Merrimack Runs Past Stonehill, 42-21

Warriors rack up 630 yards of offense, Suozzo provides 438 total yards

Boxscore 

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (September 18, 2009) - Merrimack College racked up 630 yards of total offense in claiming a 42-21 victory over Stonehill College in Northeast-10 Conference football action at Warrior Field tonight.

Merrimack scored the game's first 27 points, staking out a 21-0 lead after a quarter of play, withstood a Stonehill second quarter comeback and resumed control by scoring the game's final 15 points. The Warriors posted 630 total yards on 324 yards passing and another 306 rushing. Sophomore quarterback James Suozzo (Everett, Mass./Bridgton Academy) accounted for 438 of those yards, completing 22-of-40 passes for 324 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, while carrying the ball 19 times for 114 yards and two scores.

Senior wide receiver Chris Laham (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) caught nine passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns, including the program-record 29^th of his career. Sophomore Anthony Smalls (Dorchester, Mass./Natick) added 180 yards rushing on 22 carries for the Warriors.

Senior linebacker Shane Brown (Wakefield, Mass./Wakefield) led the Merrimack defense with 12 tackles (three solo), while sophomore Shawn Loiseau (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) added ten stops (one solo), including one for a loss of four yards.

Senior David Pringle caught a season-high 11 passes for a season-best 98 yards.

Sophomore quarterback Tim Morrison (Billerica, Mass./Billerica Memorial) posted career bests for Stonehill as he completed 25-of-45 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Senior David Pringle (West Haven, Conn./Westminister) caught a season-high 11 passes for a season-best 98 yards.

Junior running back Eddie Vachon (Newton, Mass./Blair Academy) was held under 100 all-purpose yards for the first time this season. He finished with 53 yards rushing on 18 carries and caught two passes for 36 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Jordan Smith (Northfield, N.H./Bishop Brady) and freshman Daniel Oakes (North Haven, Conn./North Haven) each added touchdown catches for the Skyhawks.

Senior tri-captain Greg Sanzari (Centerport, N.Y./St. Anthony's) and junior Nick Vardaro (Woburn, Mass./Austin Prep) each finished with 12 tackles for Stonehill. Vardaro had three solo stops and added a pass breakup and quarterback hurry. Junior Steven Good (Green Harbor, Mass./Marshfield) chipped in with ten tackles (four solo), while sophomore Matt Ianucci (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) had nine tackles (six solo) and an interception.

Merrimack looked to run away early, scoring three first quarter touchdowns on its way to a 27-0 lead just 54-seconds into the second quarter. Suozzo capped a nine play, 65-yard drive, with a five-yard touchdown run with 9:31 left in the opening quarter. He later connected with Laham for two scoring passes - the first a 35-yard play to cap a six play, 49-yard, drive. The Warriors third scoring drive came at the end of a 98-yard drive with Suozzo hitting Laham for a 26-yard strike on the eighth play with 1:51 remaining in the opening stanza. Suozzo added his fourth touchdown early in the second quarter with a one-yard plunge after Merrimack got the ball after a fumble in Stonehill territory. 

Stonehill responded with 21-straight points of its own to get back in the game before halftime. Morrison found Smith for a five-yard scoring pass to cap a six play, 60-yard drive. After a Merrimack three and out, Morrison found Oakes for a nine-yard scoring strike after the Skyhawks covered 31-yards in eight plays following an interception by sophomore Stephan Neville (Foxborough, Mass./Foxborough). Stonehill drew within a score with 1:27 to go before halftime when Morrison and Vachon combined for a 28-yard touchdown pass and catch to end a nine play, 63-yard drive.

Merrimack immediately drove down field and was able to get a 31-yard field goal from junior placekicker Pedrom Tand (Northboro, Mass./Algonquin) as time expired in the first half to give the Warriors a nine-point halftime lead. The Warriors marched right down the field on the opening drive of the second half and Suozzo hit Laham for a ten-yard scoring pass to cap a ten play, 80-yard drive. Merrimack rounded out the scoring on the night when sophomore linebacker Nick Desjardins (Somerville, Mass./Arlington Catholic) forced a Morrison fumble at the goal line and pounced on the loose ball for what would prove to be the final score of the game.

Stonehill (1-3, 0-2 NE-10) is back in action next Saturday, September 26, when it visits the University of New Haven at 1 p.m. The Skyhawks aren't home again until Saturday, October 10, to host Pace University on Easton Appreciation Day at 1 p.m. Merrimack (2-1, 1-0 NE-10) travels to Saint Anselm College next Saturday at 1 p.m.