Maine storms back in second half to spoil Merrimack's home opener
Maine storms back in second half to spoil Merrimack's home opener
Merrimack had a nine-point lead at halftime, but the Maine Black Bears shut out the Warriors in the second half to spoil the Warriors’ home opener, 26-15, on Saturday at Duane Stadium.
The Warriors started fast. Donte Williams forced a fumble on Maine’s first offensive possession when he rocked Maine running back Tavion Banks. Grant Jackson scooped up the loose ball and scored to give the Warriors a 7-0 lead after Lliam Davis’ extra point.
Davis added to that lead a few minutes later with a 33-yard field goal. Maine made the game 10-6 in the second quarter (they failed on a two-point try), and the Warriors extended their lead to 15-6 on a safety when Jay Thompson sacked Maine QB Carter Peevy in the end zone.
The Warriors took that lead into halftime but were lifeless on offense in the second half. On their second-half offensive possessions, they went punt-interception-punt-punt-punt and moved the ball just 58 yards in 27 plays.
“At the end of the day, you give up twenty points in the second half, and not score any points, you're not going to win,” Merrimack coach Mike Gennetti told The Eagle Tribune. “We just weren't able to fully capitalize across the board as a team. We did at times, but not consistently enough. That's a credit to Maine as they made more of those plays and we didn't.”
Merrimack’s defense was terrific in the first half, not only holding the Black Bears to one score, but Maine only had 69 yards of total offense on 35 plays. The Black Bears had 236 yards in the second half (on 34 plays).
The Warriors managed just eight first downs in the game and only gained 92 yards through the air.
Jermaine Corbett led Merrimack’s offensive attack on the ground. He carried 15 times for 81 yards. Star receiver Donovan Wadley left the game with an apparent injury early in the first half.
Ayden Pereira (5 for 12, 30 yards) started at quarterback. Justin Lewis (8 for 13, 62 yards, 2 INT) came in for a few series and Pereira was back in the game on the final drive.
Thompson led the Warriors with eight tackles. Nicholas Lenon, who had four sacks last week, added two more this week, and he led the Warriors with 3.5 tackles for a loss.
NEXT: Merrimack will host Dartmouth next Saturday (1 p.m.) as part of Homecoming weekend. The Ivy League began play this weekend, and the Big Green started 1-0 with a 45-13 win over Fordham.
Next week’s game will be the first meeting between Dartmouth and Merrimack.
