Manchester, N.H. (October 26, 2002)- Saint Anselm defeated Merrimack College by a 21-7 score in a steady downpour Saturday in a Northeast-10 Football game played at Grappone Stadium in Manchester, N.H.
Saint Anselm improves to 3-5 overall, 3-5 in NE-10 play while Merrimack slips to 3-4 overall, 3-4 in league play.
If the rain didn't signal it enough, Saint Anselm dictated that the game would be a wild one as the Hawks tried an onside kick to start things off. Merrimack recovered the attempt but it was a sign of things to come-- nine fumbles and five turnovers, four of which came in the fourth quarter.
Merrimack drew first blood, as Dominic Cardine (Allantown, Pa.) went 44 yards, nearly untouched to put the Warriors on top midway through the first quarter. The Warriors continued to drive the ball all day but it was the Hawks coming up with all the big plays.
The Hawks tied the game, 7-7, midway through the second quarter as Derek DiMartino (Amherst, N.H./ UMass Amherst) capped a 12-play, 56-yard drive with a three-yard plunge, powering through a pair of Merrimack defenders.
Saint Anselm went ahead for good five minutes later after a five-play, 57-yard drive that included a pair of big plays. A 36-yard screen pass to Kevin Ridgley (Amesbury, Mass./ Amesbury) set up a 10-yard scoring pass from Keith Comeau (Marblehead, Mass./ Marblehead) to Travis Pelletier (Deerfield, N.H./ Central) at the 3:46 mark. Pelletier, who was running a fade pattern, wrestled the ball away from a Merrimack defender in the end zone and held on for his fifth touchdown of the year.
The Hawks added to their lead to open the second half, using another lengthy drive, this time a 10-play, 64-yard drive. A nifty 18-yard scamper by DiMartino set up Comeau's second scoring strike of the game as he hit Jason Case (Attleboro, Mass./ Salisbury) on a nine-yard slant.
The day's scoring was finished but the wild play wasn't, as the two teams started handing each other chances to gain control of the game. In the end, seven Merrimack fumbles (one lost), two interceptions, and three late sacks propelled the Hawks to their second straight home win.
DiMartino finished the game with a workman-like 26 carries for 98 yards. Comeau completed 15 of 21 passes for 152 yards and two TDs while Ridgley and Pelletier led all receivers with four catches for 47 and 36 yards, respectively. Sophomore tight end Mike Smith (Chelmsford, Mass./ Chelmsford) also pulled down three tough catches in traffic on the rainy day, all keeping drives alive.
On defense, linebackers James Ward (Westerly, R.I./ Westerly) and Matt Horgan (Salem, Mass./ Salem) each recorded 10 tackles with a sack. Horgan also forced two fumbles and intercepted a pass and returned it 21 yards after Ward jarred the ball loose from a Merrimack receiver. Each player also recorded a quarterback pressure. Sophomore cornerback Mike DeMasi (New Canaan, Conn./ New Canaan) also recorded his conference-leading sixth interception.
For Merrimack, Jon Reid (Bronx, N.Y.) had 17 carries for 99 yards for a Merrimack team that out gained the Hawks 205-119 on the ground and 351-271 overall. Jamie Campbell (Wilmington, Mass.) played a spectacular game on defense, leading all players with 17 tackles (11 solo), two for a loss, and also recovered a fumble.
Saint Anselm will return to action next Saturday, November 9 when the Hawks travel to Easton, Mass. For a 12:00 road game at Stonehill.
