Preview: Merrimack football opens its home schedule against UMaine

Merrimack will open its home football schedule this week against Maine. Saturday’s game will mark the second meeting between the programs, but it will be Maine’s first trip to Duane Stadium.

The Warriors are coming off their first win of the season over Bucknell last week. The Warriors are 1-0 against FCS competition and 0-2 against their two FBS opponents.

Merrimack vs. Maine

Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET
Watch: NESN+
Venue: Duane Stadium (cap. 4,000)
Location: North Andover, Mass.

History: Maine won the only previous meeting between the programs 31-26 on Sept. 18, 2021. Westin Elliott threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns for the Warriors. Jacari Carter led Merrimack with 18 catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns.

Know the Foe: Maine

Maine is 0-2 after starting the season with a win over Colgate. Last week, Monmouth blew out the Black Bears 51-22. The Hawks scored 20 points in the first quarter. Maine allowed 632 total yards, including 390 through the air and another 242 on the ground. Offensively, Maine turned the ball over twice (lost fumbles).

No. 3 FCS team Montana State beat the Black Bears 41-24 two weeks ago, again utilizing the ground game. The Bobcats rushed for 344 yards.

Carter Peevy has taken almost every snap for Maine. He’s 51 for 79 for 569 yards on the season, with two touchdowns and one interception. He’s been sacked seven times.

Jaharie Martin leads Maine on the ground, rushing for 138 yards on 34 carries (4.1 average) and two touchdowns. Montigo Moss has been the top receiving target, catching 17 balls for 184 yards and a touchdown. No one else on the team has more than seven receptions.

Lineman Xavier Holmes leads the team in tackles (19). The only interception for the Black Bears has come from Alhaji Kamara.

Three Things to Watch with the Warriors

1) Ayden Pereira will start against his former team

Pereira started against Bucknell last week and was the only Warrior to attempt a pass. He went 11 for 15 for 147 yards and a touchdown. He has the same number of pass attempts as Malakai Anthony on the season. Pereira has more yards and two touchdowns but Anthony’s completion percentage is slightly better.

The Warriors will still use Anthony in specific packages as a change of pace, but Pereira looked like a legitimate starter in last week’s win over a tough Bucknell team. He was efficient, and the Warriors schemed up a game plan that ensured his success.

Pereira doesn’t have much experience at the NCAA level, but you can see his raw ability. Last week, he limited mistakes, and the offense moved the ball. That’s what the Warriors are looking for.

2) This is another big opportunity for Jermaine Corbett

Corbett has rushed for 328 yards on 41 carries through three games (8.0 YPC), and Maine has been gashed on the ground through its three games. Monmouth rushed for 242 yards and three touchdowns last week.

Merrimack’s offense begins on the ground, and I see the Warriors establishing the run again in this game. The ground game is what allowed Pereira to be so efficient last week. If Corbett can continue to create chaos out of the backfield, it will force the Black Bears to stack the box, and then the Warriors can take some shots through the air.

Donovan Wadley is a mismatch for Maine if he’s left 1-on-1. Using the run game to open up opportunities to take shots with Wadley downfield (see his 50+ yard reception last week) is a game plan that will work.

3) Handle Maine’s early pressure

Maine is reeling after back-to-back losses, and the talk out of Orono this week is that the Black Bears want to be more aggressive early after playing from behind for the last two weeks.

“We have to come out more ready to play,” Peevy told the Bangor Daily News. “We’ve lost the physical battles early in the last two games. We have to convert on third downs. A lot of that starts with me.”

Maine will get back tight end Cooper Heisey, but last year’s leading receiving, Jamie Lamson, will be out with a hamstring injury.

Expect the Black Bears to be aggressive early, especially on offense. They might challenge the Warriors on the first few possessions. That’s where Merrimack’s defensive playmakers — Nicholas Lenon, Donte Williams, Kendal Sims, Jay Thompson, and DJ Frazier — will need to come up big.