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#17 Maine vs. #11 New Hampshire Football Game Notes: Battle for the 2008 CAA North Division Championship
Nov. 18, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format
One of the biggest games in Maine Black Bear football history will be played on Saturday when the 17th-ranked Black Bears (8-3, 5-2 CAA) play host to 11th-ranked New Hampshire (8-2, 5-2 CAA) at 12 p.m., in Alfond Stadium. The winner of the contest will earn the 2008 CAA North Division Championship, the Brice-Cowell Musket, and will have the inside track for a potential NCAA playoff berth. The game will not be televised and the only way to see it is in person. Fans can purchase tickets for $5 prior to the day of the game. Fans wishing to purchase tickets can call the Maine Athletic Ticket Office at (207) 581-BEAR or toll-free (800) 756-TEAM. NEW HAMPSHIRE GAME STORYLINES **It's the battle for the 2008 CAA North Division championship on Saturday when Maine plays host to New Hampshire at 12 p.m., in Alfond Stadium. Maine enters the contest winners in its last six games, marking just the sixth time in program history the Black Bears have won at least six-straight games in a single season. The winner of Saturday's game will also take home the Brice-Cowell Musket, which is given annually to the winner of the contest. UNH has won five straight in the series, with Maine's last win coming in 2002. **A Maine win would give the program its first conference title since the 2002 season and the 12th overall in school history. **It marks the second time in the last three seasons both teams enter the contest ranked in the national top-25 polls. Maine is 17th in the Sports Network and FCS Coaches polls. UNH is 11th in the Sports Network and in the coaches. **Maine is seeking its third-straight win versus a ranked opponent. It would mark the first time Maine has turned the trick since the 2002 season. **Miscellaneous records for Maine: 11-4 in last 15 games; 8-3 in last 11 conference games ; 5-1 in last six November games. **Maine's current six-game winning streak is the second longest in the CAA. James Madison has the longest current winning streak in the league with nine. A win versus New Hampshire on Saturday would be Maine's seventh straight which would be the longest winning streak since the Black Bears won eight straight to open the 1989 season. **Maine enters Saturday's contest coming off a 37-7 win at Rhode Island. The Black Bears scored 37 unanswered points to pull out the win. **New Hampshire downed Massachusetts 52-21 in Durham last week. **Maine's defense has been on a roll during the recent six-game winning streak. The "Black Hole" has held the opposition to under 100 yards rushing in four of the games (Delaware, Northeastern, Iona and Rhode Island), and is yielding an average of just 75.5 yards rushing per contest. Maine has held the opposition to under 15 yards rushing in two games during the winning streak (14 at Delaware; 8 vs. Iona). The unit has also forced 18 turnovers during the streak. The "Black Hole" has also scored a pair of touchdowns during the streak. The defense has also yielded just five scores (all TDs) in the last 16 quarters. The Black Bears are giving up just 8.5 points per game during the last four contests. **Maine's offense has also been impressive during the winning streak, especially on the ground. The Black Bears have rushed for at least 158 yards in all six games, including topping the 200-yard mark in the last five. Maine is averaging 272.5 yards on the ground during the last six games. The Black Bears have been efficient through the air when they have thrown. Maine has completed 50 of its 77 attempts over the last six games for a 65 percent completion rate. The Black Bears have thrown seven touchdown passes during that span with just one interception.
**Maine has been winning the turnover battle by a wide margin during its winning streak. The Black Bears have produced 19 takeaways while committing just five giveaways for a plus-14 margin. Maine has scored 50 points off the 19 turnovers during the winning streak (7 TDs; 2 FGs). The Black Bears have been stingy on defense following a giveaway and have allowed the opposition to score just twice (2 TDs) during the streak.
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