I’m not giving up on this Maine team just yet. Sacred Heart feels like the kind of matchup where the Black Bears can finally snap their four-game losing streak and pick up win No. 2 of the season.

Ironically, Sacred Heart enters the matchup after doing exactly that last weekend. The Pioneers beat New Hampshire 20-13 to earn their first win of the year after opening the season with losses to Monmouth, 31-24, UMass, 37-10, and Elon, 24-21.

That close loss to Elon is probably the biggest warning sign for Maine. The Phoenix just beat the Black Bears 43-17, while Sacred Heart came within three points of taking them down. On paper, that makes the Pioneers the clear favorite, and even with the game being played in Orono, I would still give Sacred Heart the edge.

The offense starts with dual-threat quarterback Poochie Snyder. He has accounted for 755 total yards and seven touchdowns this season while throwing just one interception. Snyder can hurt defenses both through the air and with his legs, which gives Maine another difficult quarterback matchup to prepare for.

Running back Chuck Webb complements him well and has rushed for 237 yards so far. Senior Jason Palmieri and junior Dean Hangey lead the receiving corps, combining for 306 receiving yards, while tight end Jimmy Casey and wide receiver Nick Gentilella give Snyder additional weapons.

The biggest difference between the two offenses might be up front.

Sacred Heart’s offensive line has been what Maine’s was expected to be entering the season: stable. The Pioneers have allowed only five sacks. By comparison, Maine quarterbacks Eddie Buehler and Caden Drezek have already been taken down 11 times.

Despite sitting at 1-3, Sacred Heart’s offense has been competitive. Two of its three losses came by one score, with only the 27-point loss against FBS opponent UMass getting away from them.

The defense has been just as respectable.

Sacred Heart currently owns the No. 27 total defense in the FCS, including the No. 30 pass defense and No. 40 run defense. Those numbers are legitimate, but there is some context worth considering.

The Pioneers have faced only one FBS opponent.

If you remove Maine’s game against Appalachian State from the equation, the Black Bears would rank around No. 39 nationally in total defense, while also sitting fourth in the CAA against the run and sixth against the pass.

That matters.

Sacred Heart’s defense has been good, but outside of Elon and UMass, the Pioneers have not consistently faced an offense or overall level of competition comparable to what Maine has seen.

There is also one area that could finally help Maine’s struggling offensive line: Sacred Heart has generated almost no pressure.

The Pioneers have recorded just one sack all season and have yet to intercept a pass. They have forced only one turnover overall, putting them near the bottom of the FCS in that category.

At the same time, Sacred Heart takes care of the football extremely well. The Pioneers have committed only three turnovers, two fumbles and one interception, making them one of the better teams in the country in turnover avoidance.

That creates an interesting matchup because Maine has been excellent at creating takeaways. The Black Bears rank among the best teams in the CAA in turnover production and remain near the top of the FCS despite already facing two FBS opponents.

Maine’s pass rush could also become a major factor. Sacred Heart’s offensive line has been reliable, but the Black Bears have already produced 10 sacks through five games. If Maine can consistently pressure Snyder and prevent him from escaping the pocket, this game could become uncomfortable for the Pioneers quickly.

The formula for a Maine win is fairly simple: force Sacred Heart into turnovers, put Snyder under pressure, and prove that the defensive numbers do not tell the full story after a brutal early-season schedule.