Links: Box Score
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Merrimack College football team came up short on the road against Southern Connecticut State University on Saturday, dropping a 28-9 decision in Northeast-10 Conference action from Jess Dow Field.
The Essentials
Score: Southern CT 28,
Merrimack 9
Records: Merrimack (2-5, 2-4 NE10) | Southern Conn. (2-5, 2-4 NE10)
Location: Jess Dow Field | New Haven, Conn.
Duration: 2:56
Rapid Recap
- Southern Connecticut built itself a 14-0 lead with a pair of first-quarter scores, while Merrimack was denied on a 4th and short opportunity on its first drive of the game before an interception return doomed its next drive.
- While the Warriors got on the board with a 31-yard field goal early in the second, Southern used two big plays – a 64-yard rush and a 34-yard throw – to add two more touchdowns to its lead.
- Merrimack scored its only touchdown of the game early in the third quarter and drove deep into Southern territory on its next two drives in the second half but turned the ball over on downs before an interception ended its last drive of the game to seal the Owls' win.
How It Happened
- Quarter 1 – Merrimack won the toss and mounted what appeared to be a promising first drive to the game that trickled into SCSU territory, but the Warriors were denied on a 4th & 1 to give the Owls the ball with decent field positoin. SCSU would take advantage of that chance and scored nine plays later to get on the board first. The Owls doubled the lead four plays into Merrimack's next drive by means of a pick-six, staking the home side a 14-0 lead that stood through the remainder of the quarter.
- Quarter 2 – Following the interception return, Merrimack's offense went to work, using a methodical drive that took up nearly nine minutes of game time and bridged into the start of the second quarter. The Warriors converted two fourth-down opportunities in that sequence but ultimately would settle for a 31-yard Stephen Camarro (North Reading, Mass.) field goal to cut the deficit to 14-3. Merrimack's defense would come through after SCSU gambled on a 4th & 3 near the red zone, but the Owls would score on their next drive after quarterback R. Catapano scored on a 64-yard rush to pump the lead to 21-3. Southern Connecticut's defense would get the ball back on a strip sack during Merrimack's next drive, and the Owls would find the end zone again with only 32 seconds left in the half by means of another big play – a 34-yard pass from Catapano to Earl Myers – to give the hosts a 25-point lead at the half.
- Quarter 3 – Merrimack's defense forced a three-and-out to start the second half on a promising note, and the offense would need just five plays to go 90 yards. Graduate student CJ Scarpa (Andover, Mass.) connected with senior tight end Dillon Salva (North Brunswick, N.J.) for the latter's first touchdown of the season – a 21-yard catch – to get the Warriors within striking distance at 28-9. Merrimack would get the ball back after another 3-and-out and drove as far as the Southern Connecticut 19, but was turned over on downs.
- Quarter 4 – Merrimack again had another scoring opportunity, getting as close as the Southern 25 on its first offensive drive of the fourth quarter, but again could not convert and gave the Owls the ball back on downs. The defense again came through by forcing another punt, but the Warriors' final drive of the game ended on an interception, and SCSU would run out the clock from there.
Notes and Notables
- Redshirt junior Cody Demers (Dracut, Mass.) led all Merrimack receivers with 81 yards on seven receptions with Salva totaling the only touchdown.
- Scarpa would finish 11-for-15 for 148 yards, while first-year sophomore Cam Hayes (Uniondale, N.Y.) went 3-for-5 for 33 yards and added 13 more on the ground.
- Senior Derrick Villard (Cromwell, Conn.) finished with 82 yards on 20 carries.
- Junior Enrique McFarlane (West Hempstead, N.Y.) matched his career-high with two sacks and was three tackles shy of his personal best single-game mark after leading the defense with 11 stops.
Up Next
Merrimack will play its final home game of the season when it hosts Saint Anselm next Saturday (Oct. 21) at Warrior Stadium for a Senior Day matchup with the Hawks. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., and the program will honor its graduating seniors afterward.
