be something that would help us greatly on Saturday,” Cosgrove said.

The UNH defense is spearheaded by linebacker Husain Karim (79 tackles), safety Jeff Pammer (68) and cornerback John Clements (61).

UNH, which has played in the NCAA quarterfinals the last two seasons, leads the all-time series with UMaine, 44-43-8.