You probably can’t have much more at stake than what is on the line Saturday for the University of Maine football team.

With a noon showdown at Alfond Stadium against their rivals from UNH, the Black Bears’ entire season comes down to one final game.

“I don’t think any game I’ve ever played for has really rivaled what’s on the line for this week,” said senior defensive tackle Jonathan Pirruccello, a former Leavitt Hornet. “It’s definitely the biggest game of my career.”

Maine is battling for the CAA North Division championship. It would be the Black Bears first conference title since 2002. It could also bring a postseason berth for Maine. Also at stake is the Brice-Cowell Musket, which is given annually to the winner of the game with UNH. The Wildcats have won the last five games.

“We’re just fighting for the musket,” said Pirruccello. “We’re rivals. We’re both competing for a playoff berth. As long as we can get the musket back, then we can focus on our playoff hopes.”

With Maine’s six-game winning streak and a shot at the postseason, the Black Bears have been generating more excitement with each passing week. That has culminated with the must-win showdown with UNH.

“There’s a ton of excitement, but the football team has been really excited for the last few weeks” said Maine coach Jack Cosgrove. “It’s not like we’ve all of a sudden ratcheted up our attention to details or intensity in practice. As the season has gone along, this team has made progress as we’ve matured and improved. It doesn’t seem as if things have changed all that much other than the obvious, what’s at stake for the game. With that came excitement.”

UNH (8-2) poses a stiff challenge for the Black Bears (8-3). The Wildcats walloped UMass last week 52-21. Their potent offense has averaged 37 points, 427 total yards and 253 passing yards.

“I was so impressed,” said Cosgrove of last week’s UNH victory. “They tore UMass apart. It was really one of those game that got your attention to how intense they play on all sides of the ball and how well they execute as a football team.”

UNH quarterback R.J. Toman has 2,483 yards passing and has thrown for 25 touchdowns. He leads a potent Wildcat offense that will provide the Black Bears one of its biggest challenges.

“R.J. Toman is as good a quarterback as there is in the country at our level,” said Cosgrove. “They do in one play what usually takes us about 12. They’re much more big play oriented than the methodical offense that we’re running that grinds up time and grinds out yards. Our hope is that our approach is one that perseveres and allows an edge so we can eliminate the big plays against our defense.”

Maine offense has been paced by junior quarterback Michael Brusko. After taking over for an injured Adam Farkes, he’s led the team to a 6-0 mark. He’s thrown for 647 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior tailback Jhamal Fluellen has rushed over 100 yards three times this year while Lewiston native Jared Turcotte has eight touchdowns and rushed for over 100 yards twice in the last six outings.

The Black Bears know they’ll have to limit the explosiveness of the Wildcat offense and allow their own offense to execute at its own pace. Maine has held the opposition to under 100 yards in four of the last six games and are averaging just 75.5 yards against on the ground. Maine has forced 18 turnovers in the last six games while allowing just five scores in the last 16 quarters.

“Our defense and their defense are pretty similar,” said Cosgrove. “They’re both team oriented. They both play fast. They both get a lot of turnovers. They both run to the football with great bravado.”

Pirruccello says he’s tried not to get too overwhelmed with the high stakes in Saturday’s game or get too caught up in the hoopla that’s been building.

“We need to be able to get our assignments down and execute the gameplan,” said Pirruccello. “We have to line up to UNH’s different formations and stop their run and limit them from passing the ball.”

Cosgrove praises the senior leadership on his club that has helped his Black Bears reach this point and keep them focused at the task as hand.

“They understand it’s going to take a tremendously disciplined effort,” said Cosgrove. “They’re making sacrifices this week. I think they’re going to bed a lot earlier and all those kinds of things you have to do. They’re going to have to play with great gusto and play as a team and persevere in the fourth quarter.”