Sports

Merrimack Football Dominates Pace With Record 63 Points

The following was submitted by Louis Spina of Merrimack College.

The first half scoring surge of 56 points powered the football team to a dominating 63-7 victory over Pace at Warrior field Saturday afternoon in front of 1,512 fans. The Warriors recorded the third most total yards in school history with 644 yards in the victory.

Setting the school record for points in a quarter with 42, in a half with 56, and in a game with 63,  the Warriors racked up 495 total yards, taking a commanding 56-7 lead into halftime. Merrimack scored three touchdowns in the first five minutes of the opening stanza to set the tone of the game early on.

Junior wide receiver Isaiah Voegeli of Hyannis led the way for the Warriors in the first half hauling in seven passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns, also returning a punt for a 68 yard touchdown. Quarterback James Suozzo of Everett was perfect in the first half going 7-7 for 159 yards and two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns. Suozzo started off the first drive of the game for the offense with a 57 yard touchdown strike to Voegeli off of a flea flicker. They connected later in the first quarter on a 22 yard touchdown strike to put the Warriors up 42-0.

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Tony Johnson of Lynn was all over the field in the first half with 3.5 sacks and a 32 yard fumble return for a touchdown to put Merrimack up 14-0 with 12:17 on the clock in the first. Johnson came free off the edge, sacked Pace quarterback Jordan Raynor who fumbled, Johnson scooped up the ball himself and returned it 32 yards for a defensive touchdown.

Suozzo carried the ball three times for 36 yards including two touchdowns in the first half. The senior quarterback weaved his way to an 11 yard score with 10:14 on the clock in the first and on the next drive scored on a 15 yard run after numerous broken tackles.

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Junior Joe Clancy of Newburyport entered the game in the second quarter and led the Warriors on a nine play 67 yard drive capped off by a 1 yard touchdown run. Clancy later connected on a 43 yard touchdown strike to Voegeli to push the score to 56-0. Junior running back Jimon Hill of North Chicago, Ill. led the way for the Warriors on the ground as he ran for 113 yards in the first half.

Pace got on the board with two minutes remaining in the half on a 54 yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Kyle Lotwich. Raynor threw a pass behind the line to wide receiver Brian Beeker who launched the ball 54 yards to Lotwich for the Setters only score of the half.

Sophomore linebacker Matt Tripicchio of Lake Zurich, Ill., recovered a timely fumble after a 52 yard passing strike led the Setters to the Merrimack 21 yard line. On the ensuing drive Clancy drove the Warriors down the field and ended the drive with a 26 yard scoring throw to freshman wide receiver Zach Ingalls of Westford. The scoring strike was Ingalls first career touchdown as he finished the game with three catches for 47 yards.

Suozzo finished with 159 passing yards and two touchdowns on 7-of-7 passing in one quarter of play along with 36 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Voegeli racked up 182 yards and three scores on just seven receptions, while Hill rushed for 122 yards on 17 carries. Clancy closed out the game with 268 yards and 2 touchdowns on 18-of-28 in three quarters of play.

The Warriors defense dominated play all afternoon long as they racked up ten total sacks for 59 yards.  Preseason All-American Shawn Loiseau of Shrewsbury totaled a team-high 10 tackles including 1.5 sacks, while Johnson recorded 3.5 sacks and a fumble recovery for a touchdown to propel Merrimack. The defense forced three turnovers, as Tripicchio and Johnson forced and recovered a fumble leading to two Merrimack scores. Senior Ian Weaver of Brooklyn, Conn., chipped in defensively with an interception and two tackles for the Warriors.

"We played a very complete game today, especially on the defensive side of the ball with 10 sacks," said Head Coach John Perry. "The quick start really propelled us to this victory today and we head into our bye week with a little momentum."

Merrimack (2-1, 1-0 NE-10) has a bye next week as they prepare to play at the Saint Anselm Hawks on October 1 at 1 p.m.


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