UM looks to bear down on Huskies Husson meets Utica; Mariners face Becker

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Two teams are hoping to build off season-opening victories, while another will kick off its 2007 campaign in Saturday’s games involving Maine college football programs.

Maine (1-0) at Connecticut (1-0), 7 p.m., Rentschler Field (capacity 40,000), East Hartford, Conn.: Coach Jack Cosgrove’s Black Bears take a step up from a limited scholarship opponent in Monmouth to a Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) program in the Huskies.

UConn, which as recently as 1999 was in the Yankee Conference with UMaine, is now playing in the Big East.

Even though the Huskies boast 85 scholarships to the Bears’ 63, and play with bowl-caliber teams, the mystique of playing FBS team has begun to wear off for UMaine’s veterans.

“We’ve played Mississippi State, Nebraska, BC [Boston College],” said UMaine senior captain and Connecticut resident Bruno Dorismond.

“I think we’re used to it now. It’s not like wow, it’s a big deal,” he added. “[At] BC last year we were relaxed more.”

That said, UMaine has tremendous respect for UConn, which opened with a 45-14 win over Duke. And after Appalachian State knocked off No. 5 Michigan, no Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) teams will be taken for granted.

“It helps I-AA football in terms of how people view it, but it hurts you in terms of sneaking up on somebody,” Cosgrove said.

The Bears need to play mistake-free football and execute crisply to challenge the Huskies. UMaine seeks more of a passing element to its offense behind quarterback Mike Brusko, who threw for only 64 yards in the opener.

That phase will be set up by a run game sparked by Jhamal Fluellen (125 yards) and Brusko (109 yds.) and the efforts of the offensive line against a bigger UConn defense. That unit features linebacker Danny Lansanah and cornerback Darius Butler.

UConn limited Duke to 10 first downs and 169 total yards, including only 15 rushing.

“They’re physical,” Cosgrove said. “They’re bigger than we are. You always see a size differential.”

UMaine’s defense, which was solid against Monmouth, has its work cut out for it. End Jovan Belcher, tackle Dorismond and linebacker John Wormuth look to help the Bears contain a squad that put up 487 yards a week ago.

First-year starting QB Tyler Lorenzen (22-for-30, 298 yds., 2 TDs) is also a good run threat. He has a tough tailback in Donald Brown (99 yds.), while wideouts Terence Jeffers (8 rec., 92 yds.) and Larry Taylor (7 rec., 75 yds.) are talented.

BEAR TRACKS: UMaine is expected to be without starting safety Jonathan Calderon, who injured a finger on his left hand last week. Sophomore Troy Harris is likely to get the start. Offensive tackle Chris Parcells (left ankle) also is questionable. If he can’t play, Jake Folz of West Paris moves to right tackle and Jake Serdy takes over at left guard.

UConn leads the all-time series 38-31-3 and won the last meeting 34-20 in 1999.

Husson (1-0) at Utica (1-0), 1:30 p.m., Utica, N.Y.: Coming off a victory over Division II Pace, the Eagles look to make it two in a row against the Pioneers of the Empire 8.

Coach Gabby Price’s team showed off a good blend of run and pass in beating Pace. Bryan Ferguson (104 yds.) and Julius Williams (98 yds.) give the Eagles a two-pronged run game.

Senior QB Jonah Chappell has a strong arm and threw for 268 yards last week. Freshman wideout Victor McKenzie (6 rec., 117 yds.) is among the receiving threats.

Utica opened with a 41-22 win over Becker. The Eagles won last year’s meeting 21-7.

The Pioneers, who return 15 starters, look to linebacker Mike DeBetta to set the defensive tone.

Kamaal Marbury (123 yds., 3 TDs) heads up Utica’s run game, while QB Greg Pinelli (209 yds., 2 TDs) wants to get the ball to wideouts Cody Elliot and James Proniewych.

Husson counters with a hard-charging defense led by end Shane Rogers, linebacker Bobby Gilbert and cornerback Doug Blades.

Maine Maritime Academy (0-0) at Becker (0-1), 5 p.m., Worcester, Mass.: The Mariners hope to re-establish themselves while taking on the Hawks in a nonleague contest.

MMA’s triple option offense will be led by junior QB Chris Kates who, along with fullback Jim Bower and halfback Brandon Goodrich, hopes to make the team one of the top ground attacks in the New England Football Conference.

Becker, a Division III independent, is still looking for the first victory in program history. The Hawks are 0-18 since starting up in 2005.

Becker surrendered 37 points and 388 yards per game last season, both among the worst in the nation.

Heading the MMA defense are three seniors, linebacker Chris Tracy and safeties Nate Bolduc and Joe Blier.