Links: Box Score
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – The Merrimack College football team fell to defending Northeast-10 Conference champion LIU Post on Saturday, 49-7, at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium. The Warriors conclude the 2017 campaign next Saturday with a trip to the University of New Haven.
The Essentials
Score: LIU Post 49,
Merrimack 7
Records: Merrimack (3-6, 3-5 NE10) | LIU Post (7-2, 6-2 NE10)
Location: Bethpage FCU Stadium | Brookville, N.Y.
Attendance: 1057
Duration: 3:01
Rapid Recap
- LIU Post used a few big plays to take a 39-0 lead into the locker room at halftime, as quarterback Yianni Gavalas completed three different touchdown passes of 25 or more yards, added a fourth touchdown pass and ran for another while the Pioneers also used a field goal to add to their lead.
- Gavalas found another receiver for a 30-yard score late in the third quarter to bolster their lead before Merrimack got on the board early in the fourth, but that was the closest the visitors would get before time expired.
How It Happened
- Quarter 1 – LIU Post post needed just under four minutes to find the end zone for the first time, scoring on its first drive of the game to grab an early lead. The hosts would use their aerial attack again on their next drive to set up another 25-yard touchdown pass and catch. LIU added one more score late in the frame to build a three-possession lead after 15 minutes.
- Quarter 2 – Graduate student CJ Scarpa (Andover, Mass.) connected with senior tight end Dillon Salva (North Brunswick, N.J.) for a 41-yard completion that brought the Warriors into Pioneer territory for the first time on the afternoon, but Merrimack would turn it over on downs at the LIU Post 35. The Pioneers added to their lead with a 25-yard field goal and then scored twice more to close out the half with a 39-0 lead.
- Quarter 3 – Merrimack started the second half with the ball but was unable to generate any offense at first. The first career interception by junior lineman Jesse Jones (Newark, N.J.) and a 21-yard return brought the Warriors as far as the LIU Post 17, but a fumble on the next play gave the ball back to the Pioneers, who capitalized with another touchdown on the ensuing drive. LIU Post also added field goal on an earlier possession in the quarter to make it 49-0 heading to the final stanza.
- Quarter 4 – Merrimack found the end zone by means of a 10-play, 63-yard drive that ended with Scarpa threading a 23-yard dart to sophomore Sebastian Lucas (Baltimore, Md.) for the Warriors' first score of the game. LIU Post bled out most of the remaining clock with an eight-play drive that lasted 7:19, as Merrimack came up short against last year's NE10 champions.
Notes and Notables
- LIU Post outgained Merrimack by a 484-252 margin, with 363 yards coming via the air. Only Bryant (378) had passed for more yards against Merrimack in a game this season.
- The Pioneers also doubled up the Warriors in first downs (30-15) while the hosts converted 10-of-15 third downs compared to 4-of-13 for Merrimack.
- Scarpa finished 18-of-33 for 183 yards, a score and an interception, while Gavalas completed 26-of-43 for 363 yards, five touchdowns and an interception.
- Salva had one of his best days as a Warrior, finishing with a career-high 78 yards on three receptions.
- Redshirt freshman Jovan Grant (Boston, Mass.) led the defense with a career-high 13 tackles on Saturday, while redshirt senior Tyree Holmes (Capitol Heights, Md.) had the team's lone sack.
Up Next
Merrimack concludes the 2017 season at perennial power New Haven next Saturday (Nov. 11) to close out the year. Kickoff against the Chargers from DellaCamera Stadium is set for 12 p.m.
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