If Bryant is going to snap an uncharacteristic five-game losing streak, then Saturday is the time and Bulldog Stadium the place.

Twenty-two seniors will play their final home game when Bryant (3-6, 2-4 NEC) and Saint Francis (2-7, 1-5) kick off at noon. That group has won 15 of 18 home games.

Those seniors, among them twins and defensive linemen Patrick and Peter Gauthier of Woonsocket, have enjoyed quite a ride since they arrived on campus in 2006. They won two Northeast-10 Championships and participated in two NCAA Division II Tournaments. They were part of Bryant’s first Division I team in 2008 and finished with a 7-4 record. And they have played the school’s first Northeast Conference schedule this season.

Their introduction to the NEC has been rough. After beating Robert Morris and Wagner, they lost to Albany, Central Connecticut and Monmouth by a total of eight points and to Sacred Heart by 10 points.

The offense that overpowered Division II competition in 2006 and 2007 generated fewer points against Division I opponents in 2008 and has struggled to score in 2009. Bryant managed one touchdown in its 6-2 victory over Wagner in the rain on Oct. 3 and only two Chris Bird field goals in a 10-6 loss at Monmouth on Oct. 31. Bryant has not scored more than 24 points in a game this season.

The defense was overmatched just twice this year, against Hofstra of the tough Colonial Athletic Association and Fordham of the Patriot League.

Patrick Gauthier is tied for sixth with 42 tackles. He has 5.5 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks and a quarterback hurry. Peter Gauthier has 37 stops, two pass breakups, two passes defended and a quarterback hurry.

The Bulldogs will conclude the season next week at Duquesne and will finish with their first losing record since 2004.

•The University of Maine is the northern outpost in the Colonial Athletic Association, separated from the rest of the college football world by many miles of I-95, many hours on a bus and many, many pine trees.

Getting there is a hassle. Returning after a loss can be depressing, especially at this time of year when it is dark and often damp on the way home.

That’s what the Rams of the University of Rhode Island face if they fail to upset the Black Bears Saturday at Orono. URI (1-8, 0-6) and Maine (4-5, 3-3) will kick off at noon.

The Rams, like the state they represent, are in a slump. They have lost eight in a row after opening with a victory and are wrapping up the program’s eighth consecutive losing season.

They generated some excitement last week, when they scored 42 points against No. 8 New Hampshire, but they allowed 55 and lost again. But the ride back to Kingston is nothing compared to the long haul back from Orono.

Shawn Leonard, Rhody’s high-jumping wide receiver, played the best game of his career against the Wildcats, catching 10 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns. He picked up CAA co-offensive player of the week recognition and the New England Gold Helmet Award for that effort. As a result, Maine’s defense is certain to pay attention to him.

URI is 1-7 against Maine this decade.

mszostak@projo.com