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| SACHRT | 
| MERMAK | 
Merrimack defeats Sacred Heart despite blowing 15-point lead
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (AP) Gavin McCusker threw for a touchdown and got decisive score on the ground, leading Merrimack Warriors to a 31-25 victory over Sacred Heart Pioneers on Saturday.
McCusker, who threw for 124 yards, including a 20-yard TD pass to Pat Conroy, scored on a 2-yard run with 15 seconds left in the third quarter. Midway through the fourth quarter the Warriors' Jared Dunn blocked a Sacred Heart punt and Lliam Davis capped the scoring with a 37-yard field goal.
Trailing 31-25, Sacred Heart had two remaining possessions. Sam Renzi missed a 27-yard field goal with 5:22 remaining and later time ran out with the Pioneers at the Merrimack 27-yard line.
Shayne Butler's 42-yard interception return for a touchdown gave the Warriors (6-2, 4-0 Northeast Conference) a 21-6 lead early in the third quarter. Highlighted by a safety and a 68-yard touchdown pass from Marquez McCray to Kenneth Womack, Sacred Heart (4-3, 2-1) scored the next 19 points to take a 25-21 lead.
Marquez completed 20 of 37 passes for 315 yards with a touchdown and interception. Grant Malik rushed for 97 yards and Rob DiNota had 120 receiving yards for the Pioneers, who had a 464-298 advantage in total yards.
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| Team Stats | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1st Downs | 0 | 0 | 
| Rushing | 0 | 0 | 
| Passing | 0 | 0 | 
| Penalty | 0 | 0 | 
| 3rd Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 | 
| 4th Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 | 
| Total Net Yards | 0 | 0 | 
| Total Plays | 0 | 0 | 
| Avg Gain | 0 | 0 | 
| Net Yards Rushing | 0 | 0 | 
| Rush Attempts | 0 | 0 | 
| Avg Rush Yards | 0 | 0 | 
| Yards Passing | 0 | 0 | 
| Comp. - Att. | 0-0 | 0-0 | 
| Yards Per Pass | 0 | 0 | 
| Penalties - Yards | 0-0 | 0-0 | 
| Touchdowns | ||
| Rushing TDs | 0 | 0 | 
| Passing TDs | 0 | 0 | 
| Other | ||
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 | 
| Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 | 
| Int. Thrown | 0 | 0 | 
| Punts - Avg | 0-0 | 0-0 | 
| Return Yards | ||
| Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 | 
| Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 | 
| Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 | 
| Safeties | 0 | 0 | 
                                            
        
                        
        
        
  | 
                                    
| Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | 
| Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | 
| 
                                         
                                                T. Eberhart III 
                                                 
                                             
                                                                                        
 
  | 
                                    T. Eberhart III | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 
| Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | 
| 
                                         
                                                P. Rhoades 
                                                 
                                             
                                                                                        
 
  | 
                                    P. Rhoades | 0 | 15 | 137 | 0 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 
                                         
                                                K. McGuire 
                                                 
                                             
                                                                                        
 
  | 
                                    K. McGuire | 0 | 7 | 46 | 0 | 17 | 
| Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | 
| Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS | 
| Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG | 
| Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD | 
| Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD | 
| Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | 
| Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | 
| 
                                         
                                                K. Sims 
                                                 
                                             
                                                                                        
 
  | 
                                    K. Sims | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 
| Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | 
| 
                                         
                                                H. Fisher 
                                                 
                                             
                                                                                        
 
  | 
                                    H. Fisher | 0 | 20 | 347 | 4 | 48 | 
| Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | 
| Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS | 
| Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG | 
| Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD | 
| Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |