Husson, Mariners lose opening games

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Kurt Leone passed for 334 yards in the first half of his first collegiate start as Division II Merrimack rolled to a 42-7 college football victory over Husson in the mutual opener Saturday.

Using a no-huddle offense, Leone connected with six different receivers in the first half, including four for touchdown passes as the Warriors built a 35-0 intermission lead.

Husson’s only touchdown came on a 1-yard run by Justin Lindie early in the fourth quarter, but Merrimack’s Andrew Jackson returned the ensuing kickoff 81 yards for the touchdown.

Leone finished 25 of 34 passing for 362 yards, while Chris Latham had 11 catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns and Richard Johnson rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.

Lindie finished with 84 rushing yards on 16 carries, while freshman quarterback James McCandless completed 10 of 21 passes for 75 yards, including five receptions for 42 yards by Roderic Johnson.

Earl Wilson had an interception for Husson, while Kyle Vanidestine and Darius Charlton each was in on eight tackles.

Husson (0-1) 0 0 0 7 – 7

Merrimack (1-0) 21 14 0 7 – 42

M-Loftis 24 pass from Leone (Garvey kick)

M-Watts 25 pass from Leone (Garvey kick)

M-Latham 22 pass from Leone (Garvey kick)

M-Latham 29 pass from Leone (Garvey kick)

M-Johnson 79 run (Garvey kick)

H-Lindie 1 run (Gauthier kick)

M-Jackson 81 kickoff return (Tand kick)

MIT 42, Maine Maritime 39

At Portland, Robert Utz scored on a 7-yard run with 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter as the Engineers earned a season-opening victory at Fitzpatrick Stadium

The teams combined for 874 yards of total offense and scored on seven consecutive second-half possessions before Utz scored the game-winner.

MMA quarterback Tyler Angell passed for 173 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 98 yards on 14 carries. Jim Bower added 100 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns, while Alex Coulombe had four pass receptions for 116 yards and two scores. Josh Elwell of Owls Head also had a 51-yard pass reception for MMA.

Linebacker Travis Fergola paced the Mariners’ defense with 11 tackles and 11 assists, while Wade Mondoux was in on 16 tackles, Connor Callahan 13 and Cody Andrews of Orrington had nine tackles and a quarterback sack.

DeRon Brown led MIT with 137 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback Rick Mancuso passed for 152 yards and two scores.