Pair of late field goals lift Dartmouth past Merrimack
NORTH ANDOVER — In front of one of the biggest crowds of the season — Merrimack announced a total Homecoming attendance of more than 15,000 — Warriors' head coach Mike Gennetti had a big decision to make early in the fourth quarter against Dartmouth.
The Warriors were clinging to a four-point lead and advanced across midfield before the drive stalled at the Dartmouth 32-yard line, facing the Warriors with fourth-and-6.
A successful field goal would have put Merrimack up seven points with more than 13 minutes on the clock. But a touchdown would have made it a two-possession game.
It would have been a 49-yard kick. Merrimack kicker Lliam Davis, who has been excellent all season (4 for 4 with two of those kicks from 40+ yards before today), pushed a 47-yard attempt slightly right in the first half.
Gennetti left the offense on the field.
"That was a tough call," he said. "If we had success with the kick earlier, I probably would have leaned in that direction. But also, at some point in these games we're in tough situations and tight games and we need to be able to convert on a big play. I wanted to give the offense an opportunity."
Ayden Pereira took a shot at the end zone. Merrimack had the look it wanted with receiver Austin Palmer 1-on-1 against Jordan Washington down the left sideline. Palmer couldn't come up with the ball, and it looked like Washington held his right wrist throughout his attempt to make the catch.
The Big Green kicked field goals on their next two drives — the game-winning kick came with three seconds left on the clock — and escaped Duane Stadium with a 16-14 win.
"Ayden pulled off the play," Gennetti said. "We got the look we wanted, and he went to Palmer, which is where we wanted to go with the throw based on what they gave us. No one was upset with his decision and where he went with the ball. I thought there may have been a little P.I., but that's football."
Corbett the offensive focus
The Warriors offense again relied heavily upon running back Jermaine Corbett, who rushed for 137 yards on 21 carries and scored two touchdowns. Corbett also caught a 33-yard pass from Pereira, which was Merrimack's longest completion of the day.
"You see what he does out there, but I'm still not sure people realize how good at football that kid is," Gennetti said. "He might be one of the best offensive players I've seen in my time here. Just his total game. He's great running the ball, his pass pro, using him in the scren game and in the passing game. He's just a very talented football player. We want to get him the ball. It's not a secret. He rewards us running the way that he does."
Pereira is improving week to week
Pereira was efficient, even though the passing game lacked many deep shots downfield. Donovan Wadley was out of the lineup after he got hurt against Maine last week.
"Ayden did a better job managing the game," Gennetti said. "He did a good job making the decisions that were set up for him to make. He improved in the areas we talked to him about improving. He made some big throws. That throw to Palmer was a good throw. He's going through a big learning curve right now but he's working hard at it and he's improving."
Pereira was thrust into the starting role after both Gavin McCusker and Malakai Anthony suffered injuries.
Houston hits hard in first start
Deon Houston was propelled into the starting secondary when an injury forced Grant Jackson out of the lineup. The senior finished the day with five tackles and two pass breakouts, including a near interception in the fourth quarter.
Houston made two electric tackles in the first half. On the second play of the game, he made a huge hit, which set the tone early in the game. In the second quarter, he blew up a bubble screen with a thunderous tackle near the Merrimack sideline.
"He's one of the best tacklers I've coached here," Gennetti said. "He's as tough as they come. He's one of our best open-field tacklers in my time here. He's not big, but he is a ferocious human being. He's a ferocious competitor. He's one of those guys you just have total faith in."