This weekend's N.E. games

SATURDAY

BOSTON COLLEGE at FLORIDA STATE Seminoles lead ACC in scoring (35.9 points per game); Eagles and Southern Cal lead nation in shutouts (3).

UCONN at SYRACUSE Leading the nation in rushing (156.2 yards per game), Huskies junior RB Donald Brown a semifinalist for Doak Walker Award.

UMASS at NEW HAMPSHIRE Minutemen (6-4) face a must-win situation against 13th-ranked Wildcats to keep slim postseason hopes alive.

MAINE at RHODE ISLAND Senior corner Lamir Whetstone and rugged Black Bear defense have forced 12 turnovers in the last three games.

NORTHEASTERN at HOFSTRA Senior all-purpose back Alex Broomfield paces the Huskies in rushing (852 yards) and receiving (36 catches).

HOLY CROSS at LAFAYETTE Senior Jon Brock (50 catches, 12 touchdowns) has emerged as a big-play receiver for Dominic Randolph and the Crusaders.

HARVARD at PENN Crimson have lost 12 of last 13 at Franklin Field, but all senior QB Chris Pizzotti does is win (18-2 as a starter).

PRINCETON at YALE Bulldogs kicker Tom Mante put his foot into big win over Brown, with two field goals and seven booming punts, three inside the 20.

BROWN at DARTMOUTH Recruited as a quarterback, sophomore Tim McManus is impressing as a receiver (45 catches) for the Big Green.

CENTRAL CONN. at SACRED HEART Pioneers junior wideout Steve Tedesco starring on field (70 catches, 9 TDs) and in classroom (3.38 GPA in history).

BRYANT at IONA In their first season in Division 1, Bulldogs (5-4) can secure winning season in New Rochelle, N.Y.

SETON HILL at AIC Making their first Division 2 postseason appearance, Yellow Jackets are a dominant first-half team, outscoring foes, 199-79.

SOUTHERN CONN. at WEST CHESTER Senior receiver-turned-QB Chris Roberts (14 touchdowns, 4 interceptions) has been a savior in directing Owls to Div. 2 playoffs again.

PLYMOUTH STATE at MAINE MARITIME NEFC title may be decided in two-hour runfest: Teams have completed 50 passes combined the entire season.

MOUNT IDA at MORRISVILLE STATE Mustangs freshman back Johrone Bunch (377 yards, 7 TDs the last two weeks) finishing with a flourish.

SPRINGFIELD at NORWICH In the 45-31 stunner vs. Hartwick, freshman QB Josh Carter led three 100-plus-yard rushers for the Pride.

WPI at ST. LAWRENCE Senior linebacker Stefan Nicotra has been a force in the middle for the 6-3 Engineers.

WESTERN CONN. at WILLIAM PATERSON Colonials' offense is sputtering, averaging just 15.6 points in a five-game losing skid.

CRAIG LARSON