ORONO, Maine — Another week, another frustrating loss for the Maine Black Bears. But despite falling 17-14 to Bryant, there are reasons for optimism in Orono. With improvements on both sides of the ball and a new offensive coordinator showing early promise, Maine might finally be moving in the right direction.
The challenge? A Campbell team sitting atop the CAA standings, powered by one of the most explosive offenses in the FCS.
And while the Fighting Camels enter Saturday's matchup as heavy favorites on paper, there is something intriguing about this particular matchup.
The arrival of offensive coordinator Sean Green has already brought some encouraging signs.
In his debut against Bryant, Green's offense showed an improved ability to move the football, even if the scoreboard ultimately told a familiar story. The Black Bears climbed four spots in the FCS offensive rankings to No. 111, and breaking into the top 100 suddenly feels like a realistic short-term goal.
The emergence of quarterback Caden Drezek has been a significant part of that progress.
Drezek has yet to throw an interception and has already accumulated half as many passing yards as Buehler. He remains a work in progress, but his ability to move the offense downfield has provided a much-needed spark.
Nick Laughlin continues to look like Maine's most reliable weapon in the passing game, but the younger receivers are beginning to make their presence felt.
Keyon Concepcion and Corey Rideout have worked their way into the rotation behind Evan Wallace and Malik McNeely, earning increasingly valuable opportunities, particularly with Drezek under center.
The running game is also showing signs of life.
Rashawn Marshall has finally surpassed the 400-yard mark and appears to be finding his rhythm as the season progresses. Establishing a productive rushing attack alongside Drezek's improving passing game could give Maine the offensive balance it has lacked for much of the year.
And against Campbell, that might be exactly what the Black Bears need.
For all the attention Campbell's offense receives, its defense presents an interesting opportunity for Maine.
The Fighting Camels have been particularly effective against the run, anchored by a formidable defensive front featuring AJ Benton, DaVonyae Pettis, Justin Garza and Ebenezer Bedada.
Running between the tackles won't be easy for Marshall.
But the story changes when opponents take to the air.
Campbell's pass defense has been its biggest weakness, largely because its pass rush has struggled to generate consistent pressure. That has left a talented secondary exposed far too often.
Safety O'Marion Lewis is still searching for his first interception of the season, and that breakthrough could be coming soon. Meanwhile, cornerbacks Michael Gilliam and Kyle Nguyen are intriguing players capable of making an impact.