NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (October 19, 2024) – Merrimack College rushed for 375 yards and built a 27-point halftime lead on its way to a 48-28 triumph over Stonehill College in a non-conference football matchup at Duane Stadium this afternoon.
Sophomore
Brendon Wyatt and senior
Jermaine Corbett combined for 271 of Merrimack's 375 yards on the ground and three touchdowns, as the Warriors finished with 479 total yards for the afternoon. Corbett tallied 257 all-purpose yards, with 170 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries, to go with a 16-yard reception and 71 yards on three kickoff returns, while Wyatt added 101 yards on eight carries and a score.
Sophomore
Ayden Pereira contributed a pair of touchdown passes, finishing 8-for-14 for 94 yards through the air to go with another 51 yards on 15 carries. Senior
Malakai Anthony sealed the win with a 42-yard touchdown with 2:11 remaining after Stonehill had rallied back within two scores for the third time in the second half.
Senior
Josh Addo paced a Merrimack defense that limited Stonehill to just 49 yards and one first down in the first half in building a 27-point lead with seven tackles (four solo), including 1.0 for a loss of a yard, while classmate
Nicholas Lenon added four solo tackles, including 1.0 for a loss of seven and a quarterback hurry. Senior
Nate Palanica, Jr. contributed three tackles (two solo), a key second half interception and two pass breakups.
O'Connell contributed a touchdown pass and rush for the Skyhawks in his second career start (PHOTO BY Bree Smith, '27)
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Stonehill gained 272 of its 321 total yards and 20 of 21 first downs in the second half, scoring three touchdowns in the third quarter to close the 27-point halftime gap to 13-points (34-21) heading into the final quarter. Junior quarterback
Jack O'Connell made his second career start in front of a hometown crowd and delivered touchdowns with his arm and legs in finishing with 215 total yards by completing 12-of-24 passes for a career-high 166 yards and a touchdown to junior tight end
Cody Ruff, while adding another 49 yards on 11 carries with his first career rushing touchdown.
Senior
Jarel Washington and junior
Zavion Woodard each added touchdown runs for Stonehill in the third quarter rally. Washington posted a team-high 81 all-purpose yards with 13 carries for 56 yards and the score, while adding ten yards on two receptions and a 15-yard kickoff return.
Junior
Mo Seide paced the Stonehill defense with a career-high seven tackles (five solo), including 2.0 for a loss of eight yards, 1.0 sacks for a loss of seven and a pass breakup. Classmate
Zack Athy added six stops (three solo), including 0.5 for a loss of four yards, while junior
Jordan Irvine contributed six tackles (four solo).
Despite settling for a 26-yard field goal by
Lliam Davis on the opening drive of the game, Merrimack would score on its first five possessions in building a 27-0 halftime lead. Pereira connected with sophomore
Jalen McDonald for a 51-yard touchdown with 5:40 left in the first quarter and then Corbett rushed for scores of six and two yards around the quarter break, the second capping a 61-yard drive that consumed 14 plays and 7:04 off the clock. Davis capped the first half scoring with a 53-yard field goal 2:40 before halftime.
Stonehill emerged from the intermission with touchdowns on its first four possessions of the second half, scoring 21 points in the third quarter alone to get back into the game. Washington got the Skyhawks on the scoreboard with a 24-yard touchdown run just two minutes into the third quarter. After junior linebacker
Tyler Bannon recovered a fumble on a bad Merrimack snap at the Warriors 39-yard line, O'Connell connected with Ruff for a 14-yard touchdown with 6:14 remaining in the third quarter that had the Skyhawks back within two scores (27-14).
Seide finished with a career-high seven tackles, including 2.0 for loss and a pass breakup (PHOTO BY Bree Smith, '27)
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Merrimack would hold there, providing an answer for Stonehill's scores to follow, starting with a 37-yard touchdown run by Wyatt two plays after the Ruff score. The Skyhawks closed again with Woodard's four yard power run up the middle at the end of a ten play, 75-yard drive, but Merrimack responded again with a 12-play, 72-yard drive of its own that more importantly consumed 5:55 before Pereira connected with sophomore
Seth Sweitzer for a nine-yard touchdown toss.
O'Connell again pulled Stonehill back within two scores (41-28) with a four-yard touchdown run with 3:08 to play at the end of a workmanlike 13-play, 75-yard drive that took 6:03. Merrimack recovered the onside kick and then sealed the win with Anthony's 42-yard run with 2:11 to go, before a late interception from Palanica, Jr.
Noteworthy
