WHERE: Meade Stadium, Kingston, Rhode Island

KICKOFF: 1 p.m. Saturday

STREAMING: FloFootball

ALL-TIME SERIES: Maine leads, 62-34-3

KEY STAT: 14 – Maine’s current winning streak over Rhode Island.

OUTLOOK: The Black Bears need to figure out how to replace tight end Shawn Bowman, who suffered a season-ending leg injury in last week’s loss to Richmond. Bowman leads the Black Bears in catches (31), receiving yards (377) and receiving touchdowns (five), and also was a strong blocker. Freshman Rohan Jones is likely to move into the starting role, but it will be difficult to replace Bowman’s production in the red zone and on third down, Coach Jordan Stevens said. Expect quarterback Joe Fagnano to lean more on his backfield and wideouts in the passing game. The Rams are third in the Colonial Athletic Association in pass defense, allowing 197.8 yards per game, so this is a game in which Maine’s running attack, led by Elijah Barnwell (348 yards) and Freddie Brock (229), will be key. Linebacker Jake Fire leads the Rams with 67 tackles.

Rhode Island running back Marques DeShields is second in the conference with 796 rushing yards to go with nine rushing touchdowns. Rams quarterback Kasim Hill threw for a combined 635 yards in the Rams’ last two games, a 31-30 loss to William & Mary and a seven-overtime, 48-46 win over Monmouth. Hill threw five touchdown passes over those two games, but also four interceptions. Maine allowed its last two opponents, Stony Brook and Richmond, to complete 80 percent of their passes, so tightening pass defense is a must to avoid a third straight conference loss. Kahzir “Buggs” Brown has two interceptions for the Black Bears, along with four pass break-ups.

OF NOTE: This is the 100th game in the Maine-Rhode Island series, which began in 1911. The only opponent Maine had played more often is New Hampshire (108 games). … Maine has won 19 of the last 20 games against Rhode Island. … Rhode Island is 3-2 against Colonial Athletic Association opponents; Maine is 2-3 … In last season’s 45-24 win at Rhode Island, Maine gained 528 yards – 264 yards on the ground and 264 yards in the air. … Maine has gone three consecutive games without a turnover while forcing five turnovers total. … Last week, Fagnano became the ninth quarterback in Maine history to pass for at least 5,000 career yards. … The Black Bears have scored on 14 straight trips inside the red zone.