NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Sophomore tailback John Wiechman (Buxton, Maine) set new career-highs with 212 yards on 43 carries and three touchdowns to pace an outstanding all-around effort by the Southern Connecticut State University football team in its 40-26 win over Merrimack College on Saturday afternoon. The Owls jumped out to a 20-0 lead and never trailed in capturing their second straight win.
SCSU improves to 3-2, 2-1 in Northeast-10 play with the victory. Merrimack is now 2-2, 1-1.
The Owls took the opening kickoff right down the field and Wiechman put the finishing touches on the drive with a 1-yard plunge. SCSU led 7-0 following a made PAT by Christopher Hazelton (Bristol, Conn.).
The visitors extended their lead to two scores on their next possession. This time, it was Wiechman again who finished the drive with a one-yard leap over the pile. He set up his score with a 24-yard run on the play prior. Hazelton knocked through the PAT for a 14-0 cushion.
Merrimack fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Jerome Pinckney (Norcross, Ga.) scooped up the loose ball. On the next play, the Owls took a shot at the end zone, and it paid off when Chris Roberts (New Britain, Conn.) found Chris Bergeski (Mountainside, N.J.) on an 18-yard touchdown.
The Warriors used a punt return touchdown to climb within 20-7, but Hazelton added a field goal to make it 23-7 at halftime.
Merrimack closed to 23-14 after taking the second half kickoff and turning it into a touchdown scoring drive.
The Owls countered with a score of their own to restore the 16-point cushion at 30-14. Roberts and Bergeski connected again, this time on a 41-yard pass down the middle of the field, with 8:04 left in the third quarter.
Merrimack answered with a score to close to 30-20, but failed on the ensuing two-point try.
Hazelton added 25-yard field goal to make it 33-20 just 1:21 into the final frame, but the Warriors struck immediately on a three-play, 70-yard drive to make it 33-26 after a failed PAT try.
The defenses then held court for the next three series, but a key turnover allowed the Owls to seal the win. Leading 33-26 with just over five minutes to play, the Owls were able to force a fumble on the Merrimack 21. Four plays later, Wiechman found paydirt from six yards out to close out the scoring.
Roberts had another fine game at the quarterback position. He finished 20-of-32 for 262 yards and two touchdowns. Bergeski led the Owls receiving corps with seven catches for 125 yards and three scores. Ty Marshall (Ellenwood, Ga.) added six catches for 75 yards.
The Owls defense also fared well on the day, as they tallied four sacks and forced three fumbles. Andrew Pratt (West Haven, Conn.) and Eric Holter (Milford, Conn.) each had one sack and one forced fumble.
Southern Connecticut enjoys a bye week this coming weekend and returns to action at home on Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. against Bentley.
