Links: Box Score //
Highlights //
Dan Curran Comments
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – For the first time in the history of the Merrimack College football program, the Warriors have won consecutive games at the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision level. Behind a nine-yard rushing touchdown for sophomore quarterback
Christian Carter with less than four minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Warriors rallied for a 24-21 win over visiting Presbyterian College at Duane Stadium on Saturday. Neither team led by more than one possession for the entire afternoon as Merrimack overcame a fourth-quarter score by the Bose Hose that gave the visitors a brief advantage.
Merrimack has now topped Delaware State and Presbyterian in consecutive weeks, collecting victories over opponents for the MEAC and Big South conferences, respectively. Merrimack now has three wins over FCS programs in school history, and improved to 2-4 on the year against FCS foes.
Carter finished the day with 344 total yards from scrimmage – 287 through the air and 57 on the ground, playing a part in all three of Merrimack's touchdowns on the day. Redshirt-senior wide receiver
Marquis Spence enjoyed another superb effort as well, posting new career highs in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns following a 12-reception day, totaling 118 yards
The Essentials
Score: Merrimack 24, Presbyterian 21
Records: Merrimack (4-4) | Presbyterian (0-8)
Location: North Andover, Mass. | Duane Stadium
How It Happened
- The Blue Hose started off quickly, taking their third offensive play of the day to the end zone as Presbyterian went ahead, 7-0, following a 70-yard rushing score
- Merrimack responded with a 12-play drive that went for over 80 yards and lasted nearly 70 minutes. Spence hauled in four catches on the drive – including a 10-yard touchdown to close the drive – while the Warriors benefitted from a third-down penalty that kept Merrimack on the Presbyterian side of the field. Following the extra point by graduate student Corey Resendes, the Warriors tied the game at 7-7
- After all was quiet for the remainder of the first quarter, and start of the second, the action picked up in the latter half of the opening stanza. Merrimack only need four minutes to march 82 yards once more, ending with the first career touchdown grab for sophomore Tyler Roberts. Facing a thid-and-17, Carter stood his ground in the pocket and launched a deep ball into the arms of classmate Johnny Rosario to complete one of the team's most impressive third-down conversions of the year. Roberts' scoring reception came just two plays later
- Presbyterian had one last trick in its pocket. The Blue Hose had just 68 seconds to work with in the second quarter when they took the final possession of the half. After a timeout saved Presbyterian from an intentional grounding penalty ending the half, the Big South representatives launched a Hail Mary into the end zone that was hauled in, evening the score at 14-14
- Neither team scored in the third, ushering on the final 15 minutes. The fourth began with a Resendes 31-yard field goal, breaking the deadlock. Presbyterian responded, however, orchestrating a 10-play drive that resulted in a 28-yard passing score. With 7:22 on the clock, Merrimack faced a 21-17 deficit
- Carter and the Warriors had the last laugh; Starting at their own 30, Carter began the drive with an 11-yard scamper. On a third-and-13, the right-handed signal caller then found Spence for a 20-yard gain that moved play onto the Blue Hose's side of the field. Later in the drive, sophomore Anthony Norcia found space in the middle of the field for a 23-yard play that left Merrimack within nine yards of the goal line. On the ensuing play, Carter dropped back, but quickly found an alley off to his right, sprinting untouched across the goal line for the game-winning touchdown
Individual Highlights
- Carter threw for a season-best 287 yards, completing 64.7 percent of his best passes for his best completion percentage of the season against a FCS opponent. Carter's passing numbers on the day resulted in a new single-season high for the second-year throw; the Baltimore, Md. native ended the day with 1,757 passing yards on the year
- He also led Merrimack's rushing attack with 57 yards on 11 carries for over five yards-per-handoff. Sophomores Jamari Venter and Matt Brehon combined for 62 yards on 14 carries, as well
- Spence posted his second game with at least 10 catches and 100 yards of the season. He moved into the NEC lead for receptions, finishing the afternoon with 63 on the season. He also set new single-season career highs in both receiving yards (657) and receiving touchdowns (7)
- On defense, redshirt-junior Michael Mercuri led Merrimack – as has become the norm in 2019. Mercuri led Merrimack in total tackles (9) and solo stops (6)
- Freshman Nicholas Lenon impressed on the defensive line, recording a hurry in addition to his team-best 1.5 tackles-for-loss
- Redshirt-junior Maverick Gamble emerged to lead the secondary on Saturday, collecting his first career interception that occurred right on the doorstep of Presbyterian reaching the red zone
Notes & Numbers
- Saturday's game marked the first-ever meeting between Merrimack and Presbyterian
- Play on third down continued to be an indicator of Merrimack's success: the Warriors converted 8-of-14 third-down conversions while Merrimack forced fourth down on 8-of-13 third-down attempts for the Blue Hose
- Merrimack was a perfect 3-for-3 in the red zone
- The Warriors' all-time record against FCS competition improved to 3-10, with wins over Wagner, Delaware State and Presbyterian on their resume
Up Next
Merrimack travels to University of Rhode Island on Saturday, battling the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) representatives at 1 p.m. in Kingston, R.I.
