AIC Holds Off Football's Second-Half Rally; Warriors Fall to Yellow Jackets, 24-21
Links: Box Score
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Trailing by 24 midway through the third quarter, the Merrimack College football team reeled off two quick touchdowns and got to within three with less than two minutes to go, but reigning league champion American International held on to hand the Warriors a 24-21 setback on a rainy Saturday at Martone-Mejail Field.
The Basics
Score: AIC 24, Merrimack 21
Records: Merrimack (3-6, 3-5 NE-10) | AIC (7-2, 7-1 NE-10)
Location: Martone-Mejail Field | North Andover, Mass.
How It Happened
Before the game even began, both teams were prepared to battle the elements, as a constant rain fell throughout the afternoon to limit both sides' high-octane offenses.
AIC took advantage of some prime field condition on its first drive of the game, as Kevin Arduino connected with Manny McClain from 26 yards out to tally the opening score just 1:28 into the game.
The rest of the first quarter saw both team punt 6-of-7 series, with the only blip in that sequence being a missed field goal attempt by the visitors.
But at the end of the first, AIC gained some traction and used a 10-play drive that ended with Terrell Williams rushing in from one yard out to put the Yellow Jackets up 14-0. Following another Merrimack punt, the visitors used another long drive (13 plays, 70 yards) over a span of 6:49 that once again saw Williams punch in from a yard out to make it a 21-0 advantage at the end of the half.
Merrimack gambled on its first drive of the second half but turned it over, giving the Yellow Jackets another scoring chance after taking over deep in Warrior territory. The visitors would capitalize, as Jared Hulsey booted a 21-yard field goal to make it a 24-point advantage.
That, however, was the last time AIC would find the end zone and allowed the Warriors to get back in the contest. First-year sophomore quarterback Nick Laspada (Billerica, Mass.) capped off a four-play, 44-yard drive with a 12-yard QB keeper to get the Navy and Gold on the board with 5:36 to go in the third.
Then, after junior Kristian Jackson (Shrewsbury, Mass.) earned his first career interception to give the hosts fabulous field condition, Laspada marched the troops downfield and connected with junior Stephen Cronan (Hampton, N.H.) on a quick two-yard strike to make it a 10-point game at the end of the third.
Arduino and AIC looked prepared to counter on their next drive, as the Yellow Jackets marched all the way down inside the Merrimack 5-yard line, but the Warrior defense came through to force a fumble and recover, keeping the momentum in the hosts' favor.
Starting from their own 3-yard line, the Warriors slashed their way downfield and gave the home crowd life after Laspada found junior Jere Brown (Freeport, N.Y.) for a 56-yard completion to get into AIC territory. Merrimack got as close as the 1-yard line before electing for a short field goal on fourth down. Unfortunately, the attempt was blocked, giving the Yellow Jackets the ball back deep in their own territory.
Merrimack's defense came through again, as AIC went three and out before punting back to the hosts. Starting at the AIC 41, Laspada used a 21-yard completion to Brown to get into the red zone, and four plays later, the Billerica native thread another quick pass to sophomore Justin Mount (Westford, Mass.) to make it a three-point game (24-21) with just over 90 seconds left.
On the ensuing kickoff, sophomore Stephen Camarro (North Reading, Mass.) made his second appearance of the season a memorable one, executing a perfect onside kick that was recovered by the Warriors right at midfield to give the hosts a chance to tie or take the lead.
But the defending league champions came through on defense, turning away Merrimack on four plays to take over on downs and run out the clock from there on out.
Inside The Numbers
- In total, AIC outgained Merrimack by a 357-221 margin highlighted by 254 rushing yards
- Merrimack boasted three takeaways on the day while committing no turnovers
- Laspada finished 15-of-21 for 156 yards passing and two touchdowns; the first-year Warrior also led the ground assault with 45 yards on 14 carries
- Brown finished with 79 receiving yards on four receptions, averaging 19.8 yards a catch
- Sophomore Carey Wells-Jowers (Baltimore, Md.) led the Warrior defense with 10 tackles (4 solo), including one for a loss of seven yards
Up Next
Merrimack concludes the regular season next Saturday (Nov. 8) at home against Southern Connecticut State at 1 p.m.
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