By KEVIN NOONAN

Both teams walked off the field as winners, even though one of them scored more points than the other and also got a more tangible trophy for its locker room.

But the most important thing that came out of New Hampshire’s 30-27 victory over Maine on Saturday was the fact that the season is not over for either CAA team. They were awarded at-large berths in the FCS playoffs, with New Hampshire (6-2, 8-3) traveling to Montana State and Maine (6-2, 8-3) visiting Appalachian State. Both games will be played on Saturday, Dec. 3 and both will be televised on ESPN3.

That’s the big picture. The smaller picture was New Hampshire winning the 99th meeting of these next-door-neighbors and also winning the coveted Brice-Cowell Musket – given annually to the victor of this game – for the eighth time in the last nine years.

“It was a great opportunity for us to play a great rival in a great atmosphere,’’ New Hampshire coach Sean McDonnell said. “The intensity and effort from both teams, it was a typical Maine-New Hampshire game and it came down to the last drive.

“So it was a great way to go out, with a win and to get the Musket and to have the opportunity to play in the second season.”

It didn’t come easily, however, as New Hampshire had to score 14 points in the fourth quarter to pull this one out. The winning TD was set up by an interception by the Wildcats’ Chris Houston, just one of four Maine turnovers in the second half. RB Nico Steriti scored the game-winner on an 18-yard run, which capped a big day for the redshirt freshman. He finished with 21 carries and 150 yards after coming into the game averaging about four carries and 22 yards per game.

“To see us perform in the second half the way we did was a downer,” Maine coach Jack Cosgrove said. “When crunch time showed up, they played better than we did and made more plays than we did and finished the game stronger than we did. And in this league, generally the team that plays better in the fourth quarter is going to win the game.”

Maine RB Pushaun Brown led the Black Bears in rushing with 77 yards, but was held below his average by an aggressive New Hampshire defense.

Said Maine senior safety Trevor Coston: “It was a tough game, like we expected. They out-executed us in the fourth quarter and that was pretty much the game right there.”

Two of the best QBs in the league played in their final CAA game. New Hampshire’s Kevin Decker completed 16 of 30 passes for 203 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions and Maine’s Warren Smith completed 24 of 41 passes for 200 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. As usual, the workhorse for Maine was RB Pushaun Brown, who carried the ball 20 times for 77 yards and a touchdown.

Besides Steriti, the offensive star for New Hampshire was freshman WR R.J. Harris, who caught six passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns, a performance that earned him CAA rookie-of-the-week honors.

In the end, both teams left Cowell Stadium with something to remember and something to look forward to. And even though it might not sound like a big deal to anybody not familiar with this rivalry, the Wildcats walked out with some pride in their stride and the Brice-Cowell Musket in hand.

“That was really big for the senior class,’’ Decker said. “That Musket has been in our locker room almost my whole career and not having it this season, having that empty spot overhead, was difficult. So, that was pretty much our No.1 goal, to get that back.”