Special teams the difference as Merrimack beats Morgan State
Lliam Davis hit four field goals, including a career-high 51-yarder and Jermaine Corbett returned a kick for a touchdown
Merrimack's special teams were the difference in a 32-24 win over Morgan State on Saturday.
Jermaine Corbett returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, and a 67-yard kick return by Seth Sweitzer in the second quarter set up a Lliam Davis field goal.
Davis hit a career-long 51-yard field goal and also made kicks from 41, 39, and 32 yards on the afternoon. Danny Simms also blocked a punt for the Warriors.
The Warriors led 20-3 at halftime, but Morgan State charged back in the second half with three touchdowns, and the Bears took a 24-23 lead with 6:38 left in the game.
The Warriors responded with a six-play, 59-yard drive (all run plays) that capped off with a Corbett touchdown run. Merrimack had a 29-24 lead after missing the two-point conversion.
Sims made two key tackles — including a sack that pushed the Bears back 10 yards — on the next possession. The Warriors forced a turnover on downs, and Davis added another field goal to extend Merrimack's lead to eight points.
The Warriors ran for 134 yards on 29 carries and touchdowns. Quarterback Ayden Pereira rushed for 91 yards on 11 carries, and Corbett ran for 41 yards on 17 carries. Pereira and Corbett both had a touchdown run.
Pereira was 5 of 8 for 65 yards passing.
Defensively, the Warriors had four sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Nicholas Lenon had 1.5 sacks; Jay Thompson and Simms each had sacks.
Morgan State dominated possession (77 offensive snaps to Merrimack's 37 offensive snaps), but the Warriors had better field position most of the afternoon thanks to their play on special teams.
NEXT: The Warriors will return home to Duane Stadium next week to host Stonehill (1-4). The Skyhawks lost at Long Island on Saturday.