Manchester, N.H. (October 9, 2004) — Two big plays were the difference Saturday as Merrimack College defeated Saint Anselm 21-7 in a Northeast-10 Conference game at Grappone Stadium.
Freshman WR Elfren Quiles (New Britain, Conn.) caught nine passes for 172 yards in the game. Two of his catches were key: a 51-yard touchdown pass that broke a 7-7 tie in the third quarter, and a 50-yard catch on a second-and-21 late in the fourth quarter.
Quiles' touchdown catch came on the Warriors' first play following an interception by Matt Gannon (Orland Park, Ill.) late in the third quarter, breaking open a defensive battle.
The win moves Merrimack to 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the NE-10, while Saint Anselm falls to 4-2 overall and 3-2 in conference play.
Both teams largely abandoned the run game, with defenses dominating. Merrimack threw the ball 37 times in the first half, running 27 more plays than Saint Anselm (56-29). The game saw little offensive momentum, featuring 19 combined punts.
Merrimack opened the scoring with three seconds left in the first quarter on a nine-yard catch and run by Ryan Salter (Bridgewater, Mass.). The scoring drive was set up by a costly Saint Anselm turnover on its own 37-yard line, with Merrimack driving seven plays for the score.
Saint Anselm equalized at the 9:20 mark of the second quarter with a five-yard touchdown pass from Shane Dinagen (Harrisville, R.I./Burrillville) to Michael Garcarz (New Britain, Conn./New Britain). A key 33-yard pass from Dinagen to Kevin Lukas (Rocky Hill, Conn./Rocky Hill) on fourth-and-10 from the Merrimack 38 kept the drive alive.
The score remained tied at 7-7 until 2:30 left in the third quarter when Quiles hauled in a perfectly thrown pass from Colin Temple (Rutland, Vt.). Saint Anselm had its best chance early in the fourth quarter, starting a drive at the Merrimack 42 after a short punt. However, their drive stalled, and a 38-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.
Merrimack sealed the game with 2:33 left when Mike Hinkley (Whitman, Mass.) broke through for a 23-yard run following Quiles' 50-yard catch.
Temple finished 24-of-49 for 207 yards with two interceptions, while Dinagen went 22-of-52 for 220 yards with three interceptions.
Saint Anselm's Brian Sundell (Easton, Mass./Oliver Ames) led all defenders with 12 tackles (6 solo) and an interception. Reigning Division II Defensive Player of the Week David Heiner (Farmington, Conn./Farmington) had seven tackles, including 4.0 sacks for 32 yards, and two quarterback hurries.
B.J. Birtz (Lincoln, Maine) led Merrimack with eight tackles (4 solo), one interception, and two pass breakups.
Saint Anselm returns to action next Saturday, traveling to Bryant College for a 1:00 PM game in Smithfield, R.I.
