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You lose your starting quarterback for the rest of the season and are forced to start your backup for the first time in his career. This was the problem University of Maine football coach Jack Cosgrove had last week after starter Warren Smith suffered a season-ending foot injury.
A week later, that no longer looks like a problem for Cosgrove and the Black Bears.
After sophomore Chris Treister’s record-setting performance in Saturday’s 41-17 win over the University of Rhode Island, the quarterback spot seems to be in a solid position heading into this weekend’s showdown with archrival, the University of New Hampshire.
The Black Bears travel to Cowell Stadium for a noon battle with the No. 11 Wildcats on Saturday in a fight for the Brice-Cowell Musket and the Colonial Athletic Association North Division title. The Brice-Cowell Musket is given annually to the winner of the UMaine-UNH rivalry.
“They’re a well-coached Maine team, a very aggressive Maine team,” UNH coach Sean McDonnell said in Monday’s CAA weekly teleconference. “We’re playing for the North Championship. We’re playing for the Musket. It’s going to be a battle.”
UMaine (5-5, 4-3 CAA) currently sits one game back in the conference standings behind a UNH team that is coming off a heartbreaking 20-17 loss at the fourth-ranked College of William & Mary. UNH is 8-2 on the season and 5-2 in the conference.
Wildcats balanced
For six years, the Brice-Cowell Musket has been in the hands of UNH. On Saturday, the Black Bears would like to change that, but will have to deal with one of the top teams in not only the conference but the Football Championship Subdivision.
“Our respect for New Hampshire is as high as you could ask,” Cosgrove said. “This is a program that has handed it to us for a number of years.”
Offensively, UNH is usually known for their potent passing attack but has a much more balanced attack this season. They are ranked first in the conference in scoring offense with a little more than 33 points per game.
Junior quarterback R.J. Toman, the Preseason CAA Offensive Player of the Year, has struggled at times this season but still has 1,749 yards through the air and 12 touchdowns. He also has 10 interceptions.
The receiving corps, which lost its top two wide receivers from a season ago, is led by All-American tight end Scott Sicko (44 receptions, 589 yards, 7 touchdowns).
The running attack is a two-headed attack with Chad Kackert (124 carries, 624 yds., 8 TDs) and Sean Jellison (89 carries, 416 yds., 7 TDs).
Defensively, the Wildcats are solid as well, ranking fourth in scoring defense (19.1 points per game). They are led by two of the conference’s top tacklers in Devon Jackson (81) and Sean Ware (80). Terrence Klein (5 interceptions) and Dino Vasso (4) lead the secondary.
Kicker Tom Manning highlights the special teams unit connecting on 16-of-20 field goals this season.
Records set offensively
Treister made a memorable debut as the starting quarterback and gave UMaine fans a glimpse during the last home game that the quarterback position is filled with talent and depth.
The sophomore, who has seen little duty as a backup, passed for 465 yards on 39 for 45 passing to go with five touchdowns. He also added a touchdown on the ground and led the team in rushing on the afternoon.
“Chris was very good with his preparation, and I was amazed at just how accurate he was,” Cosgrove said. “I look at 39 for 45, and I’ve never seen it.”
Treister broke the completions mark at UMaine with 39 and broke the completion percentage mark (86.7 percent).
For his efforts, the Cape Elizabeth native and former Portland High star was awarded The Sports Network National Co-Offensive Player of the Week. He was also named the CAA Offensive Player of the Week.
His performance caught the eye of the league coaches, including the coach he will be facing this weekend.
“I was extremely impressed with Chris Treister,” McDonnell said. “He’s a kid that we recruited out of Portland. He was on target with all of his passes on Saturday.”
The recipients of Treister’s passes also had huge days. Senior wide receiver Landis Williams caught 17 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns. He tied the single game receptions record for UMaine. He leads the CAA in receptions (65), receiving yards (742) and is tied for touchdowns (8).
Ty Jones added nine catches for 112 yards and a score. Mike Brusko had nine catches as well for 57 yards and a touchdown.
Maturing defense
While the offensive exploits of the Black Bears stole the show last weekend, the defense held a URI attack that scored 42 points on UNH to just 17 points and 187 total yards.
“A lot of the accolades will go to the offense for their performance … but I was just as pleased with our defensive effort,” Cosgrove said.
The defense has been a young unit all season, with only two starters having been in the starting lineup the whole season. With such a young team, the defense has endured its fair share of struggles.
One thing the Black Bears have thrived on is forcing turnovers though, tying UNH with the lead in interceptions (18) and sitting in second in turnovers (28) behind the Wildcats.
Sophomore linebacker Donte Dennis leads the defensive unit with 99 tackles and four interceptions. Senior defensive end Jordan Stevens has 10 sacks on the season and sophomore safety Jerron McMillian is tied for first in the conference in interceptions with five.
“We’re maturing, we’re growing, we’re getting better each week with our young players,” Cosgrove said, “and they have a 34-7 second half which is indicative of the growth I think we’re seeing here as a football team.”
