The season gets shorter and the injury list gets longer for the University of Maine football team.

Quarterback Warren Smith is done for the year after suffering a broken foot in the fourth quarter of Maine's 22-14 loss to James Madison last Saturday. Fellow sophomore Chris Treister, a former Portland High School star, will take over the starting job when the Black Bears host Rhode Island (noon, WPME).

Treister is Maine's third starting quarterback this season. Mike Brusko had the job to begin the season, then turned it over to Smith, a more effective passer, in the fourth week of the season. In eight games overall, the Iona transfer completed 61 percent of his passes for 1,695 yards and 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

In two games of limited action this year, Treister is 0-for-2 with one interception. He will try to keep the CAA's third-best passing offense on track.

Maine (4-5, 3-3 Colonial Athletic Association) will be without at least one more starter against Rhode Island (1-8, 0-6), which has lost eight straight. Cornerback Dominic Cusano is out, and leading receiver Landis Williams and leading rusher Derek Session sat out practice this week with injuries suffered last week.

With a win over the Rams on Senior Day and a New Hampshire loss to William and Mary, the Black Bears would set up a showdown for the CAA North title in their regular season finale next week at UNH.

"It's a very important game for us but it's very important for Rhode Island, too," Maine coach Jack Cosgrove said.

The Black Bears turned the ball over six times against JMU (four interceptions, two fumbles) and found themselves in a 22-0 hole in the third quarter before nearly rallying in the fourth quarter. Cosgrove said giving Rhode Island extra possessions could put Maine in a similar position again.

"The disparity in turnovers, which is something we were on the positive side of for a number of weeks, was troubling," he said. "We need to get back to making sure that we're solid on ball security."

Smith will have surgery on his foot next week. Asked if sophomore fullback Jared Turcotte could also be facing further surgery for a lower abdominal injury, Cosgrove said he is "in consultation for that." Turcotte, from Lewiston, underwent a procedure in late September to repair an injury suffered prior to training camp and has not played this season.