BATES (0-5-1) vs. BOWDOIN (3-3), Whittier Field, Brunswick, 1 p.m…. Bowdoin leads series 53-33-7, but Bates has won last two meetings including 19-14 win last year in Lewiston. This game matches two worst defenses in NESCAC. Bowdoin yields 426 yards and 28 points a game. Bates yields 397 yards and 33.5 points. Bowdoin is led offensively by TB Eric LaPlaca (99.5 ypg, eight TDs) and FB Jim LeClair (54 ypg) on the ground, and passing of QB Chris Good (50 percent, 917 yds, nine TDs, seven INTs). Bates is led by rushing of TB Jay Yuskis (100.5 ypg, six TDs), passing of QB Steve Bucci (50 percent, 1,080 yds, six TDs, six INTs) and receiving of WR Chris Plante (21-600, six TDs).

MIDDLEBURY (2-4) vs. COLBY (3-3), Seaverns Field, Waterville, 1 p.m…. Colby has won last three meetings, including 20-17 last year at Middlebury. Colby boasts No. 2 defense in NESCAC, yielding 300 yards and 18 points a game. White Mules average 330 yards and 23.5 points offensively, led by RBs Jon Bartlett (90.8 ypg, two TDs) and Len Baker (67.3 ypg, three TDs). Jim Dionizio has been solid at QB, running for two TDs and passing for another in last week’s 41-7 win over Bates. Middlebury defense yields 328 yards and 17 points a game. Option offense averages 369 yards and 19.5 points behind HBs Hayden Harman (70.7 ypg, two TDs) and Matt Whitcomb (66 ypg, three TDs). QB Pat Dyson can throw if necessary (48 percent, 805 yds, four TDs, eight INTs)

On the Road….

MAINE (2-6, 2-4 YC) vs. DELAWARE (7-1, 4-1 YC), Delaware Stadium, Newark, Del., 1 p.m…. Delaware leads series 13-3, but teams have split last six meetings, with Maine winning 17-10 last year in Orono. Maine is looking to snap 10-game road losing streak dating back to ’89. Delaware wing-T is led by QB Bill Vergantino, who leads team in rushing (63.8 ypg, seven TDs) and passing (55 percent, 1017 yds, eight TDs, eight INTs). Maine is paced by rushing of TBs Paul Capriotti (79.2 ypg, eight TDs) and Carl Smith (61 ypg, three TDs). Freshman QB Emilio Colon is top passer (53 percent, 1095 yds, two TDs, 11 INTs). Injuries – Maine: CB Larry Jones (knee) probable, OT Dan Jones (knee) questionable. Delaware: LB Tim Irvine (neck) questionable, HB Marcus Lewis (shoulder) out, HB Anthony Ventresca (knee) out

MAINE MARITIME (4-2, 2-1 NEFC) vs. UMASS-LOWELL (7-0, 3-0 NEFC), Cawley Stadium, Lowell, Mass., 1 p.m…. Lowell has won last four meetings, including 30-8 last year in Castine. Winner of this game will have all but clinched NEFC Northern Division title. MMA boasts No. 2 offense in NEFC (341 ypg) and No. 1 pass offense (262 ypg) behind QB Dave Robinson (55 percent, 1487 yds, 14 TDs, five INTs) and WR John Guss (46-659, eight TDs). Lowell boasts No. 4 offense (333 ypg) led by QB Bill Rizos (54 percent, 1073 yds, 11 TDs, eight INTs). Difference is Lowell defense ranks No. 1 (176 ypg, 4 ppg) while MMA defense ranks 10th in league (352 ypg).