Black Bears seeking home cooking vs. Towson

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There’s nothing like winning to re-energize a football team.

Having snapped a six-game losing streak last Saturday at Northeastern, the University of Maine returns home with a chance to start building momentum down the stretch.

The season comes to an end for two other Maine programs as Husson College of Bangor and Maine Maritime Academy of Castine play their 2007 finales.

Towson (3-5) at Maine (2-6), Alfond Stadium, Orono, noon: The Black Bears play at home for the first time in three weeks, hoping to get the game in before the projected heavy rain and high winds kick in.

Coach Jack Cosgrove hopes UMaine can execute in all facets of the game as it did last week.

“We played better in the fourth quarter, we didn’t turn the ball over and we responded to critical situations in the game the way we needed to,” he said.

The UMaine defense encounters a Towson squad that is coming off a bye week, which means an extra week of rest and preparation.

The Tigers have been productive throwing the ball (219 yards per game) but trail the Colonial Athletic Association in rushing, netting only 85 ypg.

They present plenty of headaches behind quarterback Sean Schaefer, who has passed for a league-best 16 touchdowns. His top receiver is Marcus Lee (42 receptions, 455 yards). Nick Williams has been a steady run threat.

“He’s a very prolific passer,” Cosgrove said of Schaefer. “The thing that Towson has shown is their ability to be a quick-strike offense.”

The Bears’ defense continues to be sparked by linebacker John Wormuth, who ranks second in the CAA with 10 tackles per contest, LB Andrew Downey (9.8 tpg) and end Jovan Belcher (8.0 tpg).

Getting pressure on Schaefer to hurry his throws will be a key for UMaine.

Offensively, the Bears continue to set the tone behind the slippery running of Jhamal Fluellen. The junior tailback is the CAA’s No. 6 rusher (109 ypg) and is going for his fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing performance.

Fluellen also is only 145 yards from reaching 1,000 for the season. Only seven UMaine backs have accomplished that feat.

“He’s a creative back,” Cosgrove said. “He’s persistent when he runs the football and he makes some cuts that a lot of other backs don’t make.”

The Bears also continue to improve their passing game with QB Adam Farkes and wideout Landis Williams, who continues to emerge as a big-play threat. Williams has 21 catches for 306 yards and four TDs in his last four games.

“He’s had a great working relationship going with Adam,” Cosgrove said. “Landis has really emerged as our go-to receiver.”

Towson has been solid but unspectacular on defense. Linebacker Brian Bradford leads the league with 12.1 tackles per game, while LB Maurice Wilkins (9.8 tpg) is another notable performer.

UMaine also has benefited of late from the improving kick-return skills of elusive freshman Antonio Walcott.

Becker (2-6) at Husson (5-3), Winkin Complex, Bangor, 1 p.m.: The Eagles, coming off a bye week, will close out their season against the Hawks. A victory would complete Husson’s best season since starting the program in 2003.

The game will be the career finale for the seniors on coach Gabby Price’s squad. That talented group includes Tim Abbott of Berwick, Louis Avent, Matt Benson, David Brown, Jonah Chappell of Fryeburg, Jason Cross of Winterport, Nate Grade of Rockland, Tyler Hunnewell of Arundel, Shawn McCurdy of Westbrook, Joe Melcher of Portland, Sean Munroe, Oscar Ody, Nick Parent, Jeremy Shorey of Lisbon, Kyle Poissonnier of Smithfield, Shane Rogers and Ross Salovitch.

Becker, playing only its third varsity season, is coming off a 28-14 victory over SUNY Maritime College.

Husson has built its success around a hard-hitting defense and a well-balanced offense. Salovitch and Rogers are among the defensive mainstays, while QB Chappell hands off to two outstanding tailbacks in Bryan Ferguson and Julius Williams.

Maine Maritime Acad. (5-3) at Fitchburg State (2-6), Fitchburg, Mass., noon: The Mariners look to finish on a winning note after dropping a tough decision last weekend at Coast Guard.

MMA also will be saying goodbye to a highly productive group of seniors who have formed the backbone of the program in recent years for coach Chris McKenney.

The Mariners’ small but talented senior class includes Joe Blier of Bangor, Nate Bolduc of Farmington, Brandon Goodrich of Waterboro, James McLeod of Holden, John Nordberg, and Chris Tracy of Westbrook.

MMA continues to thrive on running the ball out of the option and stopping the run effectively. Quarterback Tyler Angell, fullback Goodrich and halfback Todd Elwell are the key offensive threats.

The Mariners, who have allowed only 88 yards per game via the run, encounter a Fitchburg State squad that has averaged 32.5 ppg, but has given up a league-worst 40.2 ppg while letting opponents roll up 253 ypg on the ground.

Today’s other games, 12:30 p.m.: Tufts (5-1) at Colby (1-5), Bowdoin (1-5) at Bates (0-6)