Mixed Results for Maine Teams

After the final whistle blew in the Bates-Bowdoin game, one could look back at the results from the first weekend of November for Maine college football teams and smile. The only Division I team,UMaine, won a tough game against a ranked Towson team on the road to remain tied atop the CAA standings. To do it, the Black Bear defense stuffed a late fourth and goal try to wrap up a 35-28 win.

Meanwhile, in Division III, there were five games featuring the six teams in this level. Husson, a fairly new program from Bangor, won their third straight ECFC title with a convincing 63-2 win over Gaulladet. With that win, the Eagles will move on to the playoffs after a final non-conference game against Plymouth State from New Hampshire. Last year, Husson got their first-ever postseason win over Springfield.

In the NESCAC, Bowdoin knocked Bates off in the first-ever night game at Historic Whittier Field. With the win, the Polar Bears snapped a 24-game losing streak, and they will play Colby next week for the CBB Championship. Bates remains winless and they saw their four year reign end as CBB champions. Colby traveled to Boston, only to be trampled by the Jumbos, 48-0. A disappointing outcome after having won their two previous games. All will be forgotten though if they beat their rivals on the 10th.

Lastly, things did not go very well for the two remaining teams from Maine - the Mariners from Maine Maritime or the University of New England. MMA lost convincingly to Springfield, 44-7, leaving them winless on the year with only one more game. Usually an offensive team, the Mariners have averaged only seven point per game this year. I thoght that the Nor’easters would have an excellent chance at winning their second game against a winless Becker team, but they ended up losing 31-17. For UNE, as their first season winds down, it could be just a depth issue as nagging injuries pile up.

Overall, when looking back at this past weekend, there were some positive things to think about for Maine college football.