University of Maine wide receiver Nick Laughlin knows about the intense rivalry between the Black Bears and the University of New Hampshire’s Wildcats.
That’s because he is from Cape Elizabeth.
And he will get to experience it firsthand on Saturday when the Border Battle for the Brice-Cowell Musket begins at 1 p.m. at Morse Field in Orono.
It will be Seniors Day.
In addition to the musket and rivalry bragging rights, UMaine will be playing for a .500 season after back-to-back 2-9 campaigns. UMaine is 5-6 overall and 3-4 in the Coastal Athletic Association.
UNH, 7-4 and 5-2, is playing for much higher stakes as a Football Championship Subdivision could be on the line. A UNH win would lock up a playoff spot for UNH.
Laughlin was on the team as a true freshman but didn’t get into any games a year ago and redshirted which retains a year of eligibility for him.
“This game means you always have something to play for at the end of the year, regardless of your record,” said Laughlin. “I’m excited to get my first game in against them. A lot of my family will be coming up. It’ll be fun.”
Laughlin will enter the game as the team’s third-leading receiver with 22 receptions for 186 yards and a touchdown.
He has had five games with at least three catches and has 13 receptions for 94 yards over his last four games including a career-high five for 61 yards in a victory over Bryant.
“It’s definitely been a lot of fun being involved in the offense and helping put points on the board,” said Laughlin, who has played almost the entire season with a torn meniscus in his knee that will require surgery the week after Thanksgiving.
“I have to rehab it every day. But I’m not able to hit the weight room as hard as I’d like to,” said Laughlin.
The weight room has been important in his transformation from a 175-180 pound freshman to a 195-200 pound redshirt freshman who is playing regularly.
“I’ve gotten a lot stronger. That has been big for me mentally and physically,” said Laughlin, who stands 5-foot-10.
He was rewarded by receiving a full scholarship after the first game of the season.
“That was awesome for me and my family,” Laughlin said.
“He has grown a ton in the short period of time,” said UMaine head coach Jordan Stevens. “He has been great. Whenever we get the ball to him he makes plays. His run blocking is tremendous. He runs good routes and he has a big catch radius for his size. He can extend his body and go get the ball more than you think he could at his height.
“He plays big and plays with a presence. He is a strong kid with a big, thick frame. He is a football player who can play anywhere and excel at it.”
Laughlin was greatly influenced by older brother Matt, who just concluded his career as a wide receiver at Division III Trinity College in Connecticut.
He said when his brother was a senior at Cape Elizabeth High School, he was a freshman and his brother took him under his wing and taught him how to play the position.
He said spring football was very beneficial for him because he was able to learn the offense and get some reps with the first and second teamers. And he established himself as a special teams player. He still plays on special teams.
And when a fellow wide receiver got injured, he was able to step in and fill the void.
“I’ve been taking advantage of the opportunities I’ve received,” he said.
Laughlin takes pride in being a homegrown player at UMaine.
“It’s definitely fun to go out and represent the state of Maine. Being from a small school, I don’t know of any other kids from Cape Elizabeth who have gone on and played Division 1 football,” he said.
Stevens said he is excited about Laughlin’s future.
“I want to make sure he is a Black Bear the rest of his career,” said Stevens.
Game Notes: UMaine quarterback Carter Peevy has completed 68.1 percent of his passes for 2,254 yards and 17 touchdowns with five interceptions. Montigo Moss has caught 56 passes for 672 yards and Brian Santana-Fis is the leading rusher with 413 yards on 80 carries.
UNH’s Seth Morgan has completed 66 percent of his passes for 2,147 yards and 22 TDs. He has been picked off six times. Logan Tomlinson has snared 73 passes for 789 yards. Isaac Seide has carried the ball 102 times for 427 yards.
Xavier Holmes is Maine’s leading tackler with 63 and he leads in sacks with six while Izaiah Henderson has five.
Wande Owens leads UNH in tackles with 97 and Josiah Silver has 11.5 sacks.
