Liam MacKenzie – Treasurer/Sports Editor
North Andover, MA – Rain or shine, the Merrimack Warriors football team found a way to win on Homecoming weekend. Battling through a Nor’easter and challenging playing conditions at Duane Stadium, Merrimack defeated the University of New Haven, 17-10, on Homecoming Saturday to earn its second victory of the season and reverse last season’s 41-31 loss to the Chargers.
A Homecoming Test in the Rain – After nearly a month away from Duane Stadium, the Merrimack Warriors finally returned home for Homecoming, Reunion & Alumni Weekend, marking their first home game since the season opener against Rhode Island. The steady rain made for difficult playing conditions, adding another layer of difficulty to an already physical matchup between the Warriors and Chargers.
The conditions would become a factor throughout the afternoon, particularly when it came to ball security. Still, Merrimack consistently found ways to make the necessary plays and ultimately held on for the seven-point victory.
A Pick-Six That Almost Was – The Warriors nearly opened the scoring with a defensive touchdown. Merrimack defensive back Bertin Placide intercepted a pass from New Haven quarterback AJ Duffy at the Merrimack 40-yard line and returned it 40 yards to the New Haven two-yard line.
With the end zone within reach, Placide attempted to hurdle the final defender, which was AJ Duffy. As he went airborne, his right leg jarred the football loose, sending the ball out at the two-yard line and turning what appeared to be a potential pick-six into a touchback.
Latham Provides the Breakthrough – Merrimack did not have to wait long to put the near pick-six behind them. Just moments after New Haven escaped a potential defensive touchdown, Matthias Latham broke loose for a 64-yard touchdown run with 38 seconds remaining in the first quarter, giving the Warriors a 7-0 lead.
The touchdown provided the offensive response Merrimack was looking for after the defensive opportunity slipped away. Latham’s explosive run gave the Warriors their first points of the afternoon and quickly shifted the momentum back in their favor.
Korkosz Extends the Advantage – Merrimack continued to build on its early momentum in the second quarter. With 10:49 remaining in the first half, AJ Hairston connected with Andrew Korkosz on a two-yard jump pass on fourth down, extending the Warriors’ lead to 14-0.
The seven-play, 67-yard drive lasted just over four minutes and gave Merrimack control of the game. The Warriors’ offense continued to take advantage of its opportunities while the defense kept New Haven off the scoreboard.
New Haven Responds After Halftime – The Chargers came out of halftime determined to make the game competitive. With 12:48 remaining in the third quarter, Jake Tripptree scored on a one-yard rushing touchdown, cutting Merrimack’s advantage to 14-7.
The score gave New Haven renewed momentum and turned the contest into a one-possession game. With the rain continuing to fall, both teams faced an increasingly difficult challenge of maintaining possession and executing consistently.
Bartolomeo Adds Insurance – Merrimack eventually turned its offensive momentum into additional points. AJ Hairston continued to find Matthias Latham when the Warriors needed a big play, connecting with him for a 40-yard completion during the drive. The big gain helped set up Guytano Bartolomeo, who drilled a 26-yard field goal with 8:19 remaining in the fourth quarter to extend Merrimack’s lead to 17-7.
The field goal gave Merrimack a two-score cushion with the game entering its final minutes. With the rain continuing to fall, the Warriors still had work to do to protect their lead.
New Haven Makes It a One-Score Game – The Chargers continued to fight until the final whistle, taking advantage of a muffed Merrimack punt to set up a scoring opportunity. With 4:24 remaining, Liam Quigley connected on a 32-yard field goal, cutting Merrimack’s lead to 17-10.
The score brought New Haven within one possession and put additional pressure on the Warriors to close out the game. With the momentum shifting toward the Chargers, Merrimack’s defense would need to make another play to preserve the Homecoming victory.
Taylor Comes Up With a Crucial Recovery – With the game still in the balance, the wet conditions created another major turning point. Tripptree fumbled the football as the ball became increasingly slippery, and Merrimack’s Trent Taylor recovered it at the Warriors’ 20-yard line.
Taylor’s recovery came at a critical moment and prevented New Haven from gaining possession with an opportunity to continue its comeback. The turnover gave Merrimack a chance to run out the clock and protect its 17-10 advantage.
Finding a Way – Saturday’s victory was not built around a flawless performance. Instead, Merrimack repeatedly responded to adversity, whether it was a potential pick-six slipping away, the rain affecting ball security or New Haven cutting the lead to one score.
The Warriors made enough plays when they mattered most. Latham’s 64-yard touchdown, Korkosz’s touchdown reception, Taylor’s fumble recovery and a defense that limited New Haven to 10 points all contributed to Merrimack’s Homecoming victory.
Gennetti on the Victory – Merrimack head coach Mike Gennetti reflected on his team’s ability to battle through the difficult conditions and make the necessary plays to secure the Homecoming victory. After the Warriors’ 17-10 win over New Haven, Gennetti discussed what stood out to him about his team’s performance.
The Warriors’ performance reflected the resilience Gennetti emphasized following the game. Merrimack overcame a rainy afternoon, missed opportunities and a second-half push from New Haven to ultimately close out the seven-point victory.
A Homecoming to Remember – Merrimack entered Homecoming looking to turn its return to Duane Stadium into a positive moment after spending the previous month on the road. The Warriors did exactly that, overcoming the elements and a late push from New Haven while also earning a measure of revenge from last season’s high-scoring defeat.
Unlike last year’s 41-31 contest, Saturday’s matchup became a defensive battle in the rain, with Merrimack doing enough on both sides of the ball to secure the 17-10 victory. Rain or shine, the Warriors found a way, giving the Homecoming crowd a win while flipping the result from a year ago.
