Football Preview: #12 New Hampshire vs Maine

The University of Maine football team is back in Orono after a two week road swing to play the 12 ranked University of New Hampshire Wildcats in the 100 battle for the Brice-Cowell Musket.

The 2-4 Black Bears have got off to a rough start to the 2012 season but things have been looking up as of late. Maine was able to topple Delaware 26-3 two weeks ago but fell to offensive juggernaut Towson 24-19 last weekend in a close contest.

A bit about at the Wildcats

UNH comes to Orono on a three game winning streak, batting Delaware, Georgia State, and Richmond. The 5-2 Wildcats offense has been explosive this season, scoring at least 34 points in six of their seven contests, and ranks fourth in the nation. Sophomore quarterback Andy Vailas has lead the charge for the Wildcats this season, completing 115 of 194 passes for 1430 yards, 16 touchdowns, and three interceptions. On the ground, Vailas has rushed for 232 yards for four touchdowns and a 3.4 yards per carry average.

Sophomore running back Nico Steriti has been a force for UNH on the ground, rushing for 672 yards and 6 touchdowns while averaging a staggering 7.7 yards per carry. Steriti is not alone in the backfield as sophomore Jimmy Owens and junior Chris Setian have each rushed for four touchdowns. Owens has rushed for 349 yards on 47 touches while Setian has rushed for 320 on 51 carries. UNH’s three headed monster at running back, along with the mobility of Vailas look to take advantage of Maine’s less than stellar run defense.

Defensively, it has been a completely different story for the Wildcats as they have allowed 40 or more points in three of their seven games this season, good enough for the 88 ranked defense in FCS football. Senior linebacker Matt Evans will be a force up front for UNH as he leads the team in tackles with 70. Senior linebacker Alan Buzbee is second on the squad with 40.

Where does Maine go from here?

Sitting at 2-4, Maine’s postseason chances are looking slimmer and slimmer each week. The Black Bears virtually need to win the rest of their contests to have a shot and playing the balance of their schedule in conference dosen’t make life any easier. The Black Bears need to take things one game at a time and keep growing as a unit. As we have said many times, there are a lot of new faces in new places and the team just needs to find the right mix to make them a serious contender not just for the rest of this season but next year as well. With most of the nucleus slated to return, it is just about time to get ready to make a serious run in 2013.

A balanced offense?

Since we were last on the air, Maine has experimented with amore of a balanced attack. David Hood re-entered the lineup two weeks ago at Delaware and rushed for 103 yards, averaging 7.4 yards a carry while Rickey Stevens rushed for 67 yards, averaging 5.2 yards a carry. Marcus Wasilewski only attempted 18 passes. The next week vs Towson, Wasilewski attempted 37 passes as the Tigers shut down the running game early. With UNH’s 114 ranked pass defense and Maine’s strong receiving corps, expect a pass-dominant attack from the Black Bears.

Homecoming and the 100th battle for the Musket

It’s homecoming at the University of Maine but more importantly, it is the 100 battle for the Brice-Cowell Musket. The Musket is awarded to the winner of the anual matchup between the two rival football programs. UNH leads the all-time series with a 48-43-8 record. The Wildcats have won eight of the last nine match ups vs the Black Bears.

Final thoughts

As stated earlier, Maine virtually needs to win out to make the playoffs. Realistically  this team is playing for next season and can play with some more comfort. While Maine’s defense has struggled this season (Michael Cole being out for the season dosen’t help) they have made strides over the past two weeks, especially the rush defense. Maine’s defense is ranked 51 overall and is matching up with the fourth best offense in the country. On the contrary, Maine is facing a miserable pass defense so this one has all the makings of a good  ol’ fashioned shootout. The best thing Maine has going for them is that they are playing their rival for the 100 time on homecoming. Hopefully the atmosphere in Orono can push the Black Bears over the edge.

WMEB Sports coverage kicks off at 11:45 AM as Brandon Poli has the pre game report and at Noon, Bryan Roche, Cody Beckett, and Liam Nee will have the call, live and commercial free from Morse Field. Not in the listening area? Click the “Listen Live” section in the header to hear all the action.