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# Dowling stepping up his game has Merrimack football soaring
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/dowling-stepping-up-his-game-has-merrimack-football-soaring/
- Published: 2019-10-21T15:00:19.000Z
- Updated: 2019-10-21T15:00:19.000Z
- Description: It's not often a change on defense makes an offense better, but that's what has happened for the Merrimack High School football team. The Tomahawks went into their game against Bishop Guertin on Oct. 5 with the plan to play senior quarterback James Dowling a little more on defense and get sophomore
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, football, Merrimack, NH High School Sports Insider, Portsmouth-Oyster River, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

It's not often a change on defense makes an offense better, but that's what has happened for the Merrimack High School football team.

The Tomahawks went into their game against Bishop Guertin on Oct. 5 with the plan to play senior quarterback James Dowling a little more on defense and get sophomore backup Kyle Crampton a few more opportunities on offense.

At halftime of that game, the teams were tied 7-7 and Dowling had thrown three interceptions. The offense was trending in the wrong direction, as in it's previous 10 quarters - including that first half against the Cardinals - Merrimack had scored an average of 4.2 points per quarter.

Crampton got the call on the opening drive of the second half and led Merrimack on a 63-yard touchdown drive to give the Tomahawks the lead. But after going no where on the next possession, Dowling came back in, caught fire and hasn't cooled off since.

In its last 10 quarters, Merrimack has averaged 12.4 points per quarter - more than a point per minute - and Dowling has been front and center. Over that stretch, he's completed 26 of 42 passes (61.9 percent) for 666 yards with nine touchdowns and one interception, which came off a deflection in Friday's 56-21 win over Portsmouth-Oyster River. He's also run for two touchdowns in the last two games.

"He’s becoming more accurate and he’s doing a better job of reading and doing some of the little things," Merrimack coach Kip Jackson said. "When he started to play defense, I think he started to play quarterback a lot better. Go figure."

Dowling believes its because he's playing more defense that he's able to find success on offense.

"When I play offense angry, bad things happen," he said. "Playing on defense, I can get that all out and just stay focused and calm on offense and just make plays. I worked hard all offseason and they condition us very well. I haven’t felt tired, maybe for a play, and I’ll take a play off and then go back out."

Merrimack (5-2) has been getting everyone involved on offense, as five different receivers caught passes against the ClipperCats (3-4). The Tomahawks scored on every possession in the first half and never faced a third-down situation, as Dowling was 12 of 15 for 275 yards and four touchdowns before halftime.

"We knew they were going to come out punching and that we had to play well," Dowling said. "They’re a good team. We knew that if we lost this game, it’d be hard for us to make the playoffs, so we had to keep going with a full head of steam.

The Tomahawks are going to need to keep that steam going, as they face their toughest test of the regular season Friday against Nashua North. Merrimack won both meetings with the Titans last year - including an overtime win the quarterfinals - but North (7-0) has allowed an average of 7.7 points per game this year.

"They have a lot of good people," Dowling said. "They have a big, strong line. We just have to play our game. There’s nothing else to it."