Merrimack wins D-I inaugural, 45-14 over Virginia Lynchburg

Posted August 31, 2019 7:00 am

The Associated Press

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (AP) - Jamari Venter and Matt Brehon each had a pair of touchdown runs and Merrimack won its inaugural game as a Division I program with a 45-14 victory over Virginia Lynchburg on Saturday.

Merrimack begins Northeast Conference play next Saturday at Central Connecticut State.

Merrimack's Cam Tillman intercepted a Sherman Brown pass on the fourth play of the game, and Venter scored on a 10-yard run two plays later. A fumble set up Brehon's 3-yard score later in the first quarter. Christian Carter threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Johnny Rosario, and Malachi McFadden bullied in from the 2 to help the Warriors build a 31-7 halftime lead.

Venter added a 2-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter and Brehon broke loose on a 42-yard touchdown run to cap the scoring.

Brown was 9-of-20 passing for 129 yards and threw two touchdown passes but also had two interceptions.

The opening kickoff was moved up three hours for an afternoon start in an effort to minimize exposure to Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), a mosquito-borne virus in the area.

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