Links: Box Score
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – A dominant second quarter and a pair of long returns lifted the Merrimack College football team past Wagner, 35-26, Saturday afternoon at Hameline Field.
Jacari Carter's 76-yard punt return for a touchdown and
Darion McKenzie's 50-yard kick return jump started the Merrimack offense, as it put up 14 points in the second quarter to claim a 21-13 lead that it did not relinquish.
Westin Elliott completed 21 of his 31 passes for 231 yards and a trio of scores, as the Warriors enjoyed a successful air raid on the road.
Off the heels of an 11-tackle effort against Central Connecticut,
Rodney Samson was all over the field again. He had a career-high 23 tackles, including 14 solo tackles and two for a loss. The 23 tackles were the second most in a single game in Merrimack program history. He was just one behind Todd Lowe, who set the mark at 24 on Oct. 30, 2004.
The Essentials
Score: Merrimack 35, Wagner 26
Records: Merrimack (5-4, 2-3 NEC) | Wagner (0-9, 0-5 NEC)
How It Happened
- Merrimack's defense flexed its muscles on the opening drive of the game for Wagner, as it could not reach midfield and was forced to punt. Carter set the Warriors up with excellent field position off a 24-yard return near midfield.
- Elliott slung the ball around the yard on the ensuing drive with receptions by four different receivers, capped by a touchdown strike to Tyler Roberts from 13 yards away. Elliott pump faked a few times in the pocket, then linked with Roberts at the back of the end zone.
- The Seahawks came back after the score and went down the field themselves on a lengthy drive that ended with a touchdown.
- The Warriors could not get much going when they got the ball back and punted after a three-and-out. Wagner took all 3:26 of clock time left in the first quarter to reach pay dirt on a 69-yard drive, but missed the extra point to make the game 13-7 after 15 minutes.
- Wagner's momentum was quickly stopped to begin the second quarter. Elliott and company flew 68 yards in just seven plays to knot the score. Carter had three catches on the drive for 30 yards, including the scoring play, where Elliott dropped one in to the wide receiver in the corner of the near end zone. Lliam Davis made the extra point to stake Merrimack to the lead.
- A charge downfield was made by the Seahawks to try and retake the lead, but a bad snap over the quarterback's head at the Merrimack 23 squashed any hopes of that.
- With 5:18 to play in the half, the Warriors drove into opposing territory again, but an interception at the Seahawk 15-yard-line stopped it short.
- A quick stop by the Merrimack defense, including a third down tackle from Samson, forced Wagner to punt it away from its own 37 with about a minute to play.
- In an unusual, but exceptionally smart play, Carter positioned himself under the punt at the Warrior 24 and acted as if he had called for fair catch, but never actually signaled for it. When the ball landed in his hands, he paused for a moment, then took off the other way. When the dust had settled, Carter celebrated with his teammates in the Wagner end zone after a 76-yard return to push the lead to 21-13 before the halftime gun.
- A blocked punt early in the third quarter gave Wagner the ball at Merrimack's 23, but a key play kept it from scoring. On a snap from Merrimack's six-yard-line, Darrell Dorrah got into the backfield and punched the ball free on a rushing attempt that Merrimack recovered.
- On the second play of the ensuring drive, another wild play occurred. Elliott was picked off at the Merrimack 26, but Johnny Rosario knocked the ball loose on the return and the Warriors ended up with the ball back at its own eight.
- The Warriors eventually punted towards midfield and Wagner drove back to the end zone on four plays to make it a 21-20 score in favor of the visitors.
- It was not a one-point game for long. On the kickoff, McKenzie took off down the sideline for a 50-yard return to the Wagner 40. Two plays later, Elliott found LJ Robinson near the 30, then the wide receiver busted through an upwards of seven tackles to trudge his way to the goal line to push the lead to 28-20 midway through the quarter.
- Wagner had a 12-play drive after the highlight reel score to look to tie the game, but Anthony Witherstone's coverage on a 4th and six play from the Merrimack nine-yard-line halted the scoring attempt.
- Another crucial fourth down attempt came around on the hosts' next drive. Early in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks got the ball to the Merrimack 27 for a 4th and six. Wagner ran the ball, but got stuffed two yards short thanks to a tackle from Wes Matthews.
- The Seahawks were able to break through on their next possession, as they went 60 yards on 14 plays to, but failed the two-point conversion to bring the score to 28-26 with 4:15 to play in the fourth.
- Merrimack drove into Wagner territory on the next drive, but stalled and was forced to punt with just over two and a half minutes to play. Cole Peterson was able to pin it inside the 20 to the Wagner 16 to create a long field for the Seahawks to take the ball for the lead.
- After a first down rush for six yards, Witherstone undercut a pass to the near side around the 30-yard-line and snagged it before he ran 29 yards untouched for the pick six.
- On a last ditch effort, Wagner went for it on 4th and 18 at its own 24, but Jordan Riggs had a strip sack that was scooped up by MelTeon Davis to all but put an end to the game and give Merrimack its second NEC win of the season.
Individual Highlights
- Carter led Merrimack's receiving core with eight catches and 64 yards.
- Rosario topped the Warriors in receiving yards with 69 on his four catches, including a long of 54.
- Darian Davis topped all Merrimack rushers with 26 yards on four carries.
- Chiebuka Aduaka registered a career-high nine tackles.
- The pick six was the second of the season for Witherstone.
Notes & Numbers
- Merrimack out gained Wagner 231-36 through the air.
- The Warriors held Wagner to a .333 conversion percentage on third down.
- Davis made all five extra points he attempted on the day.
Up next
The Warriors travel to Loretto, Pa. Saturday for another NEC road game against Saint Francis. Kick off is set for 12:00 pm.
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