The University of Maine football team takes a brief break from the rigors of the Colonial Athletic Association play this week as it prepares for Saturday’s nonconference home contest against Iona.

Coach Jack Cosgrove’s team is riding a wave of confidence after shutting out Northeastern 20-0 to post its third straight victory. UMaine improved to 5-3 and owns a 3-2 conference record good for second place in the CAA North Division.

“A shutout is a very special defensive effort,” Cosgrove said, “but I think also the rest of your team shares it. Our offense had the ball for 38 minutes…”

By no means does that mean the Black Bears will be reducing their workload or their intensity this week. The top priority is likely to be improving the consistency of the place-kicking game, which struggled in Saturday’s windy conditions.

Freshman kicker Brian Harvey narrowly missed two field-goal attempts and had one low, line drive blocked. Classmate Jordan Waxman, who handles kickoffs, missed an extra point after being inserted in the third quarter to replace Harvey.

“I ended up playing musical kickers because the one that was blocked wasn’t blocked, it was kicked into the line,” Cosgrove said.

Harvey had missed four of his first five field-goal tries, then made four of his next five before Saturday’s stumble. He has converted 20 of 21 extra-point kicks, while Waxman’s miss was his first attempt.

Cosgrove, who has tried to remain patient in allowing players to compete for the place-kicking job and learn on the job, is trying to maintain his sense of humor.

“We’re going to petition the N-C-double-A to see if we can move the PAT/field goal into the [Mahaney] dome, so there’s no wind,” he joked Monday during the weekly CAA coaches teleconference.

“Those first-year guys, it was in their heads, there’s no doubt,” Cosgrove said of the blustery conditions on Morse Field. “They didn’t miss by much, but they missed.”

Junior quarterback Mike Brusko said the Black Bears must remain behind the kickers emotionally to help them get through the transition from high school to college.

“I think the biggest thing is getting those guys confidence,” Brusko said. “They’re young guys. The biggest thing is getting them to relax and come out and kick the way they that they know how to.”

Cosgrove said Harvey and Waxman will get in plenty of work this week in preparation for Saturday’s noon game at Alfond Stadium in Orono.

“Their maturity isn’t where we need it to be, but it’s going to get there eventually and this is probably part of the trials and tribulations that you go through,” Cosgrove said.

UMaine defense buckles down

Defense has been the cornerstone of UMaine’s recent three-game CAA winning streak.

For starters, the Black Bears have been better defending the run. They have held opponents to under 100 yards rushing in two of the last three contests (Delaware, Northeastern) and are allowing exactly 100 yards per game during that span.

Most present around the football have been linebacker Andrew Downey (13 solo tackles, 18 assists, 31 total), end Jovan Belcher (8-17-25), LB Sean Wasson (7-16-23) and cornerback Lionel Nixon Jr. (14-5-19).

UMaine also has forced 10 turnovers, including four interceptions Saturday, and scored two defensive touchdowns to help fuel the 3-0 streak.

“It’s just a real good feeling to see a defensive effort of that magnitude,” Cosgrove said.

Fluellen returns for Bears

Opposing defenses will have another player to worry about when preparing for the UMaine offense for the rest of the season as senior tailback and co-captain Jhamal Fluellen was back on the field Saturday.

Fluellen, who missed three-plus games with a left shoulder/neck injury, was cleared to play last Thursday after going through a week of practice.

“Flu’s a veteran football player and it was good to have him in there,” Cosgrove said.

The coaching staff had planned to use Fluellen more in a receiver role to keep him out of harm’s way, but he logged nine carries for 46 yards, including eight attempts lined up in the backfield.

He was used as the tailback after redshirt freshman tailback Derek Session left Saturday’s game with a thigh bruise. Fluellen had back-to-back runs of 37 and 42 yards called back on holding penalties.

Fluellen’s return should enable the Bears to further develop their attack, which includes QB Brusko, Session, H-back Jared Turcotte of Lewiston and wide receiver Landis Williams, who caught two TD passes Saturday.

“He did a great job coming in and giving us another threat when we lost Session,” Brusko said. “It just shows Flu was ready to do what we needed him to do and he responded when the time came.”

UMaine is averaging a healthy 230 rushing yards per game during the winning streak and while Brusko has completed 23 of 34 passes (.676) good for 356 yards and four TDs without an interception.

pwarner@bangordailynews.net

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