Football Falls at Stonehill, 31-6, Saturday

Football Falls at Stonehill, 31-6, Saturday

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EASTON, Mass. – The Merrimack College football team scored on its first possession of the game but host Stonehill scored the next 31 points, as the Warriors dropped a 31-6 decision against the Skyhawks on Saturday afternoon at W.B. Mason Stadium.

The Essentials
 Score: Stonehill 31, Merrimack 6
Records: Merrimack (1-4, 1-3 NE-10) | Stonehill (2-3 2-2 NE-10)
Location: W.B. Mason Stadium | Easton, Mass.
Attendance: 2400
Duration: 2:48
Weather: Cloudy/Rainy // 59 F // Winds NE 10 MPH

How It Happened

  • After forcing a Stonehill punt on the hosts' first drive of the game, Merrimack need only four plays to score on its first possession of the game; senior quarterback Nick Davis (Oxnard, Calif.) connected with first-year sophomore Brenton Martin (Marietta, Ga.) for a 29-yard gain to move into the red zone, and then, after moving the chains once more, Davis scored on a keeper from two yards out to give the Warriors a 6-0 lead after the point-after attempt was blocked.
  • Neither side's offense came through in the ensuing four combined drives, but Stonehill did manage to get on the board late in the first quarter; with the Skyhawks starting that drive in Merrimack territory, tailback Mike Cordova was utilized often throughout that drive and eventually scored from two yards out to make it a 7-6 lead for the home side.
  • After another Merrimack punt, a 25-yard punt return set the Skyhawks up deep in Warrior territory; the defnse, however, yielded just a field goal to increase the hosts' lead to four (10-6).
  • With Stonehill's defense yielding little in terms of yardage, the Skyhawk offense added anther touchdown after going 10 plays and 56 yards over the middle of the second quarter; big rushes from Cordova and quarterback Matt Foltz brought the Skyhawks inside the 10, and Dylan Brown punched in another score from a yard away to give Stonehill a 17-6 halftime lead.
  • Despite a great kickoff return to open the second half by senior Matt Clifford (Billerica, Mass.), the offense stalled again near midfield and the ensuing punt was blocked, giving the Skyhawks another good drive start in terms of field position; the defense, however, kept them to another field goal attempt, which wide left from 35 yards out.
  • Merrimack went 3-and-out again after that missed kick and its next punt was also blocked; this time, however, the Skyhawks picked up the loose ball and scored, making it a 24-6 lead.
  • The offense, meanwhile, went 3-and-out and then stalled near midfield to give the hosts control again late in the third quarater, and Stonehill would capitalize by going 62 yards over nine plays with Cordova finding the end zone again to score for the final touchdown for either side that day.
  • Merrimack would have two more chances in terms of offensive drives but those ended in a punt and turnover on downs, respectively.

Facts and Figures

  • Merrimack's was held to only 147 yards of total offense; the last time it was held to under 200 yards of total offense was also against Stonehill, last Sept. 11, 2015, at home (188)
  • Redshirt sophomore Shamik Perry (Bowie, Md.) was Merrimack's lead rusher with 37 yards on only six carries (6.2/carry), while Martin finished with a team-high 53 receiving yards
  • Clifford led all special team performers with 84 kickoff return yards (28.0/return)
  • Senior Josh Hill (Glastonbury, Conn.) led the way with a career-high 11 tackles (4 solo) while falling one sack shy of his career-best (2.0)
  • Total Yards (MER // STO): 147 // 281
  • Rushing Yards: 41 // 197
  • Passing Yards: 106 // 84
  • 3rd Down Efficiency: 8% (1-13) // 47% (7-15)
  • Takeaways: 0 // 0

Up Next
 Merrimack returns home to face the University of New Haven next Saturday (Oct. 8), with kickoff at Martone-Mejail Field set for 1 p.m. That game will also double as the 10-year anniversary of the 2006 NE-10 champion team, which will be honored during halftime with a special on-field presentation.

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For continuing coverage of Merrimack College Athletics, visit MerrimackAthletics.com and follow the Warriors on Twitter and on Facebook. 

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