Merrimack keeps Air Force's rushing attack in check, but penalties and turnovers costly in 21-6 loss
Merrimack keeps Air Force's rushing attack in check, but penalties and turnovers costly in 21-6 loss
Merrimack had its chances on Saturday against an Air Force team picked to be one of the best in the Mountain West Conference, but penalties and turnovers were a problem for the Warriors, who fell 21-6 in the season opener.
Merrimack was penalized 11 times for 88 yards. Some of those penalties helped keep Air Force’s offense on the field. One penalty -- a delay of game in the second quarter -- turned what would have been a third-down conversion on the next play into a fourth-and-1. The Falcons stuffed a designed quarterback run for Malakai Anthony on fourth down to force a turnover on downs.
The Falcon defense also forced four fumbles in the game, recovering three and converting two into touchdowns.
Gavin McCusker started at quarterback for the Warriors but left the game after fumbling in the first quarter following a 10-yard run. The CBS Sports broadcast believed McCusker suffered a possible injury. Anthony went 14 for 21 for 74 yards through the air.
Transfer quarterback Ayden Pereira entered the game with 3:40 left in the fourth quarter and led the Warriors on a 15-play, 50-yard drive that ended with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jalen McDonald as time expired.
Jermaine Corbett, a transfer from Stonehill, led the Warriors with 59 yards on eight carries. McDonald had five catches for 39 yards and a touchdown.
Junior linebacker Kendal Sims led Merrimack with seven tackles (5 solo).
Merrimack’s defense came up big most of the day. The Warriors held Air Force to 166 yards on the ground, and the Falcons averaged just 3.0 yards per carry. Last season Air Force, which runs the triple option, averaged 281 rushing yards per game and 5.1 yards per carry.
“[Merrimack] played really well,” said Air Force coach Troy Calhoun. “They’re physical. Look at the number of returnees on both sides of the ball. They did a heck of a job at the point of attack.
“Their front guys, as far as how well they played blocks, you can tell they have played a lot of football.”
The Falcons have been the best rushing team in the nation over the last six years combined.
Merrimack will travel to UConn for its second FBS contest next Saturday. Kickoff is set for noon at Pratt and Whitney Stadium. The Huskies opened the season on Saturday with a 50-7 road loss to Maryland.
Air Force 21, Merrimack 6
Merrimack (0-1): 0-0-0-6--6
Air Force (1-0): 7-7-0-7--21
First Quarter
AF — Cade Harries 2-yard run (Matthew Dapore kick), 6:02
Second Quarter
AF — Harris 4-yard run (Dapore kick), 0:16
Fourth Quarter
AF — Aiden Calvert 1-yard run (Dapore kick), 8:31
MC — Jalen McDonald 11-yard pass from Ayden Pereira (no PAT), 0:00
Merrimack Leaders
Passing: Malakai Anthony 14-21, 74; Ayden Pereira 3-9, 29 (1 TD)
Rushing: Jermaine Corbett 8-59, Anthony 10-19, Pereira 4-15, Gavin McCusker 1-10, Matthias Latham 3-8, Jalen McDonald 1-3
Receiving: McDonald 5-39 (1 TD), Donovan Wadler 3-17, Jelani Mason 1-13, LJ Robinson 1-10, Corbett 4-9, Latham 1-8, Ty Yocum 1-7, Jared Dunn 1-0.
Tackles: Kenal Sims 7, DJ Frazier 6, Wes Matthews 5, Tyler Leavy 5, Josh Addo 5
Sacks: None
Interceptions: None