Links: Box Score
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Playing in front of a Merrimack College Athletics record 10,172 fans at Duane Stadium, the Merrimack College football program celebrated Homecoming Weekend presented by Dunkin' when the Warriors hosted Bryant University on Saturday afternoon. The contest marked the program's first home game against a NCAA FCS opponent during its inaugural FCS season, playing the Bulldogs in the Warriors' third game of the year against Northeast Conference (NEC) competition.
In the game that followed, the Warriors jumped out to a 14-7 lead in the second quarter after sophomore
Christian Carter connected with redshirt-senior
Marquis Spence for a 33-yard score. Merrimack was tied with Bryant, 17-17, midway through the third quarter before the visiting Bulldogs scored the game's final touchdown late in the third to emerge victorious.
Festivities included a fireworks display during pregame, the national anthem sung by American Idol alumna Ayla Brown and a halftime ceremony that featured a banner-unveiling ceremony for the two-time national champion men's lacrosse team.
The Essentials
Score: Bryant 24,
Merrimack 17
Records: Merrimack (2-4) | Bryant (1-5)
Location: Duane Stadium | North Andover, Mass. Â
Time of Game: 2:59
Attendance: 10,172
How It Happened
- Bryant got on the board first, taking advantage on a Merrimack miscue following a Bryant punt. The Bulldogs took over at the Warriors' 21-yard line, and scored on their first play to take a 7-0 lead
- Merrimack answered right back, orchestrating a 10-play drive that ended with the tying score. On the drive, Merrimack converted three third downs via the ground game, including a 14-yard scamper by Carter that ended with a touchdown. Carter's run was particularly impressive, plowing over a Bryant defender to get into the endzone.
- It was Carter's arm that resulted in Merrimack's second score; four minutes into the second quarter, the second-year quarterback dropped a throw into the arms of Spence at the goal line to give Merrimack its first lead, 14-7
- The Warriors' first drive of the second half resulted in points. Redshirt-sophomore running back Malachi McFadden got the drive going with back-to-back carries resulting in 38 yards. Merrimack reached the red zone before Bryant's defense stopped the drive there, and graduate student Corey Resendes kicked a field goal to tie the game
- Six rushing plays and a 39-yard completion gave Bryant the lead back, 24-17, with less than two minutes left in the third quarter. Neither team scored in the fourth, with Merrimack's best chance coming on the day's final drive. Carter completed two passes to start the drive, accounting for 18 yards. Merrimack broke into Bryant territory after a 10-yard scamper for Carter, but the Bulldogs held there to hold on
Individual Highlights
- Carter posted his best rushing day of the year, totaling a team-best 81 yards. He added 185 yards through the air
- Six of Carter's 16 completions went to Spence, who finished with 89 yards and another touchdown reception. Sophomore Johnny Rosario added five catches for 52 yards
- On the other side of the ball, redshirt-junior Michael Mercuri led the way with 11 total tackles from his middle linebacker position
- Sophomore Cory Hagerman registered one of his best career performances. The second-year player set his career high in tackles (9), tackles-for-loss (1.5) and sacks (1.5)
- After 3.5 tackles-for-loss last week, redshirt-junior Jake Ragusa added three more stops behind the line of scrimmage
- Starting cornerback Darion McKenzie took over punting duties as well on Saturday, averaging 37.0 yards per kick including a long of 47
Notes & Numbers
- Spence tied his career high for touchdown receptions with six on Saturday, and with 45 receptions he now needs just three more to create a new single-season high
- The attendance figure on Saturday bested the first-ever game at Duane Stadium as the highest attendance in school history. Over 10,000 arrived at campus for an athletic event for the first time ever
Up Next
The Warriors have a bye week coming up before returning to the gridiron on Saturday, Oct. 19, at Delaware State.
