Football Falls At Merrimack

The Central Connecticut football team dropped its final road game off the season at Merrimack on Saturday, 35-24.

CCSU scored on its first drive and kicked a field goal on the final play of the second quarter, before scoring twice in the third quarter.

GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE

Score:  Merrimack 35, CCSU 24
Records: CCSU (3-6, 1-4, NEC), MERR (5-5, 4-2 NEC)
Location: Duane Stadium | North Andover, MD

KEY MOMENTS

• The Blue Devils took the opening drive 12 plays and 80-yards and took the early lead on a nine-yard touchdown run by Matt Jenner
• Davion Johnson carried for five yards and had a 20-yard reception on the drive, while Malik Thomas carried four times for 23 yards and Jenner had 22 yards on the drive
• Merrimack answered with its on 12 play drive that took up 6:37 and finished with a Tyvon Edmonds Jr. one-yard run with 2:09 left in the first quarter
• Malakai Anthony lofted a pass to Seth Sweitzer in the left corner of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown to put Merrimack in front, 14-7, with 4:51 to play in the half
• The Warriors struck quickly to open the second quarter when Anthony found Donovan Wadley for a 53-yard touchdown 1:59 into the quarter
• CCSU answered on the next drive, when Jenner found Peter Cleary from seven-yards out to cap an eight-play, 77-yard drive just four minutes later to close within 21-17
• After a 44-yard kickoff return, Anthony found again connected with Wadley, this time from 39 yards, for a touchdown on the first play of the drive for a 28-17 advantage
• The offense responded, with a 10-play, 75 yard drive that Jenner found Elijah Howard on a screen for an 18-yard touchdown to close with 28-24 late in the third quarter
• Jenner was 4-5 on the drive for 34 yards, while Thomas added a 19-yard rush
• On a 3-and-6 from the CCSU 17, Eric Jackson tackled LJ Robinson for a loss of three forcing a 37-yard field goal attempt that Lliam Davis missed wide left
• Merrimack was in field goal again with 6:23 to play in regulation when Dan Toatley and Sharod Watkins sacked Anthony to force a punt
• The ensuing punt bounced off a CCSU return man and the Warriors recovered the ball at the Central nine
• Two plays later Edmonds punched the ball in from three-yards out and after the PAT, the Warriors led 35-24

NOTES

• Jack Barnum tied the school single-season record with his 13^th field goal, tying the number made by Paul Flynn in 1987
• Howard finished with 67 rush yards on 13 carries, to go along with 35 yards on three catches
• Cleary's catch was the first of his career with the Blue Devils
• Thomas caried eight times for 34 yards and had two catches for 44 yards
• Jenner finished 11-18 passing, with two touchdowns and 148 yards
• Jackson had five tackles, and 2.0 TFL for the defense
• Jayden Anderson finished with seven tackles for CCSU
• Anthony finished 11-15 for 190 yards and three touchdown passes
• Wadley had four catches for 113 yards

UP NEXT

The Blue Devils wrap up the campaign at home on November 18 to host Saint Francis on Senior Day.