Story and photo courtesy of Merrimack Athletics
PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Merrimack football team defeated the Pace Setters on Saturday afternoon by the score of 63-14 behind a career-day for All-American receiver Isaiah Voegeli (Hyannis, Mass.). Voegeli finished the game with a Northeast-10 Conference record with 17 catches for 264 yards and three touchdowns. With his first catch of the day, Voegeli is now the career receptions and yardage record holder at Merrimack College.
“I really like how we are coming together,” head coach John Perry stated. “Heading into our bye week it will be important for us to make some minor adjustments. There are some things to clean up in all three phases of the game.”
The Warriors tied the school record for points in a game which was set last season against Pace. Merrimack’s offense went for 640 yards of total offense, fifth most in school history, almost identical to their total of 644 yards last season against the Setters.
Senior quarterback Joe Clancy (Newburyport, Mass.) continued to put up huge numbers on Saturday afternoon as he finished the game going 28-for-37 for 418 yards and four touchdowns, including three touchdowns to Voegeli. Running back Quinn McDonough (Medford, Mass.) had a career day for the Warriors in the victory as he finished with 12 carries for 119 yards and three touchdowns and also had two catches for 12 yards.
Defensively the Warriors recorded three sacks, eight tackles for a loss, three interceptions and one fumble recovery in the victory. Jesse Fowler (Lynn, Mass.) intercepted a Pace pass in the third quarter and returned it for a 47 yard touchdown. Captain Ryan McCarthy (Newton, Mass.) finished the game with a team-high seven tackles and an interception while freshman Ruben Berger (Naugatuck, CT) collected his first career interception and also had three tackles.
The Warriors opened up the scoring on their second drive of the game as Voegeli caught a 10 yard touchdown pass from Clancy, capping off a eight play 54 yard drive.
Merrimack scored five straight touchdowns in the second quarter to put the game out of reach for the home Setters, making the score 42-0 at half. Fowler finished off the scoring in the opening half with a 47 yard interception return for a touchdown, his first interception of the season. McDonough also had two touchdowns during the run while Jimon Hill (North Chicago, Ill.) and Voegeli chipped in with a touchdown each.
The 35 point second quarter is the second most points scored in a quarter in school history as last season against Pace the Warriors scored 42 points in the first quarter.
The Setters got on the board midway through the third quarter as Brian Beeker found Patrick Lupfer for a 61 yard scoring strike, making the score 42-7 in favor of the Warriors.
Clancy responded quickly for the Warriors as he hooked up with Zach Ingalls (Westford, Mass.) from 34 yards out and Voegeli from nine yards out for consecutive passing touchdowns, giving him four on the afternoon. After the Voegeli touchdown Merrimack took the 56-7 lead with 13 minutes left in the game.
McDonough finished off his monster game with a 39 yard touchdown scamper, making the score 63-7 in favor of the visitors. The Setters added a 24 yard touchdown by Cameron Davis to make the final score 63-14.
Voegeli now leads the NE-10 in all receiving categories as he has racked up 56 catches for 733 yards and six touchdowns while Clancy also leads the NE-10 in all passing categories. Clancy is averaging 375.8 yards per game and has thrown for 12 touchdowns through five games.
Merrimack (3-2, 2-2 NE-10) has their bye this week and will return to action on October 13 at Stonehill.