The University of Maine and Husson University football teams are back in action once again in conference play this coming weekend.
The Eagles (1-3, 0-1 in the Conference of New England) will travel to Massachusetts to battle Western New England at 1 p.m. Saturday. Husson looks to rebound after dropping their league opener to Endicott College at home last Saturday 48-14. The offense has looked pretty stagnant thus far, being outscored by an average of 28.5-18.2. The Golden Bears of WNEU come into the contest with a record of 2-2 (0-1 CNE). They battled tough last week, losing a tight one 37-31 to the University of New England on the road. The Nor’Easters, next to the Gulls of Endicott, look to be one of the front runners for a possible conference title. The Eagles will rely on quarterback Max Clark (Bangor High) to make some plays. The senior has tossed seven touchdown passes against three interceptions for 830 yards through the first four games. They must avoid giving up the big plays in order to pull off a win, as Western New England averages 32.5 points per outing including 205 yards on the ground.
The Black Bears, fresh off their first win of the season and their first conference victory last Saturday 37-30 over North Carolina A&T in Orono, will take their 1-4 mark (1-1 in the Coastal Athletic Association) into a league battle in Rhode Island against Bryant University at 2 p.m. Saturday. Maine, who is averaging 19.6 points per game, used a balanced offense to defeat the Aggies and need to do more of the same vs the Bulldogs this weekend. Bryant enters play at 2-3 and 0-2 in the league, coming off a close 26-24 home loss to Towson last weekend. The Black Bears are led by QB Carter Peevy. The senior transfer has four touchdown passes and two interceptions for 714 yards, and has also added 115 yards on the ground for three scores. He was named co-offensive player of the week in the CAA after throwing for 302 yards and two touchdowns in the home victory over NC A&T. Sincere Baines out of the backfield has also been big, averaging 7.3 yards per carry (62 attempts, 451 yards, two touchdowns). Nick Loughlin (Cape Elizabeth) had a career day last Saturday and might be taking on a bigger role for the team. The redshirt sophomore rushed nine times for 36 yards, and also had six receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown including an 81-yarder from Peevy. Linebacker Christian Thomas is having a superb season in anchoring the defense. The 6 foot 3, 230 pound graduate from Norristown, Pennsylvania has been all over the field, registering 54 total tackles (26 solo), seven tackles for a loss, two sacks, and one pass breakup.
Photos in this story courtesy of UMaine and Husson University Athletics
