AMHERST - Kyle Havens' cell phone buzzed often on Sunday.

Teammates called and texted the University of Massachusetts junior quarterback to let him know they still believed in him.

The gestures meant a lot to Havens, who will start for the Minutemen when they play at Maine at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. He was benched in the second half of a rough performance at Richmond on Saturday where UMass lost 34-12.

"They called me and texted me and let me know that they still have my back," Havens said. "I feel like I have a new vow of confidence from everybody behind me.

"Everybody let me know that they're still behind me and that I can still be the guy to do the job," he added. "I'm going to treat this just like any week."

Havens completed 10 of 25 passes for 78 yards. He was intercepted four times and lost a fumble, but Havens said he's put his struggles behind him.

"Saturday is over. It happened. I didn't play well," he said. "I need to prepare better in practice."

UMass coach Kevin Morris said he expects Havens to bounce back.

"Kyle is the quarterback. We're going to see if we can remedy some of the mistakes and come out and have a better ball game," Morris said. "It's always decision-making. We've had some tipped balls and some bad throws, but decision-making is the basis of anything the quarterback does."

Maine figures to be a challenge for Havens as the Black Bears are second in the conference in interceptions (12) and fourth in sacks per game (2.29).

Black Bears defensive backs Jerron McMillian and Trevor Coston both have three interceptions this season, which is one off the CAA lead in the category.

Havens should have the benefit of a healthy running game. Morris said both Tony Nelson and Jonathan Hernandez, who missed all and half of last week's game respectively are making the trip to Maine and are expected to play.

Both teams head into this game coming off losses to Richmond as Maine (3-4, 2-2 Colonial Athletic Association) fell to the Spiders 38-21 on Oct. 17 and have spent the last two weeks preparing for UMass (4-3, 2-2 CAA).

The Black Bears, who reached the playoffs last year on the strength of their running game, have become more pass-oriented over the course of this season. The change can be directly tied to Maine coach Jack Cosgrove replacing senior quarterback Mike Brusko with sophomore Warren Smith, who transferred from Iona after the Gaels dropped their program.

Smith has averaged 215.2 passing yards per game, with 10 touchdown passes and nine interceptions.

With sophomore fullback Jared Turcotte out for the season, sophomore Derek Session is the No. 1 ball carrier. Session is averaging 61.1 yards per game and has scored three touchdowns.

While Smith doesn't run the ball as much as Brusko, who has moved to receiver, he is still a threat.

"Warren Smith is having a really nice year putting the ball in the end zone, running the ball as well," Morris said. "I thought when they put Brusko out at wideout that was the end of the quarterback run game, but that hasn't been the case at all. So Warren Smith is a weapon all the way around."

The game will feature two of the conference's best young linebackers.

UMass sophomore Tyler Holmes is second in the league in tackles with 71, while Donte Dennis of the Black Bears is right behind him with 70.

Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Follow UMass coverage on Twitter at twitter.com/GazetteUMass. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at http://www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage.