Liam MacKenzie – Treasurer/Sports Editor
Orono, ME – Following consecutive losses to Rhode Island and Delaware to open the 2026 season, Merrimack College football secured its first victory of the year on Saturday evening of September 12. The Warriors traveled to Morse Field at Harold Alfond Stadium and defeated the Maine Black Bears, 23-14, earning a significant road victory.
Merrimack entered the matchup looking to respond after falling to Rhode Island 34-7, before Delaware handed the Warriors a 42-7 loss the following week. Facing Maine on the road presented Merrimack with an opportunity to reverse its early-season momentum and establish itself with a statement performance.
A Road Win That Had Been Elusive – The victory carried significance beyond simply moving the Warriors to 1-2. Merrimack snapped an eight-game road losing streak, dating back to last season, after going 0-7 away from home in 2025 and losing its first road game of 2026 at Delaware.
The Warriors’ last season without a road victory made Saturday’s result an especially important milestone. With the win, Merrimack finally broke through away from Duane Stadium and did so against a Maine program that had defeated the Warriors, 20-13, in North Andover last season.
Special Teams and Defense Deliver – Maine opened the scoring with a 41-yard field goal from Samuel Tremblay with 5:18 remaining in the first quarter. Merrimack answered early in the second quarter when Jeremiah Anemelechi-Ford blocked a Maine punt at the Black Bears’ 32-yard line, setting up a major momentum shift for the Warriors.
Danny Simms capitalized on the opportunity, taking the blocked punt 12 yards into the end zone for Merrimack’s first touchdown of the afternoon. The score gave the Warriors a 7-3 lead and established special teams as an early difference-maker.
Merrimack’s defense then delivered its first major scoring play of the evening in the third quarter. Juice Ricks intercepted Maine quarterback Eddie Buehler and returned the pick 32 yards for a touchdown, extending the Warriors’ lead to 14-3 and giving Merrimack scoring plays for both special teams and defense.
Merrimack Answers Maine’s Push – Maine refused to go quietly, putting together an 87-yard scoring drive late in the third quarter. Rashawn Marshall finished the possession with a seven-yard touchdown run, cutting the Merrimack lead to 14-11 with 3:50 remaining in the quarter.
The Warriors immediately answered with a scoring drive of their own. DeMarcus McElroy broke through for a four-yard touchdown run with 45 seconds left in the third quarter, capping a six-play, 59-yard drive and pushing Merrimack ahead, 21-11.
Defense Closes the Door – Maine continued to battle in the fourth quarter, with Tremblay connecting on a 45-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 21-14. The Black Bears, however, could not find the end zone again as Merrimack’s defense held firm when it mattered most.
With just 2:10 remaining, Dwayne Green Jr. recorded a safety to give the Warriors their final two points of the night. The play pushed Merrimack’s lead to 23-14 and effectively sealed the first victory of the season.
A Complete Team Effort – Merrimack’s 23 points came from three different phases of the game, with Simms recovering the blocked punt, Ricks’ interception return and McElroy’s rushing touchdown providing the offensive and defensive highlights. The Warriors also received the two-point safety from Green Jr., making it a night where special teams, defense and the ground game all contributed.
The victory also marked an important response from a team that had been searching for consistency through its first two games. Gennetti said before the game that the Warriors needed to improve their execution and establish more consistent complementary football, and Merrimack delivered that formula against Maine.
“On the Road… in the CAA” – Following the final whistle, head coach Mike Gennetti gathered his players in the locker room to address the team after its hard-fought victory. The postgame speech captured the emotion of a program that had finally broken through after a difficult start to the season.
Gennetti’s message provided the perfect ending to a night that featured a little bit of everything from the Warriors. Merrimack left Orono with its first win of 2026, its first road victory since 2024 and a statement that the difficult opening two weeks would not define its season.
The Road Continues – The Warriors will not have much time to celebrate, as Saturday’s victory came during the middle of a three-game road swing. Merrimack will travel to Texas next weekend to face Tarleton State on September 19, before returning home to host New Haven during homecoming weekend on September 26.
For now, however, the focus is on what happened in Orono. Merrimack went “On the Road… in the CAA” and came away with something the program had been searching for: a win.
