“The kids came out and executed tonight,” said head coach John Perry.
Not only did they execute, they set a school record for most points ever scored in a game.
With a 60-3 drubbing of Division 3 WPI, Merrimack won its season opener in front of a home crowd of 2,146 at Warrior Field in North Andover last night.
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Quarterback James Suozzo threw for four touchdowns and 306 yards. The senior went 15 for 24 passing while also throwing a pair of interceptions.
“My expectations for this year are to just make it all the way like we did our sophomore year,” said Suozzo. The Warriors took home the Northeast-10 Championship back in 2009 and that is the goal they have their eyes set on once again.
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Isaiah Voegeli, a junior from Barnstable, MA, made five receptions racking up 177 yards and three touchdowns including a 57 bomb from Suozzo at the end of the first half.
“It was a good way to end the half,” said Voegeli. “Credit to the line and the quarterback for getting it up there,” he continued.
The entire offense was on the money as three different rushers found the end-zone. Jimon Hill, a junior back from North Chicago, rushed for 91 yards off 13 carries picking up a one yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Junior wideout Shane Ferguson made three catches for 51 yards with two going for touchdowns. A 32 yard pass from Suozzo got Merrimack on the board for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter
Ferguson hooked up with Suozzo again four minutes and 17 seconds later to give Merrimack a 13-0 advantage.
WPI picked up a field goal early in the second for its only points of the game.
The Isaiah Voegeli show then commenced as the junior caught a pair of touchdowns to close out the first half.
After Jimon Hill picked up a one yard touchdown run, Suozzo found the end-zone on a three yard rush that made it 41-3 less than halfway through the third.
Then came the exclamation point as Matt Tripicchio intercepted a WPI pass and ran it back 36 yards for a pick six.
Voegeli then hooked up with backup quarterback Joe Clancy for a 41 yard touchdown bomb that made it 53-3.
Quinn McDonough put the icing on the cake with a 50 yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter setting the final score at 60-3.
The defense for Merrimack was immense; it was an area that the squad was looking to improve over the offseason.
The Warrior defense had four interceptions and three sacks.
“We’ve lived and died by our defense and we’re going to do that again this year,” said Perry. “We rely on them with everything we’ve got,” he continued.
Isaiah Voegeli, despite the three touchdowns, still saw room to improve. “We still have a lot to work on, little minor mistakes as a team that we need to work on,” said the junior.
Merrimack goes for 2-0 next Saturday in Pennsylvania. At 1pm on Sept.10, Edinboro hosts the Warriors in another non-conference game.
The Warriors return to North Andover on Sept. 17 to face Pace for its first Northeast-10 Conference game of the year.
