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The biggest game of the University of Maine football team’s regular season is upon us. It’s time to defend the Brice-Cowell Musket.
After UMaine beat the University of New Hampshire last year to reclaim the traveling trophy, you can be sure UNH wants it back. But the Black Bears aren’t going to give it up without a fight, especially with a conference championship, playoff berth and possible first-round bye also on the line.
Even with all of the playoff implications hanging in the balance, UMaine head coach Jack Cosgrove made it clear that this week is all about the Musket.
“Everyone is really excited; it’s a rivalry game, and it’s the b=Battle for the Musket,” Cosgrove said. “Every year this game has grown. There is a great emphasis placed on this game by each program. It has been close the last five years. They’ve gotten the better of us most of those games, [but] last year we won it in overtime, and those factors have made it a very competitive rivalry.
“The Musket has a real symbolic meaning. It is part of the furniture in the locker room; it is important to each program, especially in recruiting season,” he added. “You can bet on which team has the advantage when a recruit sees that hanging in the locker room.”
UMaine is going into Saturday’s showdown with a 32-21 win over the University of Massachusetts, and UNH is coming off a 56-42 loss at the hands of the team who gave UMaine their lone conference loss, Towson University. UNH ranks third in the league in scoring, behind only Towson and Old Dominion University.
But with a Black Bears defense that features Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Week Troy Russell, UMaine has a real chance to stop the Wildcats’ offensive fireworks.
“The defense has given up big numbers in some games, [surrendering 300 yards rushing against James Madison University and Towson], but last week they defended very well,” Cosgrove said. “They’ve created turnovers, they have responded in crunch time. Success of the defense is measured by how well they finish and respond.”
As far as the return of senior running back Pushaun Brown, Cosgrove couldn’t say enough about how important it is to the team to have him back.
“It is important to have Pushaun back. [Freshman running back David Hood] has been good for us while [Pushaun] was out; he’s a hard worker, but he doesn’t have the experience we get with Pushaun,” Cosgrove said. “Pushaun knows the complete [running back] role, he runs, blocks, everything a running back needs to — he can do it. Our offensive line has also been doing well for us.”
The UMaine offensive line has given up the fewest sacks in the conference during CAA play this year.
As for UNH, they have plenty of weapons, led by senior quarterback Kevin Decker. Decker has completed 71 percent of his passes and thrown for 2,869 yards this season. He is also the team’s second-leading rusher with 438 yards on the ground.
Junior running back Dontra Peters, the team’s leading rusher with 568 yards, also averages 24.6 yards per kickoff return. Junior and freshman wide receivers Joey Orlando and R.J. Harris both have over 500 yards in receiving for the year and average 60 yards per game.
“They have the most dynamic offense in the league,” Cosgrove said. “Decker can run, pass and do everything else. He is creative, smart, tough and can show resiliency. They can match up with anyone; they have solid receivers that are hard to defend. We can’t make mistakes or give up big plays against them.”
Cosgrove also touched on how important it would be to this year’s senior class to keep the Musket in Maine.
“The senior class won their last home game this year, but they want to carry their own legacy, so to speak. Last year’s group was the group that got the Musket back; this year’s group wants to be the group that kept it here,” he said. “Each year there is a different component to the last game and they are excited to play for it.”
With a win and a Towson loss, the Black Bears will clinch the CAA conference championship and an automatic bid into the playoffs. If Towson wins, they will get the automatic bid, whether UMaine wins or loses.
UNH will likely have to win if they want an at-large bid.
The 8-2 Black Bears will play the 7-3 Wildcats at Cowell Stadium in Durham, N.H., at noon on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on Comcast SportsNet New England.
