Football Heads To Pace Looking For Consecutive Conference Victories
Merrimack Football
Game #5 vs. Pace, Saturday, September 29, 2012, 1 p.m., Pace Field
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MERRIMACK HITS THE ROAD LOOKING FOR CONSECUTIVE CONFERENCE VICTORIES
Game 5 - Merrimack College (2-2, 1-2 NE-10) vs. Pace (0-4, 0-3 NE-10)
UPDATE:
Merrimack hits the road looking for their first conference road victory of the young season. Merrimack enters the game after winning their last game at home against the Southern Connecticut Owls by the score of 38-35. The Pace Setters are coming off of a 42-0 loss at the hands of the American International Yellow Jackets on Friday night.
SERIES:
Merrimack has a lifetime 9-0 record against Pace, defeating the Setters by the score of 63-7 at Martone-Mejail Field last season. The nine game winning streak against the Setters is the longest active win streak for the Warriors against one team.
BALANCED ATTACK GETS IT DONE AGAINST SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT:
The Merrimack football team defeated the Southern Connecticut Owls on Saturday afternoon by the score of 38-35 behind a balanced attack, breaking 200 yards rushing and passing. After throwing the ball 81 times the previous week, Clancy completed 21-of-32 passes for 274 yards and two scores on Saturday while the team racked up 200 rushing yards and three rushing scores. The Warriors used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to solidify the victory, their first conference win of the young season. Jimon Hill rushed for over 100 yards for the first time on the season and also scored a touchdown while Isaiah Voegeli caught five passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball Ervin Johnson recorded his team-leading second interception of the year, returning it 42 yards, setting up another Merrimack touchdown.
CLANCY STAYS HOT IN VICTORY OVER THE OWLS:
In only his fourth career start, Merrimack senior quarterback Joe Clancy continued his impressive play as he finished the game going 21-for-32 for 274 yards and two touchdowns. Both of Clancy's scoring tosses were to his favorite target and all-american Isaiah Voegeli, one from 33 yards out and the other from 23 yards out. Clancy now leads the NE-10 in passing yards, completions, attempts and touchdowns, in only his first season as a starting quarterback. Clancy also rushed for 20 yards in the victory, picking up two key first downs.
VOEGELI TIED FOR SECOND IN CATCHES PER GAME:
Senior wide receiver Isaiah Voegeli continued to excel in the Merrimack offense on Saturday against Southern Connecticut as he recorded five more receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns. Voegeli's touchdown grabs came from 33 and 23 yards respectively. Voegeli now has 39 receptions on the season which ranks him tied for second in the country while his 469 receiving yards ranks him second in the NE-10.
CLANCY RANKS SECOND IN COMPLETIONS IN THE COUNTRY:
Senior captain Joe Clancy currently ranks second in the country in pass completions with 139. Clancy finished the game against Southern Connecticut with 21 more completions after his 50 completion game against AIC. Clancy also ranks third in the country in pass attempts with 213 attempts, after attempting 81 against AIC. Clancy is also fourth in the country in total passing yards with 1,461 yards through four games.
HILL BREAKS THE 100 YARD PLATEAU FOR FIRST TIME:
Senior running back Jimon Hill finally had his breakout performance of 2012 in the Warriors 38-35 victory over Southern Connecticut on Saturday as he finished with a season-high 28 carries for 113 yards and one touchdown. Hill broke the 100 yard plateau for the first time on the young season and also chipped in with ffour catches for 35 yards in the victory.
SPREADING THE WEALTH:
The Merrimack offense is known to spread the ball around to all of its receivers and on Saturday this was no different as the starting quarterback Joe Clancy found seven different targets during the Warriors 38-35 victory over Southern Connecticut. Clancy completed five balls to his all-american and favorite target Isaiah Veogeli. Tight end Steve Serwon continued his hot start grabbing five balls for 60 yards while Zach Ingalls had four catches for 64 yards.
JOHNSON LEADS SECONDARY WITH ANOTHER PICK:
Junior transfer, Ervin Johnson continued his fantastic start to the season as he recorded his team-leading second interception on Saturday in the victory. Johnson picked off the Owls pass and returned it 42 yards before being brought down by the facemask at the 20 yard line. The Warriors would take the good field position and score a touchdown alittle later. Johnson finished the game with four tackles which brings him up to 21 on the season.
VOEGELI CHASING MERRIMACK SCHOOL RECORDS:
Senior wide receiver Isaiah Voegeli has etched his name in the Merrimack College record books and is looking to establish himself as the best wide receiver ever in school histoy. Voegeli broke the school record for receiving yards in a career against AIC and he now has 2,523 receiving yards. Voegeli also ranks in the top five in program history in receptions with 142 and touchdowns with 23. Voegeli is tied for first in receptions and only 13 touchdowns shy of the record.
PERRY'S HIGH OCTANE OFFENSE RETURNS IN 2012:
After leading the NE-10 in total offense for the past four seasons, John Perry has his offense once again at the top of the league in 2012. The Warriors rank first in total offense averaging 490.0 yards per game and first in passing averaging 365.2 yards. The 365.2 passing yards and 490.0 total yards per contest rank the Warriors in seventh and 10th place respectively in the country. Merrimack also ranks third in the conference averaging 30.0 points per contest after compiling 38 points against Southern Connecticut last week.
FIVE WARRIORS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS:
Entering the 2012 campaign Merrimack received five preseason All-American accolades. Offensively the Warriors had three players represented as Isaiah Voegeli, Jimon Hill and Zach Gilbert were all recognized for their play as juniors. On the defensive side of the ball the Warriors had two players including Michael Wiggins and Artis Holt. Voegeli led the Northeast-10 in receiving yards and touchdowns last season while Hill broke 1,000 total yards. Wiggins led the Warriors defense with 7.5 sacks to go along with 13.5 tackles for a loss, both team highs. Holt was dynamic as a return man along with defensively as he recorded one kickoff return for a touchdown with an average return of 29.6 yards and totaled 33 tackles and two interceptions.
MAJOR HONORS IN 2011:
The Warriors received two major conference awards following the 2011 season as senior Shawn Loiseau was named the NE-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year for the second time. Loiseau broke the 100 tackle plateau for the third straight season and led the conference in tackles. Defensive end Tony Johnson was also named Defensive Lineman of the Year for the second time for his efforts. In all the Warriors received seven All-Conference team members. The All-Conference members were Loiseau, Johnson, Isaiah Voegeli, Jimon Hill, Zach Gilbert, Artis Holt and Michael Wiggins. Voegeli, Johnson and Loiseau were all also represented on the All-Regional team last season.
WARRIORS SCORING STREAK REACHES 118 GAMES:
Merrimack has scored points in 118 consecutive games heading into this weeks matchup with Pace, which ranks them in the top 20 for current point streaks. Valdosta State leads the nation by scoring in 244 consecutive games while conference foe Bentley is the only other Northeast-10 school ranked inside the top 20, scoring in 129 straight.
2012 NE-10 PRESEASON POLL
1. New Haven (7) – 63
2. So. Connecticut (1) – 53
3. American Int'l (1) – 50
4. Merrimack - 41
T4. Bentley – 41
6. Assumption – 29
7. Stonehill– 24
8. Saint Anselm – 15
9. Pace – 8
( ) – Denotes first-place votes
THE OPPONENTS:
Team This Week Record/Last Week
New Haven BYE 4-0/ Win 45-0 vs. Saint Anselm
Rowan at Cortland 3-1/ Win 30-24 W. Conn. State
AIC at Assumption 2-1/ Win 42-0 vs. Pace
So. Conn. St. vs. Saint Anselm 0-4/ Lost 38-35 at Merrimack
Pace vs. Merrimack 0-4/ Lost 42-0 at AIC
Stonehill at Bentley 3-1/ Win 26-24 vs. Assumption
Saint Anselm at So. Connecticut 0-4/ Lost 45-0 at New Haven
Bentley vs. Stonehill 3-0/ BYE
Assumption vs. AIC 1-3/ Lost 26-24 at Stonehill
Overall: 16-18 overall
LAST MEETING:
September 17, 2011, Merrimack 63, Pace 7
NORTH ANDOVER, MA – The first half scoring surge of 56 points powered the Merrimack football team to a dominating 63-7 victory over Pace at Warrior field Saturday afternoon in front of 1,512 fans. The Warriors recorded the third most total yards in school history with 644 yards in the victory. Setting the school record for points in a quarter with 42, in a half with 56, and in a game with 63, the Warriors racked up 495 total yards, taking a commanding 56-7 lead into halftime. Merrimack scored three touchdowns in the first five minutes of the opening stanza to set the tone of the game early on. Junior wide receiver Isaiah Voegeli (Hyannis, MA) led the way for the Warriors in the first half hauling in seven passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns, also returning a punt for a 68 yard touchdown. Quarterback James Suozzo (Everett, MA) was perfect in the first half going 7-7 for 159 yards and two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns. Suozzo started off the first drive of the game for the offense with a 57 yard touchdown strike to Voegeli off of a flea flicker. They connected later in the first quarter on a 22 yard touchdown strike to put the Warriors up 42-0. The Warriors defense dominated play all afternoon long as they racked up ten total sacks for 59 yards. Preseason All-American Shawn Loiseau (Shrewsbury, MA) totaled a team-high 10 tackles including 1.5 sacks, while Johnson recorded 3.5 sacks and a fumble recovery for a touchdown to propel Merrimack. The defense forced three turnovers, as Tripicchio and Johnson forced and recovered a fumble leading to two Merrimack scores. Senior Ian Weaver (Brooklyn, Conn.) chipped in defensively with an interception and two tackles for the Warriors.
LAST GAME RECAP -
Southern Connecticut State, September 22, 2012, Merrimack 38, So. Connecticut State 35
NORTH ANDOVER, MA – With a balanced attack of 200 rushing yards and 274 passing yards, the Merrimack Warriors downed the Southern Connecticut State Owls by the score of 38-35 on Saturday afternoon in front of 1,384 people at Martone-Mejail Field. With the win, Merrimack improves to 2-2 overall and 1-2 in Northeast-10 action while the Owls falls to 0-4 overall and 0-2 in conference play. The Warriors dominated the third quarter as they outscored the Owls 17-0 to take control of the game. Senior quarterback Joe Clancy (Newburyport, Mass.) continued his stellar play as he finished the game going 21-for-32 for 274 yards and two scoring strikes, both to All-American Isaiah Voegeli (Hyannis, Mass.). Voegeli finished the game with a team-high five catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns, one from 33 yards out and one from 23 yards out. Senior Jimon Hill (North Chicago, Ill.) broke the 100 yard plateau for the first time on the young season as he finished the game with 28 carries for 113 yards and one touchdown. Quinn McDonough (Medford, Mass.) finished off his impressive afternoon with seven carries for 56 yards and two touchdowns. Merrimack was led defensively by junior Jimmy Holland (Billerica, Mass.) who finished the game with a team-high 10 tackles while sophomore safety Nick McDaniels (Boston, Mass.) closed out his impressive day with nine tackles. Matt Tripicchio (Lake Zurich, Ill.) continued his steady play finishing with eight tackles, two quarterback hurries and one pass breakup. Old Dominion transfer, Johnson, finished off his game with four tackles and an interception which he returned 42 yards, setting up a Warrior field goal.
WARRIORS ON THE AIR:
Merrimack has teamed up with America One Networks to deliver live broadband broadcasts for the third straight season. Warrior games that will be streamed online include all home football, basketball and hockey broadcasts.
