UMaine football is ready for an important game at URI on Saturday

It's been a while since the eighth game of the University of Maine football schedule had any playoff implications.

The last time the Black Bears had a winning record after their first seven games was the 2018 season, when they reached the Football Championship Subdivision semifinals for the first time ever.

They went 4-3 on the year and then went on to win six straight, including FCS playoff victories over No. 8 Jacksonville State (55-27) and No. 3 Weber State (23-18), before losing to No. 4 Eastern Washington (50-19) in the semifinals.

The current Black Bears are also 4-3 heading into an important Saturday game against the 15th-ranked University of Rhode Island Rams at Meade Stadium in Kingston, Rhode Island. Kickoff for URI's homecoming game is at 1 p.m

URI is 6-1 overall, with its only loss coming against Football Bowl Subdivision school Minnesota.

URI is 3-0 in the Coastal Athletic Association, while UMaine is 2-2.

UMaine is coming off an impressive 35-7 homecoming win over No. 5 and preseason favorite Villanova, while URI is coming off a good road win at New Hampshire (26-9). It was the Rams' fifth straight win.

UMaine has won three of its last four, and its four wins equal the total of the previous two seasons combined. The Black Bears achieved a record of 2:9 in each of the previous two seasons.

Black Bear graduate center Joe Horn said the team knew it could win.

“It was just a matter of getting the parts in the right place and getting the engine running. (Head) Coach (Jordan) Stevens has put us in a great position by trying to adjust things this season to make it better for us, like the way we practice.

“Him and all of our position coaches put us in the right positions (to be successful). Our offensive line coach, Coach (Dave) Bucar, works 80 to 100 hours a week to make sure we are prepared for every single performance and every opportunity on Saturday,” Horn said.

Senior wide receiver Montigo Moss said URI is a big challenge for the Black Bears.

“It will be a great opportunity and a great challenge for us to play against a top-15 opponent,” Moss said. “It’s their homecoming and everyone is enjoying the homecoming. There’s always a little more juice for the homecoming team.”

It will be the 102nd meeting between the two schools, with UMaine holding a 62-36-3 edge.

“New Hampshire is our main competitor, but Rhode Island is a close second,” Moss said. “All our games with them are very close and hard-fought games.”

URI has won the last two meetings after the Black Bears won the last 14 meetings.

“This will be a big test for us,” Stevens said. “Looking at the game we just had, the next thing we will decide is what that game meant for our team. We have to come out and make a big effort this week.”

UMaine junior defensive end Xavier Holmes, the CAA co-defensive player of the week, said they couldn't be satisfied despite a nice win over Villanova.

“We must always strive for greatness, especially in our practices. We just beat the No. 5 team, Villanova, so we're trying to set a new standard for better practices and then come out of it with momentum (against Rhode Island),” said Holmes, who recorded six tackles, including 1½ sacks. had a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a career-high five quarterback hurries against Villanova.

UMaine forced four turnovers and had seven sacks.

He also said it was a joint effort that included both offense and defense.

They play free football.

“The offense also holds it back. We play better together. We all help each other,” Holmes said.

The Black Bears know what their recipe for success is in Rhode Island.

“We have to run the ball well, be efficient in the passing game and take care of the ball,” said graduate student quarterback Carter Peevy, who completed 16 of 18 passes for 173 yards and three touchdowns against Villanova.

Stevens' Black Bears turned the ball over four times in their 44-21 road loss at Delaware two weeks ago, and that can't happen again against URI.

“We have to worry about football. We can’t commit pre-snap and post-snap penalties and we have to develop some kind of running game,” Stevens said. “We have to limit their explosive (long-distance plays). They have an explosive offense. Their quarterback (Devin Farrell) can extend plays with his legs. He's really sporty. We have to lock him up and keep him in our pockets.”

Farrell has completed 55.3 percent of his passes for 1,173 yards and eight touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran the ball 51 times for 241 yards and three touchdowns. Malik Grant carried the ball 110 times for 576 yards and five touchdowns and the leading receivers are Marquis Buchanan (32 catches, 453 yards and four touchdowns) and Greg Gaines III (24-264, 2 touchdowns).

Peevy ranks 11th among quarterbacks at 123 FCS schools with a 69 percent completion rate. He threw for 1,312 yards and 10 TDs. He was intercepted four times, including three at Delaware. Jaharie Martin (70 carries, 275 yards, 4 TDs) and Tavion Banks (62-261, 2 TDs) are the top rushers, while Moss (33-361, 3 TDs) and Joe Gillette (15-235, 1 TD) the top rushers are leading receivers.

Martin missed the Villanova game with a lower-body injury.

Linebacker Kesean Dyson and Holmes are UMaine's leading tacklers with 44 each. Holmes has 5½ sacks and tackle Izaiah Henderson has 4½ sacks.

URI's defense was paced by linebackers Cole Brockwell (66 tackles), Devin Hightower (47) and AJ Pena (43, 7 sacks). Pena ranks sixth nationally with a sack per game.