Football Drops Back-and-Forth Affair at Pace Saturday

Links: Box Score
PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – After both teams combined for 19 points in the first 45 minutes of the contest, the Merrimack College football team found itself in a shootout in the final quarter of its Northeast-10 Conference showdown at Pace.

After an early score gave the hosts a five-point lead, Merrimack went ahead by six points with just over seven minutes left after a field goal, interception and a touchdown. But the Setters countered with the decisive scoring drive and then denied the Warriors' last-minute comeback in what ultimately was a 22-21 Merrimack defeat on Saturday at Pace Stadium.

The Warriors conclude the regular season next Saturday back at home against Southern Connecticut State.

The Essentials
Score: Pace 22, Merrimack 21
Records: Merrimack (4-5, 4-4 NE10) | Pace (6-3, 5-3 NE10)
Location: Pace Stadium | Pleasantville, N.Y.
Duration: 2:44

How It Happened

• After Merrimack settled for a field goal on its opening drive after getting as close as the Pace 8, the Setters used a big kickoff return to start their first drive in Merrimack territory and scored five plays later to take a 7-3 lead with just under six minutes left in the first quarter.
• The Setters pinned Merrimack at their 1 yard line after a perfect punt and then added another two points to their lead following a safety, making it 9-2 in favor of the hosts late in the second quarter, and that score went unchanged through the remainder of the half.
• Merrimack found the end zone in the third quarter after sophomore quarterback Cam Hayes connected with senior Cody Demers to cap off a 12-play, 70-yard drive that gave the Warriors their first lead of the afternoon (10-9). Hayes used a 15-yard rush to keep the drive alive and then moved inside the 20 on another third-down strike to redshirt junior Marquis Spence before finding Demers in the end zone on the next play.
• Pace went right back in front on the first drive of the fourth, needing seven plays to move 71 yards in just over three minutes to push ahead by five. But the Setters kept the offense on the field for a two-point conversion try that subsequently failed, keeping the Warriors within five (15-10) with plenty of time left.
• Merrimack got to within two points on its next drive thanks to the longest career field goal by redshirt sophomore Corey Resendes, who booted a 38-yarder to trim the Setter lead to 15-13.
• Sophomore Caleb Holden got the ball right back after his team-leading fourth interception of the season, setting up the offense deep in Pace territory, and Hayes would find Spence three plays later for the go-ahead touchdown. The duo connected again on a huge two-point conversion that gave the Warriors a six-point lead (21-15) halfway through the final frame.
• But the seesaw affair continued on Pace's next drive after the Setters went 68 yards over seven plays to go back in front, as the Setters benefitted from two big pass plays to set up the eventual go-ahead touchdown rush.
• Merrimack had one last chance with 4:28 left. Hayes completed a six-yard pass to Spence on a 3^rd & 2 to move the chains and then, on 4^th & 6, found freshman Anthony Norcia for 10 more that brought the Warriors across midfield. After a sack and an incompletion, Hayes got 11 yards back on a pass to Spence, prompting a timeout with the game on the line. But the Setters got the stop on 4^th & 4 and ran out the clock from there on out to secure the win.

Highlights

• Redshirt freshman Jamari Venter rushed for a career-high 113 yards on 21 carries, averaging nearly 5-1/2 yards per play, and added 11 more yards on two catches to highlight one of his best performances as a Warrior.
• Holden's fourth interception moves him two back of the league lead; redshirt sophomore Jovan Grant had a sack and shared the team lead in total tackles with six alongside senior Jesse Jones. The latter led the team two tackles for losses.
• Resendes finished with two field goals for the second time this season; he had three in the season opener at Bloomsburg.
• Spence reeled in a team-high eight catches for 80 yards and a score, while Demers had 40 on three hauls and scored the other touchdown.
• Hayes finished 19-for-30 (63.3%) for 180 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He added another 36 yards on 14 carries.

Notes & Numbers

• Pace won its first game ever against Merrimack. The Warriors had won each of the previous 18 meetings.
• The Warriors had another game with 300-plus yards of offense, finishing with 352 on the afternoon (172 rushing, 180 passing). The team has posted at least 300 yards of total offense every game this year.
• Merrimack 's 172 yards rushing registered as the third-highest single-game rushing total for the team this season, trailing only the Bentley (254) and New Haven (215) games. Merrimack has totaled at least 100 yards rushing in in eight of nine games.
• Total Yards (Rushing-Passing-Total): 172-180—352 // 79-208—287
• Takeaways (INT/FR): 1/0 // 1/0
• Sacks: 1 // 3
• Total 1^st Downs: 21 // 11
• 3^rd Down Conversions: 7-14 // 6-12
• 4^th Down Conversions: 1-2 // 0-0

Up Next
Merrimack concludes the 2018 campaign at home against Southern Connecticut State on Senior Day next Saturday, Nov. 10. Kickoff from Duane Stadium is set for 1 p.m., and the annual Senior Day Ceremony will follow the conclusion of the game.