Links: Box Score
WORCESTER, Mass. – The Merrimack College football team was toppled on the road by the 24
th-ranked team in the country, as Assumption College defeated the Warriors, 56-7, at Multi-Sport Stadium on Saturday in Northeast-10 Conference action.
The Essentials
Score: #24 Assumption 56,
Merrimack 7
Records: Merrimack (1-3, 1-2 NE10) | Assumption (4-0, 3-0 NE10)
Location: Multi-Sport Stadium | Worcester, Mass.
Attendance: 2450
Duration: 3:00
Key Moments
- Four of Merrimack's first six drives of the game ended in turnovers, and three of those turnovers led directly to Assumption touchdowns that allowed the hosts to build a 28-0 lead early in the second quarter.
- The Greyhounds added three more touchdowns to bolster their lead before Merrimack got on the board thanks to a two-yard touchdown catch from senior Derrick Villard (Cromwell, Conn.) with six seconds to play in the half.
- Assumption, owners of the top defense in the NE10, did not allow a point the rest of the game, as Merrimack was denied on its final six drives on the contest.
Rapid Recap
- Quarter 1 – Turnovers helped set up two of Assumption's three first-quarter touchdowns, as the Greyhounds grabbed a 21-0 advantage after 15 minutes. One of those touchdowns came by means of a 34-yard interception return.
- Quarter 2 – Assumption blocked a Merrimack punt to set up another quick score at the start of the second quarter, then capitalized on a fumble to add another touchdown before needing one play on its next drive to find the end zone yet again, as the Greyhounds scored 21 points in the span of less than four minutes. Merrimack would would get on the board late in the half after Villard took a short pass from CJ Scarpa (Andover, Mass.) to wrap up an eight-play, 71-yard drive.
- Quarter 3 – Both defenses yielded nothing in the third quarter; Merrimack punted on its three drives of the frame while Assumption's only scoring chance was a 52-yard field goal attempt that missed.
- Quarter 4 – Merrimack threatened to find the end zone early in the fourth quarter, but Assumption came up with an interception in the end zone and scored on the next drive to account for the final margin of victory.
Notes and Notables
- Merrimack managed to get 369 yards of total offense 24 first downs (compared to 21 for Assumption) against the conference's top defense.
- Villard nearly eclipsed the century mark with 92 yards on 17 carries (5.4 yards/carry) and had the only touchdown of the game for the Warriors.
- Senior Brian Carroll (Sudbury, Mass.) led Merrimack with 10 tackles while redshirt junior Avery Taylor (Gaithersburg, Md.) registered Merrimack's one sack of the game and forced – and recovered – a fumble.
Up Next
Merrimack returns home for its final home game ever at Martone-Mejail Field. The Warriors will welcome Stonehill to town next Saturday (Sept. 30) for a conference clash under the lights, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
Â
