Football Goes for Fifth Win of the Season at Stonehill

MERRIMACK COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Game #8 at Stonehill, Saturday, 1 p.m. / Live Video / Live Audio / Live Stats / Game Notes (.pdf)

WARRIORS VISIT STONEHILL COLLEGE SATURDAY

Game 8 - Merrimack College Warriors (4-3) vs. Stonehill College Skyhawks (2-5)
Saturday, October 25, 2008, W.B. Mason Stadium

UPDATE
Merrimack looks to make it two straight road wins when they visit Stonehill Saturday. The Warriors spoiled Bentley’s homecoming with a 27-11 win last week in Waltham.

SERIES
The Warriors are 7-5 lifetime against the Skyhawks. They lost last season 24-14 in North Andover. Merrimack won the last meeting in Easton, 16-3 on September 1, 2006.

BEATING BENTLEY
Merrimack’s 27-11 win over Bentley was its first win over the Falcons since the 2004 season and its fourth win at Bentley in school history.

OFFENSE EARNING NATIONAL MARKS
Merrimack’s offense, which averages 435.3 yards per game and 287.4 passing yards, ranks 21st and 14th respectively among all Division II schools in the country. The Warriors are ranked second in the conference in yards per game and first in passing yards.

O’BRIEN GETS TWO MORE PICKS
Senior defensive back Mike O’Brien intercepted two more passes in the win at Bentley, marking the second time this season he has recorded two picks in a game. His five INTs for the season rank second in the conference. O’Brien earned NE-10 Freshman of the Week for the second time this season.

WATTS LIGHTS IT UP
With Chris Laham out for the remainder of the season, junior wideout Jeremiah Watts has stepped in and stepped up.Watts leads the Warriors with 47 catches for 651 yards and six touchowns. He is second in the conference in total receptions and first in receptions per game. He ranks 14th in the nation in receptions per game.

UPDATING THE RECORD BOOK

Merrimack set a school record with 647 total offensive yards in the 48-42 loss to Saint Anselm. The Warriors tallied 358 yards rushing and 289 passing. The 358 rushing yards rank fourth all-time in school history for a single game.
SUOZZO A DOUBLE THREAT
Freshman J.R. Suozzo threw for 289 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 132 and three scores against Saint Anselm. Against Pace, the freshman threw for 246 yards and scored three touchdowns while rushing for 59 yards and an additional score. For his efforts against Pace, he was named the Northeast-10 Freshman and Player of the Week. In three games, Suozzo has scored five passing and four rushing touchdowns, leading Merrimack to a 2-1 record. Suozzo also earned Freshman of the Week honors after leading the Warriors to a 27-11 win over Bentley.

JOHNSON AND SUOZZO RACK UP THE RUSHING YARDS
Richard Johnson and J.D. Suozzo rushed for 160 and 132 yards respectively against Saint Anselm, getting 292 of the team’s 358 total rushing yards. Johnson has a team-high 487 rushing yards this season, third in the conference, while Suozzo has 234 in three games.

SURPASSING LAST YEAR’S OFFENSE
Through just seven games, the Warriors have already rushed for more yards than they did last season. They have 1,035 rushing yards this season compared with 950 last season in 10 games. Last year’s team recorded 3,576 total yards. This year’s team already has 3,047 yards.

ALTERNATING WINS
Merrimack has alternated between a win and a loss in its first seven games of the season.

NUMEROUS PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS
Through seven weeks, Merrimack players have received seven Northeast-10 weekly awards, four ECAC awards, and two D2Football.com National Defensive Player of the Week honors. See page 3 for details.

OFFENSIVE LINE GETS ITS DUE
Merrimack’s offensive line did not allow a sack against Pace or Saint Anselm. They have allowed 10 sacks this season, third fewest in the NE-10.

O’BRIEN NATIONAL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mike O’Brien became the second Warrior to be named the D2Football.com National Defensive Player of the Week this season, joining J.D. Wild. O'Brien posted two interceptions in the fourth quarter win over Pace. His second interception came on Pace's final drive and halted their progress with 28 seconds left.

RANKINE, BROWN, AND WILD RACK UP THE TACKLES
Jordan Rankine leads the Warriors with 63 tackles (6th in NE-1) and has added one interception. Right behind him are Shane Brown, who has 62
tackles and 1.5 sacks, and J.D. Wild, who also has 62 tackles and two forced fumbles.

DEFENSE, DEFENSE
Merrimack’s defense was very instrumental in the win over Pace. The Warriors notched eight sacks, led by 2.5 from Daniel Sherr and two from Chuck Manthei. They also forced two interceptions, both by Mike O’Brien. O’Brien’s second pick came in the game’s final minute with Pace driving on a possible game-winning drive. The Warriors are second in the conference with 25 total sacks.

JACKSON A TRIPLE THREAT
Preseason All-American Andrew Jackson has emerged as a triple threat. He has excelled on defense, tallying 38 tackles, three interceptions , one fumble recovery and one sack and was named the NE-10 Defensive Player of the Week after getting two INTs at Bryant. On special teams, Jackson has returned one punt and one kick off for touchdowns this season. Against Southern Connecticut, he made his 2008 debut on offense, catching five passes for 31 yards.

SHERR AND JOHNSON AFTER THE QUARTERBACK
Freshman Tony Johnson leads the Warriors with 5 sacks. Johnson was named the Northeast-10 Freshman of the Week after getting three sacks against Husson. Daniel Sherr is right behind him with 4.5 sacks this season after getting two at Pace.

SMALLS IS BIG
Freshman tailback Anthony Smalls rushed for a career high 135 yards on 25 carries in the 30-28 win over Assumption. Smalls scampered to the end zone from 32 yards out for his first collegiate touchdown. The Natick native was named the Northeast-10 Freshman of the Week for his efforts.

TRI-CAPTAINS:
Seniors J.D. Wild, Jackson and Laham will serve as the captains for the 2008 season. Jackson was also a captain last season as a junior.

CAUSING TURNOVERS
The Warriors forced four turnovers at Bryant on September 13. In addition to Jackson’s two interceptions, captain J.D. Wild forced two fumbles, which were recovered by Anthony Taylor and Jordan Rankine.

LEONE ATTACKS THE RECORD BOOKS
Taking advantage of the no-huddle, shotgun offense, sophomore QB Kurt Leone has thrown for over 300 yards twice in three games, moving into fourth and fifth place in Merrimack history for passing yards in a game.

DEFENSE IN THE RED ZONE
Facing a Division I Bryant offense that racked up 35 and 39 points in its first two games of the season, Merrimack limited the Bulldogs to just 20 points. Bryant was just 4-for-7 in red-zone opportunities, scoring a touchdown twice. Andrew Jackson had two interceptions in the end zone.

LAHAM MAKES HISTORY
With his 69-yard TD reception on the first play of the game against Assumption, senior captain Chris Laham tied Elfren Quiles for the school record for career TD receptions with 23. Laham is second all-time for most career TDs at Merrimack with 25. He posted 13 scores in 2007, one short of Quiles’ record for a single season.

RECORDS WATCH:
Laham tied Elfren Quiles for the school record of 23 career TD receptions. Right behind Laham and Quiles is Chris McNeill who has 16 career TD catches. Laham also needs 24 more points, which equals four touchdowns, to tie Calvin Bryant’s record of 168 career points. He needs three touchdowns to tie for the most total scores in school history.

LEONE DEBUTS IN STYLE
Making his first collegiate start, sophomore quarterback Kurt Leone debuted in style, as he was 25 for 34 with 362 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-7 win over Husson. For his efforts, Leone was named the Northeast-10 Player of the Week. Running the no-huddle offense, Leone threw for 334 yards in the first half. Leone’s 362 passing yards rank fifth all-time in Merrimack history for yards in a game. Leone replaced Colin Temple, who was the first quarterback in school history to appear in every game in each of his four seasons.

PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN:
Defensive back/kick returner Andrew Jackson was named to the Consensus Draft Services Preseason Division II All-American first team as a kick returner. Jackson, who has two INTs and an 81-yard kick return for a touchdown already this season, was a Northeast-10 Conference first team selection, an All-Region second team honoree, a New England Football Writers selection, and an ECAC all-star in 2007. Jackson is one of only five Northeast-10 Conference players to be named to the CDS squads and is the lone first team selection. Southern Connecticut State had three players named to the team, led by second team selection Jermon Freeman, while Assumption’s Dustin Zitzmann was an honorable mention.

COMING UP:
Merrimack returns home to face unbeaten American International on November 1. Before the game, Senior Day festivities will be held to honor the class of 2009.

ABOUT STONEHILL:
It’s been an up-and-down year for Stonehill. The Skyhawks began the year with an incredible come-from-behind 14-13 win over Division I Wagner. But they dropped five straight following that game before defeating Assumption last week. Overall, Stonehill is 2-5 and 1-4 in the Northeast-10.

LAST MEETING:
The Merrimack football team saw its three-game winning streak snapped by Northeast-10 Conference rival Stonehill College 24-14 on Senior Night at a chilly Warrior Field Friday night. After a scoreless first quarter, the Warriors struck first as Colin Temple hit classmate Ryan Salter in the end zone for a one-yard touchdown pass. Temple broke his own school record for touchdowns in a season with his 22nd of the season on that score. With the score tied at seven entering the fourth quarter, Cruz Parsons found JJ Niamkey for a 39-yard touchdown to put the Skyhawks ahead 14-7. The Warriors marched right down the field, evening the score at 14, as Mike Young capped a 10 play, 64 yard drive with a three-yard scoring run. But Stonehill came right back, as Jeffery Payne returned a squib kick 74-yards for a touchdown to give the Skyhawks the lead right back. On the Warriors’ first play from scrimmage, Temple went deep for Chris Laham, but he would be intercepted for the fourth time in the game, this time by Jon Kilborn. Temple, who owns every Merrimack passing record in a season and career, did not have his best day, as he was intercepted five times and sacked four times, while throwing for one score on 23-of-44 passing for 260 yards. He completed passes to nine different receivers, none of them being Laham, the Warriors’ touchdown leader. Stonehill’s Jon Kilborn was the story in this game as the cornerback recorded 14 tackles, three interceptions, and broke up two passes.

WARRIORS ON THE AIR:
The Merrimack Athletics Department has teamed up with B2 Networks to deliver live broadband broadcasts. Warrior games that will be streamed online include all home football, basketball and hockey broadcasts. Games can be purchased on a season or single game basis.

WEEK 1 RECAP - MERRIMACK 42, HUSSON 7
Making his first career start, Kurt Leone threw for 334 yards in the first half as Merrimack routed Husson College 42-7 Saturday afternoon at a humid Warrior Field. The win is head coach John Perry’s first as Merrimack’s head coach. Using a no-huddle attack, Leone connected with six different receivers in the first half, including four for passing touchdowns, two of them to Chris Laham. The Warriors took the opening kickoff and marched right down the field as Leone connected with Jawara Loftis on a 24-yard pass to cap off an eight play, 63-yard drive. Moments later, Leone found Jeremiah Watts in the end zone from 25 yards out, and it was quickly 14-0 Merrimack just 5:54 into the first quarter. Leone then found Laham for two scores, one for 22 yards and the other for 29 yards, before Richard Johnson raced 79 yards down the right sideline to give the Warriors a 35-0 lead heading into halftime. After Justin Lindle got Husson on the board with a one-yard rush, preseason All-American Andrew Jackson answered right back returning the ensuing kickoff 81 yards for the touchdown. Laham finished with 153 yards receiving on 11 catches. He tied Elfren Quiles on the Merrimack all-time scoring list with 23 career touchdowns. Johnson rushed for 99 yards on 11 carries, while freshman Anthony Smalls debuted with 78 rushing yards. Loftis finished with five catches for 85 yards.

WEEK 2 RECAP - BRYANT 20, MERRIMACK 7
Seven turnovers doomed the Merrimack football team as Division I Bryant handed the Warriors their first loss 20-7 Saturday afternoon in front of 5,530 fans at Bulldog Stadium. Down 20-0 in the fourth quarter, J.D. Wild forced his first of two fumbles off a Jerrell Smith carry, which was recovered by Jordan Rankine. On the ensuing play, backup quarterback Mike Sarnese connected with Chris Laham in the end zone from 31 yards out to get Merrimack on the board. On Bryant's next drive, Wild forced a fumble off a Lindsey Gamble carry and Anthony Taylor returned it all the way to Bryant's 11-yard line. But Sarnese was picked off in the end zone by Andre Whyte, ending Merrimack's hopes of a comeback.
Merrimack's defense was excellent all day, limiting Bryant to just four scores (two touchdowns) in seven red-zone opportunities while forcing four turnovers. Preseason All-American Andrew Jackson had two interceptions and nine tackles, while Shane Brown tallied 13 tackles. Rankine (12 tackles) and Mike O'Brien (11 tackles) also were in double figures. Merrimack's downfall was on offense, as Kurt Leone and Sarnese were a combined 17-for-50 for 227 yards and four interceptions. Against a Bryant defense that has forced 14 turnovers in its last two games, the running game managed just 51 yards on 21 attempts. With today's touchdown, Laham is one receiving score shy of tying the all-time school record of 23 touchdown receptions.

WEEK 3 RECAP - MERRIMACK 30, ASSUMPTION 28
Jeremiah Watts caught a career-high 12 passes for 184 yards and a touchdown leading Merrimack to a 30-28 win over Assumption College. Merrimack led 30-14 midway through the third quarter, but Assumption stormed back to get within two with under a minute left after Joey Fabiano sprawled out in the end zone for a 19-yard diving touchdown catch. Trailing 30-28, the Greyhounds went for two to tie it, but the Warriors prevented a possible game-tying two point conversion as Shane Brown and Tony Johnson took advantage of the defensive blitz and hurried quarterback Josh Ratacik forcing his throw to be wide of the intended receiver. The Warriors started the game with a bang as the offense ran a double reverse, pitched it back to Leone, and the quarterback found Chris Laham downfield for a 69-yard touchdown pass on the very first play of the game. Following a 40-yard field goal from Sean Garvey, freshman tailback Anthony Smalls scampered 32 yards to the end zone as he reversed fields at the 20 extending the Warriors’ lead to 16-7. Woodard continued his excellent day returning a punt 85 yards for the score, setting the Greyhound record for the longest punt return in school history. The Warriors began the second half with an eight-play, 88-yard drive capped off with an eight yard touchdown rush from Richard Johnson. Assumption (0-3, 0-1 NE-10) did not quit as Woodard added his third score of the game, rushing in from three yards out to cap off a 14-play drive and cutting the lead to 30-22 after a two-point conversion. That set the stage for Assumption’s final drive as they had the ball at their own 30 with 2:54 remaining. On third and 11 at their own 29, Batacik found Gately, who broke numerous tackles and eventually was forced out of bounds after a 48-yard gain. Batacik executed another third down as he found Fabiano in the end zone bringing Assumption within two of the tie and overtime. But the Warriors’ defensive blitz eliminated any chance of an extra period. Leone finished 21-for-35 for 364 passing yards and two touchdowns. Smalls rushed for a career-high 135 yards on 25 carries.

WEEK 4 RECAP - SO. CONNECTICUT 40, MERRIMACK 26
Merrimack saw its two-game home winning streak snapped by Southern Connecticut State 40-26 Saturday afternoon at a rainy homecoming Saturday at Warrior Field. Southern Connecticut built a 20-0 lead in the first 11:38, as John Wiechman picked up two one-yard touchdown runs for the 14-0 lead. After a Richard Johnson fumble which was recovered by Jerome Pinckney, Chris Roberts found Chris Bergeski from 18-yards out giving the Owls the quick 20-0 lead after the extra-point failed. After Merrimack’s next drive was stalled, the Warriors forced the Owls to punt for the first time and preseason All-American Andrew Jackson went untouched, returning the punt 75-yards for Merrimack’s lone score of the first half. It was Jackson’s second punt return for a score this season. Following a field goal from Chris Hazelton and another Johnson fumble, the Warriors went into the locker room at halftime trailing 23-7, as Southern Connecticut racked up 271 yards to just 105 for the Warriors. Following a 58-yard kickoff return from Johnson to start the second half, Kurt Leone connected with Jawara Loftis for an 18-yard touchdown pass, cutting the score to 23-14. After Roberts found Bergeski again in the end zone, this time from 41-yards out, the Warriors responded once again, as Leone and Jeremiah Watts hooked up for a one-yard TD score. Trailing 33-20 in the fourth, Johnson rushed in the end zone from one-yard out, after Leone hit Chris McNeil for a 63-yard pass that got the offense down to the one. The Warriors had one last chance, trailing 33-26 at their own 25, but Leone fumbled on the first play of the drive, ending any possibility of a homecoming victory. Merrimack’s defense had no answer for Wiechman who rushed for 212 yards and three touchdowns on 43 carries. Roberts was 20-for-34 for 262 yards, while Bergeski pulled in seven catches for 125 yards and two scores. Leone was 27-for-63 for 284 yards and was sacked four times. The Warriors gained just 56 net yards rushing. Watts continued his excellent season, catching 10 balls for 80 yards. Making his first appearance on offense this season, Jackson totaled five catches for 31 yards.

WEEK 5 RECAP - MERRIMACK 31, PACE 28
Making his first collegiate appearance, freshman quarterback J.D. Suozzo threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 59 yards and a score, as Merrimack defeated Pace 31-28 Saturday afternoon. The Warriors jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the game’s first 20 minutes, behind a 32-yard field goal from Sean Garvey, a 21-yard TD run from Suozzo, and a four-yard TD pass to Jeremiah Watts. Pace wideout Eric Ortega cut the lead to 17-14 as he tallied two receiving touchdowns in the second quarter, the second with 1:25 remaining to halftime. But Suozzo engineered a six-play, 56-yard drive, capped off with a 19-yard touchdown to Quavari Jackson, his first collegiate score, which sent the Warriors to the locker room with a 24-14 advantage. The Setters scored first in the third as Andrew Kulak hauled in a 14-yard TD pass just :54 seconds into the second half, but the Warriors again responded as Suozzo and Watts connected on a 33-yard score with time winding down in the third quarter. Pace cut the lead to 31-28 as Nathaniel Ford rushed in for six from two yards out with 4:40 remaining, but Merrimack iced most of the clock away, giving the ball back to the Setters on their own one-yard line after a excellent 36-yard punt from Pedrom Tand. Pace moved the ball to its own 35-yard line, but Ray Gregg was intercepted by Mike O’Brien for the second time to seal the win for the Warriors. Suozzo was 21-of-42 for 246 yards and three passing touchdowns to go with 59 rushing yards and one score. Watts caught four passes for 60 yards, while Jawara Loftis added a team-best six catches for 63 yards. Merrimack rushed for 119 yards on the ground, led by 61 from Richard Johnson, while the Setters managed just 14 rushing yards. O’Brien had two interceptions while the Merrimack defense tallied eight sacks, led by 2.5 from Daniel Sherr and two from Chuck Manthei. The Merrimack offensive line was outstanding, meanwhile, allowing zero sacks on the day.

WEEK 6 RECAP - SAINT ANSELM 48, MERRIMACK 42
The Merrimack football team was upset by Saint Anselm College 48-42 Friday night at Warrior Field. The victory snapped a 34-game losing streak for the Hawks that began on September 3, 2005. Merrimack trailed by as much as 21, at 42-21 in the third quarter, but they cut the lead to one score as J.D. Suozzo connected with Patrick Easley from 24 yards out in the final minute of the third. Four minutes later, Suozzo dashed into the end zone from nine yards out and just like that, it was a one score game, at 42-35. Saint Anselm responded immediately as Luke St. Marie rushed 45 yards for the touchdown on just the second play of the drive, extending the lead to 48-35 after the extra point failed. Again, Merrimack responded as Suozzo connected with Jeremiah Watts on fourth and 21 for 53 yards, setting up a first and goal, where the freshman quarterback raced into the end zone for his third touchdown rush of the game, this time from five yards out. Merrimack failed to recover the onside kick but got the ball back on its own 20 after the Hawks went three and out, and punted into the end zone for the touchback. The Warriors nearly pulled off the incredible comeback as Suozzo found Omari Mobley for a gain of 13, getting the ball to the Hawks’ 29 with less than three minutes remaining. But after three incomplete passes and an intentional grounding call, Merrimack was faced with a fourth and 25 at the 42. Suozzo launched it to the end zone, but Ryan DiGregorio could not come down with it, ending any hopes of the comeback. St. Marie set the school record for rushing yards in a game with 241 yards on 28 carries. Wilson led the way at quarterback with 181 rushing yards and 114 passing yards. Saint Anselm set a number of single-game records as a team, including most team rushing yards in a game (439), most yards of total offense (553), total offensive plays (98), most team rushing attempts (69) and most points in a game (48). Suozzo rushed for 132 yards and three touchdowns, and threw for 289 yards on 23-of-49 passing with one score. Johnson tallied 160 yards on the ground on 20 carries and caught six balls for 60 yards. Watts, who leads the conference in catches, added nine more for 131 yards. There were exactly 1,200 total yards in the game, including 439 on the ground from Saint Anselm to 358 for Merrimack.

GAME 7 - MERRIMACK 27, BENTLEY 11
The Merrimack football team spoiled homecoming weekend at Bentley, as the Warriors downed the Falcons 27-11. The Warriors used a balanced offensive attack while intercepting four passes, including two by Mike O’Brien. The visitors jumped out to a 17-0 lead as Richard Johnson capped off a 13-play, 70-yard drive with a seven-yard run for the first score of the day. On Merrimack’s next drive, James Suozzo connected with Jeremiah Watts on a six-yard touchdown pass to give the Warriors the early 14-0 lead. Sean Garvey added a 26-yard field goal after Andrew Jackson intercepted Falcon quarterback John White to put the Warriors in excellent scoring position. Garvey added another field goal, this time from 38-yards out in the third quarter, extending Merrimack’s lead to 20-3. Johnson made it 27-3 with a seven-yard rushing touchdown, his second of the day, with the big play of the drive coming on a 50-yard pass from Suozzo to Quavari Jackson. Jordan Rankine also added an interception, as Bentley used four different quarterbacks, trying to find any spark to its offense. The Warrior defense limited the Falcons to just 30 rushing yards. J.D. Wild posted a team-high 11 tackles, while Tony Johnson and Joe Jolicoeur each picked up a sack. Suozzo passed for 231 yards on 17-of-32 passing, while adding another 43 on the ground. Johnson tallied two rushing touchdowns as well as 75 rushing yards on 25 carries. Watts continued his excellent season with five catches for 66 yards, while Jackson tallied three catches for 86 yards.