Football Announces 2023 Schedule

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College football team and head coach Dan Curran anncouced its 2023 schedule Monday, which includes five home games set to be played at Duane Stadium, two matchups against an Patriot League opponents and one FBS opponent.

Merrimack, which is set for its fifth season at the Division I FCS level and have finished their reclassification period, looking for a chance to make a trip to the playoff. The Warriors finished last season with an 8-3 record, which tied the program record for wins. Merrimack reached the Northeast Conference championship game against Saint Francis (PA). Curran and his squad received votes multiple times in the FCS Football Coaches Poll. The Warriors will return 18 out of their 22 starters next season.

Merrimack opens up their campaign with a trip to Worcester to take on FCS powerhouse the College of Holy Cross on Sep. 2 in their first Patriot League matchup. They will then return home to take on their second Patriot League opponent, Lehigh University, on Sep. 9 at Duane Stadium. The two-game home stand to begin the fall continues Sep. 16 when Merrimack hosts Virginia University of Lynchburg for a non-conference matchup.

The Warriors will begin conference play on a two-game road stint as they take on the Wagner College on Sep. 23, followed by Sacred Heart University on Sep. 30.  The Warriors will return home to take on NEC newcomer, the Stonehill College on Oct. 7 before entering their bye week.

Merrimack comes out of the bye Oct. 21 with a road matchup at Long Island University. The squad will stay on the road for a NEC Conference Championship rematch against the defending champions Saint Francis University on Oct. 28 in Loretto. The Warriors will then take on their first ever FBS opponent as they take a trip to Amherst to take on the Minutemen of UMass on Nov. 4. Merrimack will finish the regular season up with a two-game home stand at Duane Stadium against Central Connecticut on Nov. 11 and then Duquesne University on Nov. 18.

The Warriors are returning a bunch of their last year's starts, including All-NEC first team defensive back Garry Rosemond Jr who proved to have a stellar performance on the defense this season for the Warriors. Earning two straight NEC weekly honors this season, he finishes up the season with 30 tackles, four interceptions and one kick return touchdown in the game against Assumption College. His four interceptions ranked him second in the conference. The Warriors are also returning All-NEC second team tight end Pat Conroy who finished the season with 233 receiving yards and six touchdowns. His season high in reception yards was 58 against Saint Francis in the NEC Championship game. Last season, Conroy had three touchdowns in one game against Central Connecticut State University. Quarterback Gavin McCusker found the tight end four times in the last two games of the season. The Warriors are also welcoming back All-NEC second team defensive lineman Brandon Roberts who was a big part of the defensive line success this season for the Warriors. Playing in all eleven games this season, finishing up the season with 42 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 10.5 tackles for loss. His 10.5 tackles for a loss ranked him sixth overall in the conference and finished with a PFF grade of 90.3, the second highest for an interior DL in the nation.