There’s no Colby-Bates-Bowdoin trophy at stake in Saturday’s season finale between Bowdoin and Colby. Bates clinched the title last week with a win over Bowdoin.

That doesn’t mean the game will be any less intense, however.

“It’s Bowdoin. There’s nothing else that needs to be said,” Colby head coach Jonathan Michaeles said.

Saturday’s game is the 126th meeting between these old rivals. In Division III, only Williams-Amherst and Albion-Kalamazoo are longer standing rivalries than Colby-Bowdoin. The Polar Bears hold a 69-47-9 series lead.

“The last game of the season is always meaningful. It’s one last chance to play together, a chance to show people what we’re capable of,” Michaeles said. “We’re starting to get a little bit healthier, which is exciting. We feel as good and healthy for this game as we probably have since week two of the season.”

Bowdoin running back Tyler Grant leads the New England Small College Athletic Conference in rushing with 737 yards. If Grant holds on to the top spot, he will be the first Polar Bear to lead the league in rushing since the NESCAC began league play in 2000.

“They run the ball very well. They’ve got a big line that can block,” Michaeles said.

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Saturday’s game will be Colby’s second annual Military Appreciation Day. The event was started last season by junior tight end Henry Holmes.

“It’s something that Henry came up with a year ago, something he thought was important and was passionate about. It went very well, and it’s kind of gathered some steam,” Michaeles said. “Alumni are behind it. Families are behind it, and I think it’s a pretty impactful thing.”

Last season, the event raised $3,400 for the Maine National Guard’s Christmas Across Maine program, which provides Maine military families with Christmas gifts, food baskets, gift certificates and help with utilities during the holiday season. This year, almost $4,000 has already been raised, Holmes said, and the goal is to surpass $5,000.

“It’s something we wanted to do it again,” Holmes said. “There’s going to be a lot of alumni here, and family and friends, here to support us. The added focus this year is connecting with the community a little bit more, getting more veterans and active service personnel from the area to be in attendance… We’re hoping to get a lot more donations this weekend with T-shirt sales. We’re excited about the improvement.”

The Maine National Guard will present the colors for the National Anthem. A halftime ceremony will recognize veterans and active military personnel in attendance. Maine National Guard Adjutant General James. D. Campbell, a 1986 graduate of Colby, is expected to speak during halftime the ceremony.

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Husson goes for its seventh consecutive win when it plays at Becker on Saturday. A win at winless Becker (0-8) keeps the Eagles alone in first place of the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference.

Husson (6-1, 5-0 ECFC) has already ensured its first winning season since 2008. Wins over Becker this week and Mt. Ida next week will give Husson its first trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Husson’s John Smith leads the conference in rushing, with 776 yards.

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Maine Maritime Academy once again leads Division III in rushing. The Mariners average 401.9 yards per game on the ground, almost 50 more than second-ranked Springfield (353.8 ypg).

Lawrence grad Jake Doolan leads MMA with 933 rushing yards, and that has him tied for 24th in the nation in rushing. In rushing yards per game, Doolan, with 133.3, is ranked 13th in the nation.

Maine Maritime (3-4, 2-3 New England Football Conference) hosts conference leader, undefeated MIT (7-0) on Saturday.

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM

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