Colby College head football coach Jonathan Michaeles watched his players go through the annual end-of-season tradition, the lineman’s punt, pass, and kick competition, and assessed the Mules’ season.

“The thing we take from it is, these guys have bought in, from Day 1, and they haven’t wavered for eight weeks, regardless of the circumstance. These kids have continued to compete. I mean, look at these guys,” Michaeles said, pointing at the players cheering on the linemen. “They’re just as excited on the last practice of the year as they were for the first.”

Colby’s season will end Saturday when it plays rival Bowdoin in Brunswick. It’s been a tough season for the Mules (1-6).

“It’s been a tough year, obviously, with our record what it is. We’ve had some hurdles, numerous injuries on a team that didn’t have a lot of depth to start with. We played tough. That means something, and it’s going to mean something come Saturday,” Michaeles said.

There’s no Colby-Bates-Bowdoin championship at stake Saturday as Bates clinched its second consecutive CBB title last week with a 31-0 win over Bowdoin. Two weeks ago, the Bobcats beat Colby, 10-9.

Even with just bragging rights on the line, Michaeles expects a hard-fought game. The Colby-Bowdoin game dates to 1892, and this is the 127th game in the series. In Division III, only Williams-Amherst and Kalamazoo-Albion have played more often than Colby and Bowdoin.

“It’s still Bowdoin. Nothing else needs to be said. It’s a fierce and great tradition. It’s something that, regardless of the record, it’s something that we want,” Michaeles said.

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Husson’s Eastern Collegiate Football Conference win streak was snapped at 13 games with last week’s 20-17 loss at Norwich. The Eagles (6-2, 5-1 ECFC) close the regular season Saturday at home against Mt. Ida.

While Husson’s goal of a second straight trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs was lost at Norwich, the Eagles still have a shot at a spot in one of the ECAC bowl games. The Eagles played in an ECAC bowl in 2008, losing to St. John Fisher.

Skowhegan Area High School graduate DJ Allen had a strong game for Husson at Norwich, catching a 6-yard touchdown pass from Cory Brandon late in the fourth quarter to pull the Eagles to within three points of the Cadets. A tight end, Allen has eight catches for 63 yards and two touchdowns this season. Cony grad Jon Saban has eight catches for 99 yards and a touchdown for the Eagles.

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Maine Maritime Academy closes the season Saturday with a game at Nichols College. The Mariners (2-6, 1-5 New England Football Conference) hold a 20-17 all-time lead over the Bison, although Nichols has won four of the last five meetings.

Lawrence grad Jake Doolan has 435 yards of total offense (378 rushing, 57 receiving) for the Mariners, with three touchdowns. Doolan had one of his better games of the season last year against Nichols, rushing for 206 yards and three touchdowns in a 62-43 MMA win.

Averaging 330.3 yards per game on the ground, MMA is third in Division III in rushing. The Mariners are ranked 24th in the nation in time of possession, at 33 minutes per game. Mariners defensive lineman Michael Burgess in second in the nation with five blocked kicks.

Defensive back Justin Lovely of Gardiner has 41 tackles for the Mariners.

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM