Preview: Merrimack football set to host Dartmouth for Homecoming

Merrimack will host Dartmouth on Saturday in the Homecoming game at Duane Stadium. A huge crowd is expected — previous games have drawn as many as 10,000 fans — and the Warriors will look to get back in the win column after letting last week's home opener against Maine slip away in the second half.

Merrimack is 1-3 on the season, with two of those three losses coming against FBS opponents (Air Force and UConn). Dartmouth is 1-0 after last week's season-opening win over Fordham.

Merrimack vs. Maine

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

History: This will be the first meeting between the programs.

Know the Foe: Dartmouth

Dartmouth beat Fordham 45-13 last Saturday at home to open its season. The Ivy League teams start a few weeks after the rest of the NCAA.

Fordham, which Merrimack will see later this season, is off to an 0-4 start.

The Big Green rushed for 246 yards in last week's win. Q Jones led the team with 86 yards on 16 carries and one touchdown. D.J. Crowther (9-83, 1 TD) and Grayson Saunier (1-31, 1 TD) also found the end zone.

Quarterback Jackson Proctor was efficient, completing 14 of 18 passes for 185 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Paxton Scott was his primary target, catching six passes for 121 yards.

Dartmouth recorded five sacks in the win. Cameron Lee registered a pair.

Three Things to Watch with the Warriors

1) What’s the status of Donovan Wadley?

Donovan Wadley, the linchpin of Merrimack's offense, is their most dangerous playmaker. Last week against Maine, he returned the opening kickoff 14 yards but wasn't seen the rest of the game. According to the broadcast, his absence was injury-related.

Wadley's absence was a significant setback for Merrimack's passing attack last week, and it would pose a similar issue this week. The passing game has been struggling to advance the ball.

Air Force and UConn kept Wadley in check through the first two weeks, but Week 3 against Bucknell felt like a breakout for the junior receiver. He caught three balls for 73 yards and showcased his game-breaking ability on a 57-yard catch.

Wadley averaged 37.9 yards per return last season, an eye-popping number that earned him a spot on the Walter Payton Watchlist in the preseason.

We're not sure of Wadley's status for this weekend. If he can't go, it will put a lot of pressure on the run game to produce. Wadley leads the Warriors with 93 yards receiving on seven catches. Seth Sweitzer (2-77, 1 TD), Jared Dunn (6-58), Jelani Mason (5-39), and Jalen McDonald (5-39, 1 TD) are the other receiving leaders. Dunn led the Warriors with three catches for 35 yards against Maine last week.

2) The Warriors need to find consistency in the passing game

This task becomes exceptionally more difficult without Wadley in the lineup, but the Warriors need to get more going through the air. They're trying different things. Ayden Pereira and Justin Lewis both saw time at quarterback last week. Pereira was lifted for Lewis but went back into the game after Lewis threw two interceptions.

Merrimack's opponents are getting far more out of their air attack. The Warriors are a combined 56 of 95 for 497 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions (109.1 passer rating). Merrimack's opponents are a combined 58 of 97 for 805 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions (156.0 passer rating).

Ironically, the completion percentage is almost identical.

Lewis has Merrimack's best completion percentage (73.7%), but that's only on 19 attempts and he has thrown the only two interceptions. Pereira is 21 of 44 (47.7%) for 212 yards and two touchdowns. Malakai Anthony is 21 of 32 (65.6%) for 120 yards.

Merrimack's running game has been excellent (averaging 4.3 yards per carry as a team). Jermaine Corbett, who has become the primary every-down back, is averaging 7.3 yards per carry (56-416). The concern is that opponents can key in on the run without a legitimate passing game. You can't be one-dimensional.

Dartmouth was good against the run last week, holding Fordham's rushers to 3.6 yards per carry (26-94). However, Fordham has been a poor rushing team this season. Last week's average was up slightly from their season average (3.2 yards per carry).

3) Nicholas Lenon has been a best the last two weeks

NFL teams have visited Merrimack's campus the last two weeks, and I have to assume scouts are keeping close tabs on Nicholas Lenon, who has been a beast the last two games.

Two weeks ago, the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, and Atlanta Falcons were at practice. This week, the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, Washington Redskins, and New England Patriots were all on campus.

Lenon has put on a show in the last two games. He had four sacks against Bucknell and two more against Maine.

Over the last two weeks, Lenon has 11 tackles (8 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss, and six sacks.

Lenon is one of many defensive players who has looked good over the last two games. DJ Frazier has 10 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks. Senior lineman Jay Thompson has 11 tackles, three tackles for loss, and three sacks.