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NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College football team returns from its bye week and opens the second half of the 2018 season with a two-game road trip that starts Saturday (Oct. 13) night down in Easton, where the Warriors meet Stonehill in a Northeast-10 Conference matchup. Kickoff from W.B. Mason Stadium is set for 6 p.m.
Inside the Series
- Merrimack and Stonehill have met every year since 1996, and Stonehill holds a slight edge in the all-time ledger (12-11).
- The Skyhawks have won the last seven games, including a 45-21 decision last fall at Martone-Mejail Field.
- Merrimack's last win against Stonehill was a 43-30 victory at home on Oct. 22 of the 2011 campaign.
- All-time at home, the Warriors are 3-9 against the Skyhawks compared to 8-3 on the road.
Five Things to Know
- Merrimack and Stonehill both enter the weekend coming off the bye and looking to start the second half on a high note; both are 1-4 overall with 1-3 marks in league play, although the Warriors' three league losses are all against the top-three teams in the conference in LIU Post, Assumption and New Haven.
- The Merrimack offense features true freshman quarterback Christian Carter under center, who averages 164.8 passing yards per game (5th/NE10) and has six touchdowns to one interception. Other weapons for the Warriors on offense include senior receiver Cody Demers, who averages 80.8 receiving yards per game (3rd/NE10), and redshirt freshman Jamari Venter, who leads the team with 264 yards net rushing.
- On defense, the Warriors have four players with 30-plus tackles led by redshirt sophomore Michael Mercuri (34 tackles, 1 forced fumble), while sophomore Caleb Colden leads the team and shares the NE10 lead with three interceptions.
- Stonehill is coming off a 51-30 loss at Pace in its last outing and has lost three straight overall. The Skyhawks' only win this year was a 57-54, triple overtime thriller at Saint Anselm on Sept. 8.
- Stonehill senior James Lam has 630 yards in four games under center and has thrown for three touchdowns and five interceptions. Junior Andrew Jamiel averages 79.6 yards per game receiving and has three scores, while junior Brian Kearns Junior's five rushing touchdowns are one shy of the lead in the conference. Juniors Miles Strickland (45) and Ryan Shuts (43) both have over 40 tackles on defense, while the latter has two interceptions.
Inside the Matchup:
| Merrimack (1-4, 1-3 NE10) |
Category |
Stonehill (1-4, 1-3 NE10) |
| 9/29 vs. LIU Post (L, 20-37) |
Last Time Out |
9/29 at Pace (L, 30-51) |
| 21.60 |
Scoring Offense |
26.8 |
| 38.00 |
Scoring Defense |
41.6 |
| 146.0 |
Rushing Offense |
179.4 |
| 206.40 |
Passing Offense |
162.6 |
| 352.4 |
Total Offense |
342.0 |
| 453.4 |
Opp. Total Offense |
447.2 |
| 5 |
Interceptions |
5 |
| 6/2 |
Fumbles/Lost |
7/6 |
| 30:18 |
Time of Possession |
26:46 |
| 40.76% |
3rd-Down Conversions |
35% |
| 60.00% |
Opp. 3rd-Down Conversions |
70% |
| 5-48 |
Sacks/Yards |
8 |
| 11/14 (78.6%) |
Red-Zone Scores |
18/22 (82%) |
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Up Next
Merrimack continues its two-game road trip with a visit to Saint Anselm College next Saturday (Oct. 20) afternoon, with kickoff at Grappone Stadium slated for 12 p.m.
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