Liam MacKenzie – Treasurer/Sports Editor
North Andover, MA – Merrimack College Football opened its 2026 home schedule under the lights on Friday night, August 28, with a challenging matchup against one of the top teams in the FCS, falling 34-7 to No. 7 Rhode Island. The Warriors entered the afternoon looking to make a statement on their home field but faced a difficult test against a talented Rams team.
Despite the final result, Merrimack showed resilience early and responded after Rhode Island scored on its opening possession. However, the Rams gradually created separation throughout the remainder of the contest and secured the victory.
Merrimack Responds to Early Rhode Island Score – Rhode Island opened the scoring with 13:11 remaining in the first quarter when Tyler Budge connected with Marquis Buchanan for a 16-yard touchdown. The score capped off a quick two-play, 18-yard drive and gave the Rams an early 7-0 advantage.
The Warriors responded later in the opening quarter with an impressive scoring drive of their own. Senior Running Back Matthias Latham finished an eight-play, 59-yard possession with a two-yard rushing touchdown, tying the game at 7-7 with 5:15 remaining in the first quarter.
Rhode Island Builds Momentum Before Halftime – The game remained tied entering the second quarter before Rhode Island began to build momentum. Alex McClelland scored on a five-yard rushing touchdown with 7:59 remaining in the quarter, giving the Rams a 14-7 lead.
McClelland found the end zone again late in the first half, scoring on a four-yard rushing touchdown with just 50 seconds remaining. The score gave Rhode Island a 21-7 advantage heading into overtime.
Rams Pull Away in the Second Half – Rhode Island continued to add to its lead during the second half, beginning with a 26-yard field goal from Ty Groff with 9:18 remaining in the third quarter. Groff added another field goal from 33 yards out less than a minute later to extend the Rams’ advantage to 27-7.
The Rams added their final points in the closing moments of the fourth quarter when Moses Meus returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown. The defensive score with 45 seconds remaining sealed the 34-7 victory for No. 7 Rhode Island.
Looking Ahead – While the home opener did not result in the outcome Merrimack had hoped for, the Warriors faced a significant early-season challenge against one of the highest-ranked teams in the FCS. Merrimack will now have an opportunity to regroup, evaluate its performance, and use the experience as motivation moving forward.
The Warriors showed their ability to respond after falling behind early, and with the season still in its early stages, there will be plenty of opportunities for the team to continue growing. Merrimack will look to bounce back when it returns to action on Thursday, September 3, as the Warriors travel to Delaware to take on the Blue Hens in their first road game of the 2026 season.
