Football Falls to AIC 59-19 Saturday
NORTH ANDOVER, MA – Rob Parent threw seven first-half touchdowns as visiting American International racked up 49 first-half points, ending Merrimack's eight-game home winning streak in a 59-19 victory Saturday afternoon at Warrior Field.
The Yellow Jackets came out flying, totaling 367 first half yards while forcing four first-half turnovers, taking a 49-7 lead at halftime behind three touchdown receptions from Trevor Perryman.
Parent completed just 10 first half receptions, seven of them for touchdowns.
Omari Mobley (Hanover, PA) scored the Warriors' lone first half score, catching a third-down pass from James Suozzo (Everett, MA) from 14-yards out early in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to 14-7.
But Parent and the AIC offense took over from there, throwing for 247 first half yards, with Perryman and Davon LeGrier combining for 188 yards.
Little went right for Merrimack in this game, as the Yellow Jackets prevailed with their fifth straight win against the hosts. The Warriors in all committed five turnovers, including two inside the AIC 5-yard line.
"We just didn't come ready to play," said head coach John Perry, who was looking to beat AIC for the first time in his three seasons as Merrimack's head coach. "Give AIC credit. They came ready and executed a great game plan. We'll have to regroup and get ready for Southern Connecticut next week."
Mobley led the receivers with a career-high 10 receptions for 90 yards, while Joe Clancy (Newburyport, MA) had seven catches for 54 yards before moving to quarterback in the third. Suozzo was 17-for-32 for 169 yards and one touchdown before giving way to Clancy midway through the third quarter, who threw for 221 yards on 19-of-27 passing and rushed for his first career touchdown in the fourth and also threw for one, finding Shane Ferguson (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ) in the final seconds.
Shawn Loiseau (Shrewsbury, MA) led the Warrior defense with 12 tackles, while Justin Marsan (Methuen, MA) added eight.
Terrell Williams led the AIC rushing attack with 132 yards on 17 carries, while Perryman finished with 171 receiving yards on seven receptions and three scores. Parent finished with 328 passing yards and seven touchdowns on 14-of-21 passing.
Merrimack (3-5, 3-3 NE-10) wraps up its home schedule against Southern Connecticut State University next Saturday at 1 p.m. The Class of 2011 will be honored as part of Senior Day before the game.
