Football Seeks Second Straight Win against New Haven Saturday Night at Merrimack Stadium

Date	Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018 (6 p.m.)
Matchup	Merrimack (1-2, 1-1 NE10) New Haven (2-1, 2-0 NE10)
Venue	Merrimack Stadium // North Andover, Mass. Directions // Tickets
Multimedia	Live Stats // Watch
Social	Twitter // Instagram

 
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – After picking up its first win of the season last weekend, the Merrimack College football team returns home for a bout against another one of the league's top teams when it hosts the University of New Haven for a Saturday (Sept. 22) night matchup at Merrimack Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

BEER & WINE AVAILABLE AT MERRIMACK STADIUM THIS FALL!
Merrimack is pleased to announce that beer and wine sales will be available at Merrimack Stadium this fall for the 2018 football season!
In addition to a 21+ Beer and Wine Garden on the stadium patio (opposite the press box side, closest to the Merrimack Athletics Complex), an additional beer station will be located on the concourse level of the stadium next to the ticket office. Both locations will open one hour before kickoff and will close at the end of the third quarter. Note: A valid game ticket is required for access to either location.

Ticket Prices
Adults: $12
Youth (U-14)/Senior (65+): $5
Merrimack Students w/ valid Mack Card: FREE!
NOTE: Tickets may be purchased online, by phone (978-837-5324) or on game day at either ticket entrance (cash only for on-site purchases). Pricing for online purchases does include processing fees. 

Inside the Series

• Merrimack and New Haven are meeting for the ninth time after the Chargers joined the league in 2009.
• Overall, the Warriors own a 3-6 all-time mark the Chargers, but two of those wins have come in the last three seasons alone and – more impressively – they came on the road.
• Last year's win was particularly impressive, as the Warriors rallied from a 21-17 fourth-quarter deficit by scoring the final 14 points of the game – all in the final frame – to post a resounding 31-21 win to conclude the 2017 season.
• Merrimack's all-time road record against New Haven is now even at 2-2, while the Chargers have taken three of the four games played in North Andover but will be making their first-ever appearance at Merrimack Stadium.
• Merrimack's only win on home soil was the first-ever meeting between the two schools, a 48-20 Warrior victory in 2009.

'Mack Facts

• Merrimack picked up its first win of the season last week in an entertaining back-and-forth affair on the road against rival Bentley. The Warriors spoiled the hosts' Homecoming by scoring 21 unanswered points to take a 28-14 lead late in the third quarter. They then held off a furious fourth-quarter charge by the Falcons but an incredible defensive showing by a pair of freshmen – Cory Hagerman and Tyler Roberts – led to a strip sack and fumble return for a touchdown that wound up being the difference in a 35-30 road win.
• Freshman Tyler Roberts was named NE10 Defensive Player of the Week for his performance last Saturday, which included the fumble return touchdown, another forced fumble and a team-high 11 tackles to lead the way on the defensive end.
• True freshman Christian Carter has been a fun storyline in the early goings this year, ranking tied for second in the NE10 with five passing touchdowns and just one interception; he averages 196.0 yards per game passing (4^th/NE10) and another 57-plus yards per game rushing.
• Senior Cody Demers has been one of the league's lethal receiving options, ranking fourth averaging 78.7 yards per game and tied for third with two catching touchdowns. Redshirt junior Marquis Spence also has hauled in two scores this year.
• Senior Enrique McFarlane paces the Warriors with 23 total tackles, while sophomore Jovan Grant has a team-high 15 solo stops. Classmate Caleb Holden leads the team with two interceptions, while redshirt freshman Daekwon Shepherd has forced two fumbles.
• Merrimack averages 355.3 yards of total offense as a team, good for fifth in the NE10, while its 42-percent conversion rate on third down is second-best in the league. On defense, the Warriors have allowed over 36 points and 436 yards per game.

Scouting New Haven

• New Haven is undefeated in league play with back-to-back wins against Pace and Southern Connecticut to start its conference slate. Its only loss was at Division I Bryant.
• Ajee Patterson leads the NE10 averaging 274.0 yards passing per game with a league-high eight touchdowns, although he has been intercepted four times. Ju'An Williams has been his favorite target averaging a league-high 133.67 yards per game along with three touchdowns. Ryan McCarthy is averaging 6.7 yards per carry and is one of four Chargers with a rushing score.
• On defense, Jordan Francklin (26) and Mcprecia Remy (22) both have over 20 tackles, while the former has one of the team's three interceptions. Markel Johnson has 1-1/2 sacks, as well.
• The Chargers have some over the best offensive figures in the league averaging 427.3 yards per game (2^nd) and 34.7 points per game (2^nd), while on defense New Haven has allowed 23 points per game and just over 345 yards per game

Inside the Matchup:

Merrimack (1-2, 1-1 NE10)	Category	New Haven (2-1, 2-0 NE10)
9/15/18 at Bentley (W, 35-30)	Last Time Out	9/15/18 vs. SCSU (W, 37-18)
165.0	Rushing Offense	151.7
190.33	Passing Offense	275.67
355.3	Total Offense	427.3
436.0	Opp. Total Offense	345.3
1	Interceptions	4
4/1	Fumbles/Lost	1/0
32:12	Time of Possession	31:29
42.224%	3rd-Down Conversions	51.6%
46.88%	Opp. 3rd-Down Conversions	42.11%
3-26	Sacks/Yards	3/23
8/9 (88.8%)	Red-Zone Scores	13/16 (81.25%)

 
Up Next
Merrimack will stay at home for a second straight week next Saturday (Sept. 29) when it rounds out its busy month of September against another one of the league's top teams, as the LIU Post Pioneers head to town for another NE10 showdown at Merrimack Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.