WHERE: Meade Stadium, Kingston, Rhode Island

KICKOFF: Noon Saturday

ALL-TIME SERIES: Maine leads, 57-34-3

LAST MEETING: Sept. 26, 2015, won by Maine, 27-17

WHEN MAINE HAS THE BALL: With Rhode Island ranked last in the CAA in run defense – and second in sacks with 15 – it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a heavy dose of Josh Mack (253 yards), Darian Davis-Ray (202) and Zaire Williams (188). And look for freshman wide receiver Earnest Edwards to take a bigger role. He’s averaging 13.2 yards per rush and a team-high 19.6 yards per catch and has scored three touchdowns.

WHEN RHODE ISLAND HAS THE BALL: The Rams have struggled to get much going this year, averaging a CAA-worst 11.7 points per game. But the Rams have some quality players, led by junior running back Harold Cooper, who has gained 231 yards and scored two touchdowns. Wide receivers Khayri Denny, Harold Buckner III and Charlie McKeeman are all dangerous with the ball in their hands. They also have a steady kicker in sophomore Justin Rohrwasser, who has two field goals and has hit 10 of 11 PAT kicks.

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KEY STAT: 6. That’s the number of missed field goals for Maine this year. They have hit 1.

OUTLOOK: Rhode Island is near the bottom of many statistical categories in the CAA but can present some problems, especially on special teams, where the Rams have blocked four kicks. They blocked two field goals in last week’s 14-3 loss to Stony Brook. Rhode Island will likely try to run against a Maine defense still looking to get its footing against the run. But Maine should have an advantage on offense with its talented group of receivers. The Black Bears average 15.2 yards per catch.

OF NOTE: Maine will be without leading wide receiver Jaleel Reed, who is expected to miss four games after surgery on his left thumb this week, and safety DeAndre Scott, who will miss his second game because of a sprained foot. … The Black Bears have won the last nine games between the schools. Rhode Island’s last victory was a 3-0 decision on Oct. 28, 2006.

THEY SAID IT: “We really haven’t had a game where we’ve got up on a team and iced them for the rest of the game. We’d love to have that for us. We want to get up on a team and finish it, have the defense stop them.” – Maine quarterback Dan Collins.


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