Links: Box Score
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Despite missing a majority of starters on defense due to injury, the Merrimack College football team put together an inspiring effort against one of the top teams in the Northeast-10 Conference on Saturday. The Warriors became the first team to post double-digit points against an LIU Post squad that was receiving votes in the latest national rankings in what was ultimately a 37-20 setback that was much closer than the box score indicated.
The Essentials
Score: LIU Post 37,
Merrimack 20
Records: Merrimack (1-4, 1-3 NE10) | #RV LIU Post (4-0, 4-0 NE10)
Location: Merrimack Stadium | North Andover, Mass.
Attendance: 1,305
Duration: 2:46
Rapid Recap
- After a scoreless first quarter that saw both teams commit turnovers, Merrimack's defense was the story of the first 20 minutes of the game. The Warriors forced a fumble, then a punt, and then came up with a goal-line stand that ended with a missed field goal
- LIU Post ultimately took the lead midway through the second quarter, then took advantage of an interception to add another quick score before closing out the half with another touchdown to take a 20-0 lead into the break.
- Both teams traded scores to start the third quarter – including a three-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a Cody Demers touchdown from sophomore Cam Hayes – and then it was sophomore Caleb Holden providing a spark with an interception deep in Merrimack territory to keep the Warriors within 20 points.
- The Pioneers found the end zone once more early in the fourth quarter to take what was their largest lead at the time, but the hosts showed incredible resiliency late in regulation. They scored on two more passing strikes from Hayes to both freshman Anthony Norcia and then redshirt junior Marquis Spence as time expired to become the first team to put up not only double-digit points, but also a season-high 20 points against a defense that was yielding less than seven points per game coming into the day.
Highlights
- Despite the gaudy defensive numbers that LIU Post brought into the game, Merrimack still wound up with nearly 350 yards of total offense (345), with 308 of them coming in the air.
- While the Warriors gave the ball away a season-high three times, they also had two takeaways of their own, one shy of their season-high.
- Merrimack finished 8-of-18 on third downs (44.4%) while keeping the Pioneers a tick over 50 percent on their own third-down conversion tries (52.9%). Merrimack also matched its season high with two fourth-down conversions and averaged 4.42 yards per play.
- Redshirt sophomore Michael Mercuri was arguably the Warriors' top overall player on the day; he blew by his previous career high with 19 tackles on the day (11 solo, eight assisted) and factored into the strip sack in the first fumble that gave the Warriors the ball back. He was credited for 1-1/2 tackles and a quarterback hurry, as well.
- Sophomore Bryce Smith also was in double-digit tackle figures with a career-high 11 stops (8 solo), while Holden finished with an interception and redshirt sophomore Jovan Grant totaled one sack and six tackles in addition to the fumble recovery.
- After entering the game in relief last Saturday, Hayes had his best day in terms of passing yards with 308 of them, completing 21-of-41 (51.2%) with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
- Demers was his top target, as the senior captain hauled in six catches for 137 total yards and the score, joining Spence and Norcia with touchdown catches.
Up Next
Merrimack will enjoy a one-week respite during the bye week before returning to action with the first of back-to-back road trips on Saturday, Oct. 13, at Stonehill. Kickoff from W.B. Mason Stadium is set for 6 p.m.
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