The Game: Saint Anselm returns to action on Saturday with the Hawks traveling to North Andover, Mass. for a Northeast-10 Conference game against the Warriors of Merrimack College. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 PM at Warrior Field.
Saint Anselm comes into the game at 0-5, marking the first time in program history that the Hawks have lost five straight to start a season. The Hawks enter the game on the heels of a 49-9 loss at Southern Connecticut State in Hew Haven, Conn. last weekend.
Merrimack enters the game at 2-2 overall and had a bye week last weekend. The Warriors are riding a two-game win streak, with a pair of nail-biters. The Warriors came from behind late in both their wins, edging American International, 16-13, and Pace 14-13.
Series History: Saint Anselm leads the all-time series, 3-1 and won last year's showdown in Manchester, N.H., 21-7. However, the Warriors won the last meeting in N. Andover, Mass., shutting out the Hawks, 21-0 in 2001.
Last season's affair was a wild one that featured nine fumbles and five turnovers, four of which came in the fourth quarter. The Hawks came up with all the big plays, stopping the Warriors on all five of their red zone possessions.
The Hawks do own a road win against Merrimack, taking a 7-5 win in 1999. That win marked the lowest point total in a Hawk win in modern day program history.
Inside The Numbers: In a series that has always been a defensive struggle, Saturday's game will likely hinge on that side of the ball. Despite being on two very different ends of the won-loss spectrum, the teams are very similar in almost every category.
The big play will also lend a hand in determining the winner. The Hawks have allowed 12 scoring plays of 35 yards or more, compared to just four for Merrimack, with two of those coming on offensive miscues.
Northeast-Nine: Times have changed in the Northeast-10 Conference as they are with one less team at the start of the 2003 season after the University of Massachusetts-Lowell dropped its football program at the conclusion of last season.
As a result, Saint Anselm will play a non-conference game for the first time since the 2000 season in which the Hawks had a pair of non-league games. The Hawks will travel to Division I-AA member Siena College in November. The two last met in that same 2000 season, with the Hawks taking a 20-16 win.
Merrimack: Merrimack allowed a total of 887 total yards in starting the season at 0-2, but have given up a total of just 447 in their last two outings, both wins.
The Warriors have either trailed or had been tied going into the final quarter in all four games but have and have their opponents 59-20 in the final 15 minutes.
The Merrimack defense gave up 75 points in its first two games but have held their last two opponents to just 13 points in the last two weeks.
Saint Anselm: SCSU used 333 first half yards in building a 42-2 advantage before cruising home to a 49-9 win over the Hawks on Saturday. The Owl win kept alive a streak with the home team winning all five games in the series while scoring at least 36 points.
NE-10 Co-Defensive Player of the Week: Senior linebacker James Ward (Westerly, R.I./ Westerly) was a force on defense for the Hawks against SCSU. In the first half Ward recorded 11 total tackles (6 solo), a solo sack, an interception in the end zone and forced a fumble at the goal line that the Hawks recovered for a safety. He also came out strong in the second half by making three solo tackles on SCSU's first drive of the quarter before sitting out the rest of the game with the Owls leading 49-2.
Ward's World: On the season, Ward leads the Hawks in total tackles (44), tackles for a loss (6.5-28), sacks (3.0-16), interceptions (3-9), and forced fumbles (2), and is second in pass breakups (2), and quarterback hurries (2).
Youth Movement: Several young players got into the action in the second half Saturday. Freshman wideout Matt Raymond (Niantic, Conn./ E. Lyme) pulled in his first career catch; Dan Deer (Vernon, Vt./. Brattleboro) had his first career touchdown reception, a diving 16-yard effort in the corner of the endzone; and running backs Cortney Dunlap (Bristol, Conn./ Bristol Eastern), Brandon Keleher (Peru, N.Y./ Central), Matt Rock (Andover, Mass./ N. Andover), and Jason DeMasi (New Canaan, Conn./ New Canaan) all had their first career carries.
Bye A Win: Saint Anselm is 0-1 this season against teams coming off a bye week (Stonehill). The Hawks are 1-2 all-time against teams coming in after a bye week.
Cashing In: Although the red zone stats have not translated into wins, the Hawks have been solid on both sides of the ball there this season. On offense, the team remains the only perfect squad in the NE-10 with a 10-for-10 conversion rate (six TDs, four FGs). On defense, the Hawks have also played well, allowing 13 scores on 21 possessions with four takeaways and two four-down stops.
Show Me Some Leg: Freshman kicker Mike Garcarz (New Britain, Conn./ New Britain) leads the NE-10 with four field goals in six attempts. His two misses have come from distances of 47 and 52 yards.
