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# Exeter football makes statement with big win over Merrimack
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/exeter-football-makes-statement-with-big-win-over-merrimack/
- Published: 2019-09-21T14:13:08.000Z
- Updated: 2019-09-21T14:13:08.000Z
- Description: EXETER - After predominantly playing junior varsity last year, senior tight end Nate MacDonald came into this season with not knowing what his role for the Exeter High School football team would be. He’s carved out a niche as one of his classmate’s favorite targets, and that was spotlighted on Frida
- Author: Dan Doyon
- Tags: Division I, Exeter, football, Merrimack, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

EXETER - After predominantly playing junior varsity last year, senior tight end Nate MacDonald came into this season with not knowing what his role for the Exeter High School football team would be.

He’s carved out a niche as one of his classmate’s favorite targets, and that was spotlighted on Friday night.

Exeter quarterback Ryan Grijalva completed three touchdown passes to MacDonald that totaled 86 total yards in Exeter’s 41-7 rout over previously unbeaten Merrimack in Division I action at William Ball Stadium. The Blue Hawks have outscored their opponents 109-20 in jumping to a 3-0 start to the season.

“Coach just calls the plays, and I knew what I had to do and I knew (Grijalva) would get me the ball, and all I had to do was come down with it,” MacDonald said. “We definitely practice a lot more passes in practice, so we knew it would be on the table. I feel like the O-line did a good job of keeping Ryan protected and allow him to get the ball to me.”

MacDonald has now caught four of Grijalva’s seven touchdown passes on the season. Grijalva finished with 95 passing yards on 4 of 6 completions. Grijalva added 85 rushing yards on seven carries, which included a 1-yard touchdown keeper that capped off a 12-play, 69-yard drive on the game’s initial drive to give Exeter a 7-0 lead with 5:24 left in the first quarter.

“We knew he could go up and go get,” Grijalva said. “I have trust in Nate; coach has trust in Nate. He’s a good fit for the team, we bond well, and it was just a matter of putting the ball in the right place. If he’s anywhere in the vicinity of the area, I feel confident he can catch it.”

Merrimack (2-1) was stopped on fourth down on its ensuing possession at Exeter’s 43-yard, when the Blue Hawks took over to set up the first Grijalva-to-MacDonald connection.

Grijalva first completed a 9-yard pass to Charles Lupo on third-and-5 to get down to Merrimack’s 30\. After a holding penalty forced a daunting first-and-23, Grijalva rolled to his left and found MacDonald on the run down the sideline for a 43-yard touchdown pass to give Exeter a 13-0 lead with 11:14 left in the second quarter.

After Merrimack went three-and-out on its next possession, Grijalva ripped off a 58-yard run on the first play down to Merrimack’s 17\. The Tomahawks held strong and forced Exeter to a 29-yard field goal attempt.

That’s what the majority thought; not Exeter coach Bill Ball.

Grijalva lined up as the kicker - not the normal kicker Nolan Elmore. Holder Tanner Casey took that snap, Grijalva began his motion, but Casey pulled the ball back for the fake. Casey rolled a bit to the left and dumped a screen pass to Thomas Lamar, who eluded defenders down the sideline into the end zone to complete the 12-yard touchdown pass to give Exeter a 20-0 lead with 7:22 left in the second.

“We practice that at least once a day,” Casey said. “He called it and I was like ‘Wow, it’s time to go. Let’s go do this.’ The kid in front of me dove, and I was like ‘this is going to work.' Then I looked backed and Tommy was open and I knew this was going in for six.”

Exeter began its final drive of the first half at its own 43, and it eventually worked its way down to Merrmack’s 27 after Grijalva gained nine yards on a fourth-and-1\. Grijalva executed a play-action pass on the next play, and found a wide-open MacDonald for the touchdown pass with 17 seconds left in the second quarter to give Exter a 27-0 lead.

“He’s a good athlete. He has the ability to get open, see space and find space,” Ball said. “He’s able to convert that. If there is one safety, he’s able to read that. If there’s two safeties, he’s able to read that. He’s done a really good job.”

MacDonald’s final touchdown catch came from 16 yards to give Exeter a 34-0 lead with 7:44 left in the third quarter.

Merrimack’s only score came later in the third on starting quarterback James Dowling's 1-yard keeper. Dowling completed 12 of 19 passes for 80 yards with three interceptions, two by Exeter's Jaedon Cliche.

“They were more prepared to play then we were,” Merrimack coach Kip Jackson said. “They’re a very good football team. (Grijalva) is a very good athlete, and on defense they tackle well and make you pay for any mistakes you make.”

Merrimack host Nashua South (2-1) next Friday, while Exeter faces a test at Nashua North (3-0).

“We were ready, we came out ready and I’m really proud of the effort,” Ball said. “You could tell we were locked and loaded.”