Links: Box Score
DOVER, Del. – The Merrimack College football program led at halftime, 24-21, over the Delaware State University Hornets on Saturday and proceeded to pitch a second-half shutout, defeating the host Hornets by a 30-21 margin at Alumni Field in Dover, Del.
The victory marks Merrimack's first of the season against a NCAA Football Championship Subdivision opponent in the program's inaugural season as a FCS program. The Warriors picked up their second-ever win against a FCS foe, joining the 2013 outfit of Warriors who took down Wagner six years ago.
A back-and-forth first half saw Merrimack answer each scoring drive that Delaware State had, tying the game at 21-21 following a 42-yard touchdown run for redshirt-sophomore
Jamari Venter. With 56 seconds remaining in the half, Merrimack drove inside the Hornets' 15-yard where graduate student
Corey Resendes kicked what proved to be the game-winning field goal. Resendes added a pair of makes in the second half to create the 30-21 final.
The Warriors' defense impressed in the final 30 minutes, keeping Delaware State off the scoreboard. The first four drives for the hosts in the second half lasted four plays or fewer, and the final drive of the day ended with a strip-sack and fumble, recovered by redshirt-senior
Enrique McFarlane to put an exclamation point on the victory.
The Essentials
Score: Merrimack 30, Delaware State 21
Records: Merrimack (3-4) | Delaware State (1-6)
Location: Alumni Stadium | Dover, Del. Â
How It Happened
- Delaware State took the ball to start the day and marched 77 yards down the field to score the game's first touchdown. After Merrimack's offense punted on its first possession, the Warriors defense forced a fumble on the Hornets' next opportunity with the ball. Sophomore Christian Carter took over, finding redshirt-senior Marquis Spence for an acrobatic catch on third-and-seven, putting the ball at the Delaware State 13-yard line. Two players later, Carter lofted a ball up to sophomore Johnny Rosario who hauled in a one-handed grab to make it a 7-7 contest
- Delaware State took advantage of a short punt by Merrimack, scoring on just two plays to take a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter saw Merrimack fight back once more, with Carter doing it with his legs on Merrimack's second scoring drive. He used an 18-yard scamper to escape a third-and-10 situation, and then scored on an 11-yard run just a few plays later
- One play later, the Hornets hit a 72-yard touchdown pass, retaking their seven-point lead. Like a classic boxing match, the Warriors had another answer. At the midway point of the second quarter, redshirt-sophomore Jamari Venter took a carry and went 42 yards to the house, bring the score even at 21-all.
- Merrimack scored once more to take a three-point lead into halftime. With 56 seconds left in the half, the Warriors took over at their own 44-yard line. The key play of the drive came on a third down, when Carter threw to sophomore Anthony Norcia for 25 yards, bringing the ball to the Delaware State 14-yard line. Two players later graduate student Corey Resendes kicked a 30-yard field goal to give Merrimack the lead at the half
- Merrimack controlled the possession in the second half. The Warriors went on a 14-play drive to start the third quarter, bleeding over six minutes off the clock and putting three more points on the scoreboard. The Warriors' first drive of the fourth quarter ended in similar fashion; Merrimack needed 10 plays to go 50 yards, and Resendes booted home a field goal that made it a two-possession game
- Redshirt-junior Jake Ragusa had the sack and forced fumble that ended the game, posting his his second sack of the afternoon on a second-down play for the Hornets. McFarlane scooped the ball up and took it 38 yards down the field, nearly scoring a defensive touchdown in the process
Individual Highlights
- Merrimack's offense was led by Carter, who collected 267 all-purpose yards including a team-best 73 yards on the ground. He threw for nearly 200 yards and collected one of Merrimack's two rushing scores on the day
- Venter's 42-yard run to score Merrimack's third touchdown of the day marked the longest run of his career. He averaged 9.9 yards per carry on 10 attempts
- Merrimack's receiving core featured a six-catch, 60-yard performance from Spence, and another highlight-reel play from Rosario, who caught Merrimack's lone passing score. Norcia added four grabs for 56 yards, putting forth one of his best efforts of the year
- On defense, redshirt-junior Michael Mercuri led the way with eight solo stop and 10 total tackles; he added one of Merrimack's four sacks
- Ragusa was superb again, leading Merrimack in sacks (2.0) and tackles-for-loss (2). Over his last three weeks, Ragusa has 8.5 tackles-for-loss
- Senior Robert Hulse led the secondary with a pair of pass break-ups
Notes & Numbers
- Merrimack won the battle in the trenches; the Warriors' defense finished with four sacks while the Warriors' offensive line did not allow a sack on the afternoon
- The visitors also dominated play on third down; Merrimack converted 50 percent of its chances (9-18) while DSU went just 2-for-11 on third down
- In the turnover battle, Merrimack played a clean game while forcing a pair of fumbles to win the takeway battle, 2-0
- Merrimack improved to 1-4 this season against FCS competition; Three of those four defeats were decided by seven points or fewer
- With six receptions, Spence set a new career high with 51 catches on the year
Up Next
Merrimack hosts Presbyterian on Saturday at Duane Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on campus.
