Keyed by seven quarterback sacks, Merrimack held Delaware State to just 164 total yards in a 26-13 victory over the Hornets at Alumni Stadium Saturday.
The Warriors improved to 2-2 this season after defeating Delaware State for the third time in three meetings. The Hornets fell to 2-2 on the season.
Delaware State totaled just 70 yards rushing in the contest, after subtracting 60 yards on the seven sacks of Hornets’ back-up quarterback C.J. Henry (r-fr.) by the Warriors. Henry was starting in place of two-year starting quarterback Jared Lewis (jr.), who has missed the last seven quarters due to injury.
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Henry threw for 132 yards in the game, completing seven of his passes on 19 attempts, many under heavy pressure.
Merrimack totaled a balanced 351 yards in the game, 178 by the pass and 173 rushing.
The Warriors were never headed after scoring two first quarter touchdowns to open up a 14-0 lead.
Merrimack scored the first touchdown of the game on a two-yard run by Victor Dawson with 4:16 left in the first quarter to cap off a 12-play, 67-yard drive that consumed six-minutes-33 seconds of the quarter.
The Warriors stretched their lead to 14-0 on a 54-yard touchdown on a halfback option pass from Jacari Carter to Jelani Mason at the 2:28 mark of the opening quarter.
DelState ran off more than nine minutes of the second quarter clock during a drive to the Merrimack five-yard line, but had to settle for a 22-yard field goal by Nathan Wilson to cut the Warriors’ lead to 14-3 with 5:48 to go before halftime.
The Hornets drove to the Warriors’ seven on the opening possession of the second half, but again settled for a field by Wilson (26 yards) to pull to within 14-6 with 12:06 to go in the third quarter. The key play in the drive was a 52-yard pass from Henry to wide receiver Jerrish Halsey to the Merrimack 11.
The Warriors added a touchdown on a 10-yard run by Tyvon Edmonds, and a safety on a sack of Henry in the end zone, to open up a 23-6 lead.
DelState scored an early fourth quarter touchdown to stay in the game. Henry connected with Devin Curry on a 32-yard pass to the Merrimack three-yard line, and running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon reached the endzone from three yards out on the next play to complete the eight-play, 80-yard drive. The extra point kick by Wilson cut the Warriors’ lead to 23-13 with 12:04 left to play.
Merrimack added a 24-yard field goal later in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring.
The Hornets return to action Saturday, Oct. 1, against another Northeast Conference foe, Robert Morris. Game time is set for 6:02 p.m. at Alumni Stadium.
