Big plays lift Merrimack football to convincing win over Bishop Guertin

MERRIMACK - For the Merrimack High School football team, there was only one objective heading into Friday's game against Bishop Guertin - win in convincing fashion.

Led by quarterback James Dowling and running back Tristan Wood, the Tomahawks did just that, blowing out the Cardinals 41-9 in a Division I South Conference game.

Merrimack (4-1) set the tone for the rest of the night in its first possession of the game. After an excellent return by Ben Eichman on the opening kickoff, the Hawks offense would march down the field and score in under 90 seconds. This first possession was highlighted by Dowling finding Wood for the 39-yard reception. Two plays later, Wood would punch the ball into the end zone for his first touchdown of the night.

Wood finished with a stellar night, not only on the offensive side of the ball but on defense, too. As a running back, he would carry the ball five times for 59 yards and touchdown, an average of 11.8 yards per carry. But what may have been more impressive was his stat line on the defensive side of the ball. A catalyst for the defense the senior would record three tackles, a blocked punt, and an interception he returned for a touchdown.

With 44 seconds to go in the second quarter, and Merrimack already up 18-3, Bishop Guertin (1-4) quarterback Joey DeSilva was leading his Cardinals offense down the field. Bishop Guertin had the ball on its own 40-yard line and plenty of time left on the clock, DeSilva dropped back to pass.

He scanned the field and saw Austin Hiscoe across the middle, deep in Merrimack territory. Wood jumped the route, picked the ball off, and once he found a seam to the far side of the field, he was off the races, taking the ball 59-yards for the score. That gave Merrimack a 24-3 lead going into halftime.

Dowling finished the game 11 of 13 passing for 255 yards and touchdown and also ran five times for 20 yards and another touchdown.