Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: Maine Sports

Heading into a mid-season game against Delaware, with the same record, the University of Maine football team would generally be happy.

However, the Blue Hens - after losses to FBS opponent Maryland and two FCS top-25 teams (Furman University and UMass) - sit at 2-3 overall and 0-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association.

On Saturday, the Black Bears look to add to the reigning national runner-up's problems and snap a two-game losing streak of their own when they visit Delaware Stadium for a key CAA battle. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

UMaine (2-3, 0-2 CAA) comes into the contest against the No. 24 Blue Hens off a bye week.

The Black Bears, who have been hit with the injury bug, lost to No. 1 James Madison University and then No. 2-ranked Richmond University in the two weeks heading into the off week.

"We went at it to focus on our team and not focus on any other games," sophomore quarterback Adam Farkes said about the bye week. "We worked on our offense, defense and special teams and tried to improve. Now, we move on to Delaware. We didn't want to jump the gun too much."

"We definitely used it to get healthy," junior linebacker Mark Masterson added. "The biggest thing is we fixed some of our own problems internally as a team. And this week, we feel a lot fresher. It's kind of like a fresh start."

UMaine played the James Madison game without preseason All-CAA selection, senior running back Jhamal Fluellen, as well as top wide receiver, junior Landis Williams and starting safety, junior Brandon McLaughlin.

Black Bear coach Jack Cosgrove expects Williams and McLaughlin to play this week, while Fluellen will probably be out again.

In the absence of Fluellen, a 1,000-yard rusher last year, redshirt freshmen Jared Turcotte and Derek Session stepped up and provided a spark against top-ranked James Madison.

"Any time you lose a guy like Jhamal Fluellen who we counted on for 25 touches a game, then there's 25 touches to go around," Cosgrove said. "Turcotte and Session were the recipients of that. I think you earn what you get. If you practice well and play hard, you're going to get the carries."

Against James Madison, Turcotte rushed for 82 yards on 11 carries, earning CAA Rookie of the Week honors. Session broke off a 35-yard touchdown to tie the game in the fourth quarter.

Despite a strong running attack against the Dukes two weeks ago, the passing game struggled. Farkes completed only half of his passes and threw three interceptions.

"Our passing game was at 50 percent at 16-for-32," Cosgrove said. "We want to be closer to 70 percent. The success in the passing game leads to success in the running game. If you throw it well, you're going to run it well and vice versa."

Farkes echoed Cosgrove saying, "we want to be able to establish the running game so that we can open up the passing game."

On defense, UMaine statistically ranks near the bottom in the conference. Most of the damage came against Iowa and Richmond, where they gave up 40-plus points to both teams.

Led by Buck Buchanan finalist and CAA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, senior defensive end Jovan Belcher helped the Black Bears hold James Madison to only 24 points, well below their season average of 38.3.

Like UMaine, Delaware has faced a tough schedule to begin the year. They have also had to endure the losses of current Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco and All-American running back Omar Cuff.

With new faces on offense, the unit has sputtered in its three losses, scoring 21 points or less in each contest, including only seven points last weekend at UMass.

"Delaware lost a lot of players from last year's team that went to the national championship game," Cosgrove said. "Replacing them is not something that's done overnight."

Junior quarterback Robby Schoenhoft, a transfer from Ohio State, has struggled replacing Flacco, the Ravens first-round pick. He has completed 65-of-118 passes for 774 yards and thrown five touchdowns, but has thrown eight interceptions.

Former Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield standout, senior running back Johnathan Smith has emerged as the go-to guy in the backfield. The UConn transfer is tied for second in the conference with eight rushing touchdowns.

"They like to run the ball," Masterson said of the Blue Hens. "As a defense, we're focused on stopping the run and forcing them to pass."

He also noted that the turnover-prone passing game of Delaware will be key, as the Black Bear defense must be able to come up with momentum-changing plays. UMaine dropped two potential interceptions against James Madison.

On defense, the Blue Hens boast the top scoring defense - 16.2 points per game - led by all-conference senior linebacker Erik Johnson who leads the team with 31 total tackles.

Saturday's game will mark the first time any UMaine player has played at Delaware Stadium. One of the finest facilities for an FCS school, the stadium has the largest capacity of any CAA school, seating more than 22,000 people.

"For us, the big challenge is going on the road and playing in that environment," Cosgrove said. "I think our guys are ready for it. Our guys embrace the challenge of going on the road."

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