Struggling Bears look to get going vs. Northeastern Maine Maritime faces Coast Guard

There is nothing like success to generate enthusiasm and even more success on the football field.

The University of Maine, mired in a six-game losing streak, looks to rediscover the magic against a Northeastern team that has experienced similar struggles in 2007.

Maine (1-6) at Northeastern (1-6), 2 p.m., Parsons Field, Brookline, Mass.: Coach Jack Cosgrove’s Black Bears will again try to respond after a difficult loss. UMaine dropped a 30-23 double-overtime decision last week at Stony Brook, putting another dent in a team that is suffering through a tough season.

“They have been difficult setbacks because we’ve been in situations where we’ve had a chance to be successful and we haven’t responded quite the right way,” said Cosgrove, whose squad could easily be 4-3 if it had executed in a handful of key situations.

UMaine encounters a Northeastern squad that has dropped four in a row.

“We’re going to be a hungry football team, as they are,” Cosgrove said. “They’re another team that’s probably got a lot of frustration in terms of not achieving.”

Cosgrove said the psychological side of the equation is the hardest element to deal with during a losing streak.

“We’re not used to being on this type of a path where we haven’t had success for quite some time,” he said. “It becomes more challenging and trying week by week. All you can do is dig your feet into the ground and work to put an end to it.”

This game could be dominated by defense, as the Huskies and Bears rank 11th and 12th, respectively, in CAA scoring and total offense.

UMaine, led by linebackers Andrew Downey and John Wormuth and end Jovan Belcher, will try to contain a Northeastern offense that has some accomplished players.

Tailback Maurice Murray (108 yards per game) is the league’s No. 5 rusher, while quarterback Anthony Orio is solid throwing to the likes of running back Alex Broomfield and tight end Brian Mandeville.

The Bears counter with some good threats of their own, spearheaded by tailback Jhamal Fluellen (107 ypg), the CAA’s sixth leading rusher. QB Adam Farkes has a strong arm but has to be more efficient while avoiding interceptions like the two costly ones he threw at Stony Brook.

Wide receiver Landis Williams is UMaine’s top receiver.

Northeastern counters with a hard-hitting defense, albeit one that has allowed 413 ypg, including 202 per outing via the run. Linebacker Brian Kenney and safety Kevin Brown are the mainstays.

Maine Maritime Acad. (5-2) at Coast Guard Acad. (6-1), 1 p.m., Cadet Memorial Field, New London, Conn.: This contest likely will determine the winner of the New England Football Conference’s Bogan Division, which brings with it a spot in the conference championship game.

MMA has won four in a row, while Coast Guard has posted five straight victories. Last season, the Cadets eked out a 3-0 victory on a windy, rainy day in Castine.

“This is probably the biggest game of my collegiate career and of all four captains,” said MMA senior Chris Tracy. “We’ve been talking about this game since we got here in August. We’re definitely focused for this game.”

The Mariners will try to contain a balanced offense averaging nearly 400 yards per game. MMA’s top-ranked defense has allowed only 279 ypg and is fourth in scoring defense (19.6 ppg).

Freshman linebacker Wade Mondoux (56 tackles), LB Travis Fergola (55) and S Nate Bolduc (54) are among the defensive leaders on a unit that has allowed an NEFC-low 77 rushing yards per game.

Coast Guard has put up nearly 33 ppg with a triple option offense that features double-threat QB Christian George. He has rushed for 86 ypg and passed for 103 ypg. The Cadets also have a prolific receiver in Sam England (31 receptions, 369 yds., 5 TDs).

Maine Maritime counters with its own solid option attack. Quarterback Tyler Angell is a cagey inside runner while fullback Brandon Goodrich (95 ypg) is a proven commodity.

The Mariners also like to utilize their tight ends with well-timed play-action passes.

The Coast Guard defense, led by Brian Yurovich, has afforded opponents 382 yards and 21 points per game and has been particularly susceptible to the pass (238 ypg).

Bates (0-5) at Colby (0-5), 1 p.m., Seaverns Field, Waterville: The first game of the traditional Colby-Bates-Bowdoin series of 2007 is guaranteed to re-energize these two struggling teams.

Both have had great difficulty putting points on the scoreboard consistently amidst a grueling New England Small College Athletic Conference schedule.

Bowdoin is the reining CBB champion, having ended a string of three straight Colby crowns from 2003-05. Bates’ last series title came in 2002.

Today’s other game: Wesleyan (3-2) at Bowdoin (1-4), 12:30 p.m.