Football Falls to Duquesne in NEC Championship Game

NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – The Merrimack College football team fell in its final game of the season on Saturday afternoon, losing to Duquesne University, 26-14. Tyvon Edmonds Jr. ran the ball for 77 yards and a touchdown in the loss. Chiebuka Aduaka led the team with seven tackles, including four of them for a loss of 19 yards.

The Basics
Score: Duquesne 24, Merrimack 14
Records: Duquesne (7-4, 6-1 NEC), Merrimack 5-6, 4-3 NEC)

Rapid Recap

• After back-to-back punts from both sides to start the afternoon, the Dukes broke through with a touchdown on their second possession of the day. Duquesne would head into the second quarter with that seven-point advantage. The Warriors would respond in the second quarter, going on a eight-play drive, capped off with a Malakai Anthony 20-yard run into the end zone, tying the game at seven with 10-minutes to go before halftime. The Dukes would score again to go back up by seven. After a muffed punt by Duquesne was recovered by Merrimack, the Warriors took the ball over on the Duquesne 44 yard-line. It would take 11 plays, but finally Edmonds Jr. would find the end zone with 22 seconds until halftime. Darion McKenzie would get a pick right before the halftime whistle blew. The game would be tied at 14 at the half.
• Merrimack started off with the ball in the second half and was forced to punt. The Warrior defense then stopped Duquesne resulting in a punt. After no results on their next offensive possession the Merrimack defense took the field. The Dukes would score a touchdown and miss the extra point to go up by six with just over three minutes to play in the third quarter. The Warrior offense would struggle to get anything going the rest of the quarter and would head into the four still down six. With six minutes to play in the game Duquesne would find the end zone for the final time of the game, going up 12 after a failed two-point conversion. The Merrimack offense had two opportunities to score, just could not get in the end zone.

Notes and Figures

• Aduaka also lead the Warriors in sacks with one and a half on the day.
• Donovan Wadley was the top Warrior receiver with three receptions for 13 yards.
• Anthony also ran for 43 yards, which is a career-high.