Media Credit: Amy Brooks Norman Smith participates in a drill as David Higgins (54) does the same across the field. UMaine plays at URI on Saturday at noon.

Since Oct. 13, the University of Maine football team has been receiving votes in both the Sports Network Top 25 poll and the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Coaches Top 25 poll. This week things have changed, as the Black Bears busted through at No. 21 in the Sports Network poll and are 23rd in the Coaches poll after a 21-20 road win over the previously 13th-ranked University of Massachusetts.

After reeling off five straight wins and sitting tied at the top of the Colonial Athletic Association's (CAA) North Division, Jack Cosgrove's squad still looks up at UMass in the Coaches poll as the Minutemen are No. 22, despite Saturday's loss to UMaine.

"I don't think the respect for us is really where it needs to be, and all you can do is continue working to earn that," said the 16-year head coach.

The Black Bears look to take that mentality on the road to Meade Stadium and continue their run to the playoffs when they face CAA foe, University of Rhode Island on Saturday at noon.

UMaine (7-3, 4-2 CAA) will take on a URI (2-8, 0-6) team that has struggled mightily in its first-year under head coach Darren Rizzi, a former All-American tight end for the Rams.

The Black Bears know firsthand that any team can win on any given Saturday in the CAA. In 2006, UMaine was 4-0 in the conference and ranked 15th nationally, playing a Rams team that was winless in the Atlantic 10 (now the CAA). Amidst pouring rain and wind, URI pulled out a 3-0 win and damaged the playoff hopes of the Black Bears.

"I kind of feel like we're in the same scenario as '06 except we beat UMass, and we got Rhode Island that snuck up on us that year and beat us," said senior tailback Jhamal Fluellen. "Now, we are just taking it one game at a time."

Despite being winless in conference play, Saturday marks Senior Day in Kingston, R.I., and will be one last chance for seniors to make their mark at home and do it against a ranked opponent.

"They have a team that is driven by the pursuit of their first win in conference and driven by the fact that at Maine we've gotten some recognition," Cosgrove said.

One of those Ram seniors will have the ball in his hand every offensive play. Three-year starting quarterback Derek Cassidy has been the focal point of the Rams offense, especially after the season-ending injury to All-American running back Joe Casey in the first game of the season.

The former option quarterback has transformed into a passing quarterback after URI's style switched to a pass-heavy offense with the hiring of Rizzi. Cassidy (230-for-387, 2,474 yards, 15 touchdowns, 14 interceptions) leads the league's third-ranked passing offense.

"He's a run threat because he was an option quarterback," Cosgrove noted. "That's the thing about him, that he's become a skilled runner and a much, much better passer."

Junior wide receiver Shawn Leonard (36 receptions, 555 yards, 5 TD) and senior running back Jimmy Hughes (42 rec., 514 yards, 2 TD) are Cassidy's top targets. Both rank in the top 10 in the CAA in receiving yards.

Defensively, the Rams give up the most points in the league at 33.3 points per game. Sophomore linebacker Matt Hansen anchors the struggling unit with a team-leading 90 tackles and three sacks.

The Black Bears hope to exploit the weaknesses in the URI defense, just as they did against UMass. The rushing attack combined for 296 yards and all three touchdowns in Saturday's win as the offensive line overpowered the Minutemen defenders.

The emergence of redshirt freshman tailback Derek Session (70 car., 319 yards, 4 TD) and H-back Jared Turcotte (70 car., 461 yards, 4 TD), along with true freshman tailback Pushaun Brown (35 car., 214 yards, 1 TD), has aided the third-ranked running game in the conference. Combined with junior quarterback Michael Brusko (71 car., 306 yards, 3 TD) and Fluellen (101 car., 507 yards, 2 TD), an All-CAA choice, the Black Bears have racked up 1,945 yards on the ground this season.

"It's really challenging to defenses with our personnel groupings," said Cosgrove of his team's running attack. "There's a multiple personnel grouping and, as a result, a formational challenge that forces teams and gives them trouble when they line up."

The ground game has also enabled the defense to be on the field less. Against UMass, UMaine dominated the time of possession as they held the ball for more than 40 minutes.

"It helps tremendously," said senior linebacker Andrew Downey. "A great offense is a good defense."

Turnovers have also caused the defense to be on the field less and proved to be momentum-changers. The "Black Hole" picked off UMass quarterback Liam Coen four times last week and has produced 18 turnovers during its current winning streak.

Senior safety Lamir Whetstone had two of those interceptions Saturday, earning him the honor of CAA Defensive Player of the Week.

With two weeks left in the season, the Black Bears control their own destiny to a playoff berth, with a big game looming on Nov. 22 against nationally-ranked archrival, the University of New Hampshire. The Wildcats are tied with UMaine for first place in the division.

Yet Cosgrove is not looking forward.

"Since the James Madison game [Sept. 27], our rallying call has been the immediate goal. We have to be ready for a Rhode Island team that is fresh off a bye week."

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