Football Hosts UNH in Annual 'Battle for the Brice-Cowell Musket'

Maine to honor First Responders & Senior Class on final home date

Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine football team (6-4, 5-2 CAA) and New Hampshire (6-4, 5-2 CAA) meet in the annual "Battle for the Brice-Cowell Musket" with playoff implications on the line! Tickets are still available at GoBlackBears.com or by calling the UMaine box office at 207.581.BEAR!

FULL GAME PREVIEW

BATTLE FOR THE BRICE-COWELL MUSKET:
A special trophy, the Brice-Cowell Musket, is at stake each year of the rivalry between Maine and New Hampshire. Named after two great former coaches -- Fred Brice of Maine and William Cowell of UNH -- the winner of the annual football game gains possession of the musket for the following year. The tradition began in the late 1940s. The musket is a flintlock rifle made by Ebenezer Nutting of Falmouth, Maine between 1722 and 1745. The George I period flintlock has a barrel 43 inches in length and rifled to a .65 caliber.

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FIRST RESPONDERS/PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION:
The University of Maine football team is proud to honor all first responders, public service employees and their families with free tickets to Saturday's 'Battle for the Brice-Cowell Musket' football game against New Hampshire. The game, presented by the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety, will take place on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. The Black Bears invite all members of first responder units, public service employees and their families to come out to Alfond Stadium and cheer on the football team as it takes on rival New Hampshire! To request your free tickets, please call the UMaine box office at 207.581.BEAR. Those interested in the deal are asked to reserve tickets 24 hours prior to kickoff. We thank you all for your service to our communities and look forward to seeing you at Alfond Stadium!

ATTENDANCE RECORD:
It's time to Pack Alfond Stadium! Black Bear Nation's support has been incredible for the 2016 season. We are well on our way to setting the single-season attendance record, currently at 34,753 in 1998. With a great crowd on Saturday, we will also surpass the single-game average attendance mark (6,746). Come out and support the Black Bears in the regular season finale as we push to smash the attendance record and return the Brice-Cowell Musket back to Orono!

SENIOR DAY:
Prior to Saturday's kickoff, Maine will take a moment to honor its nine seniors for their hard work and dedication over their time at the University of Maine.

GAME STORYLINES:

Maine and New Hampshire meet on Saturday for the 105th time. Maine has played UNH more than any other opponent in its 125 year history. New Hampshire owns the all-time series 53-43-8 and have won each of the last six meetings and 13 of the last 14. Maine's last win came in 2010, a 16-13 overtime home victory. The two teams first met in 1903, a 10-0 win by the Black Bears in New Hampshire.
The Black Bears are coming off their fourth-straight CAA road win after defeating Stony Brook 27-21. Maine was able to hold on after leading 27-0. All six of Maine's wins this season have come by 7 points or less. Najee Goode's interception on Stony Brook's last possession sealed the win. It was the third time in Maine's last three victories that the defense has locked up the win with a turnover on the oppositions final possession. In the game, Maine allowed season-lows of 67-yards passing and 222 total yards.
New Hampshire has won two of its last three but most recently lost to Albany, 36-25, despite leading 22-0.
Maine's second-ranked CAA pass offense (217.3 ypg) will look to take advantage of New Hampshire's 10th ranked pass defense (218.0 ypg). Maine QB Dan Collins has thrown 2+ TDs in six of Maine's last seven games.
Maine and New Hampshire are two of the four teams locked in a four-way tie for second place in the CAA standings. A win for either team could mean a berth into the NCAA postseason.

GAME COVERAGE:

TICKETS:
There's no better way to follow your Black Bears than being at Alfond Stadium LIVE on game day! Tickets are still available HERE or by calling 207.581.BEAR!

WATCH: If you can't make it to Alfond Stadium - there's a variety of ways to catch your Black Bears! Saturday's game will be streamed live through GoBlackBears.com
LISTEN (Radio): Rich Kimball and Bob Lucy return to the booth for their 20th season calling UMaine football. Fans can listen to Rich and Bob's call on the following Black Bears Sports Networks:
- 103.9 WVOM-FM Bangor
- 101.3 WVQM-FM August
- 1310 WLOB-AM Portland
- 1450 WVOM-AM Rockland
- Listen to the online audio stream at GoBlackBears.com by clicking here.
TWITTER: Fans can stay up-to-date with Maine football on Twitter! Follow @BlackBearsFB for live updates, photos, video and behind the scenes looks!

TAILGATING:
Come join fellow members of Black Bear Nation for the experience of a UMaine football tailgate! There's several, exciting changes to this year's game day experience and tailgating is one! Lots open three hours prior to kickoff and will remain open until the start of the second half. All tailgating is now FREE! All season members will have the right to the EXCLUSIVE Leadbetter's Lot B tailgate. Those who purchase a season membership will receive a special tailgate parking pass to gain entrance to the lot.

For all your tailgate questions - please visit our tailgate headquarters HERE!

TALE OF THE TAPE:

Team Statistics (Rank)
MAINE (CAA Rank)	CATEGORY	UNH (CAA Rank)
22.4 (7)	Points	26.1 (T-3)
359.5 (5)	Total Offense	363.4 (4)
142.2 (10)	Rushing Yards	169.8 (5)
217.3 (2)	Passing Yards	193.6 (5)
10/16	Rush TDs/Pass TDs	13/16
29:02 (2)	Offensive Time of Possession	30:48 (5)
26.4 (9)	Points Allowed	21.9 (4)
393.0 (10)	Total Defense	360.2 (6)
169.8 (8)	Rush Yards Allowed	142.2 (4)
223.2 (11)	Pass Yards Allowed	218.0 (10)
17/15	Rush/Pass TDs Allowed	11/16
30:58	Defensive Time of Possession	29:12
+3 (6)	Turnover Margin	+2 (7)

SERIES HISTORY:
Maine and UNH will be meeting for the 105th time in history dating back to a 10-0 Maine win at Durham in the inaugural 1903 matchup ... Maine is 26-26-3 at home in the series ... UNH has won the last six meetings and 13 of the last 14 ... Maine's last win in the series came at home in 2010, a 16-13 overtime decision ... Maine won the first eight meetings (1903-1911) ... UNH has won three-straight in Orono and six in its last seven visits ... Last year, Maine dropped a 22-6 decision at UNH in what proved to be Coach Cosgrove's final game as head coach at Maine.

A WIN FOR MAINE:
...Be Maine's 44th against UNH.
...Snap a six-game losing skid against UNH, bringing the Brice-Cowell musket back to UMaine for the first time since 2010.
...Be Maine's 27th home win against UNH (1-6 in last 7 home games against UNH).
...Look up atleast a fourth place finish in CAA (Maine was selected 9th in CAA preseason poll).
...Be Maine's sixth CAA win, its most since 2013.
...Be Maine's highest win total (7) since 2013.
...Give Coach Harasymiak 7 wins in his first year, the most by a Maine head coach in their first year since Tom Lichtenberg (9-1989)..

LAST 10 MEETINGS IN THE SERIES:
Year   Winner        Place                 Score
2015    UNH        Durham, NH           6-22
2014    UNH        Orono, ME            12-20
2013    UNH   Orono, ME (Playoff)    27-41
2013    UNH        Durham, NH            3-24
2012    UNH        Orono, ME              21-28
2011    UNH        Durham, NH            27-30
2010    Maine        Orono, ME            16-13 (OT)
2009    UNH         Durham, NH            24-27
2008    UNH          Orono, ME            24-28
2007    UNH        Durham, NH            14-39

HEAD COACHES:
Maine: Joe Harasymiak (Springfield Col. '08)
Career Record (Seasons): 6-4 (First season)
vs. New Hampshire: 0-0
New Hampshire: Sean McDonnell (UNH '78)
Career Record (Seasons): 139-82 (18th)
vs. Maine: 14-4

-UMaine-

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