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# Manchester Memorial football cashes in on opportunities to beat Merrimack (video)
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/manchester-memorial-football-cashes-in-on-opportunities-to-beat-merrimack-video/
- Published: 2023-11-03T15:00:12.000Z
- Updated: 2023-11-03T15:00:12.000Z
- Description: MERRIMACK - The Manchester Memorial High School football team has at times put itself in position for big things this season. But too often, the Crusaders couldn't find ways to capitalize on those opportunities. Memorial did on Thursday, scoring twice off turnovers in the first half and doing enough
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, football, Manchester Memorial, Merrimack, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

MERRIMACK - The Manchester Memorial High School football team has at times put itself in position for big things this season.

But too often, the Crusaders couldn't find ways to capitalize on those opportunities.

Memorial did on Thursday, scoring twice off turnovers in the first half and doing enough defensively in the second half to hang on for a 14-12 win over Merrimack in a Division I game. It was one of four matchups between D1 teams that didn't make the postseason.

Erik Seymore ran for 117 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries and Connor McFarland led a last-minute touchdown drive to end the first half, giving Memorial (2-7 in D1, 2-8 overall) all the points it needed for the win.

"I’m really proud of them," Memorial coach Rob Sturgis said. "We’ve been trying to get over this adversity hump for it seems like years. Really proud of the way they responded. We knew Merrimack was a really good team. They took Portsmouth down to the wire just a couple of weeks ago.

"We knew it was going to take everything on offense, defense and special teams to try to pull this one out. I’m proud of how the kids came out and responded."

McFarland, who played most of the first half as a receiver, moved to quarterback when the Crusaders got the ball back on their own 35-yard line with 55 seconds left in the first half. The senior went 5 for 5 passing, accounting for all 65 yards, including an 8-yard scoring pass to Jacob Schuff with two seconds left to give Memorial a 14-0 lead.

Unfortunately for Memorial, McFarland left the game early in the second half with a shoulder injury, and Merrimack's defense did a better job containing Seymore, who had 74 of his yards in the first half.

"He battles," Sturgis said of Seymore. "It doesn’t matter if we don’t get any push, he always comes off and says it’s on him. He just battles and battles. That offensive line is one senior and (Thursday) we had a junior and a bunch of sophomores and freshmen. He knows that it’s on him to be a leader."

Memorial's defense had six takeaways, including four interceptions of Tomahawks quarterback Shea Egan, who was starting in place of injured starter Sahil Mujawar. Merrimack (2-7, 3-7) was also with out starting running back Garron Brown due to injury.

"Tough situation to be in," Merrimack coach Kip Jackson said. "Our offensive revolves a bit around Garron (Brown) so not having him was a big loss. Injuries happen and you have to be able to deal with it. We have to prepare other guys to step in and take care of business."

Memorial outgained Merrimack 224-131 and held the Tomahawks to just 1.7 yards per carry, thanks in part to four sacks of Egan.

Anthony Almonte 80 yards rushing and a touchdown on 18 carries for Merrimack and Logan Day caught two passes for 71 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown catch from Egan with 1:34 left in the game.

But the Crusaders had blocked the extra point following Almonte's touchdown to open the third quarter, so the Tomahawks had to go for two to try to tie the game. Egan tried to loft a pass to a well-covered Aiden Centrella in the back of the end zone, but the ball sailed out of bounds.

"We gave up a touchdown and they have a chance to tie it and we’re able to go out there and make a stop," Sturgis said. "There are going to be times when our offense is rolling, like the first half, and then there will be times you get stagnant.

"You’ve got to make adjustments and try to figure out what the answer is. Our defense knows that. We call it the 21-point rule. If you hold them to under 21 points, you can be upset if we don’t win. They really did a great job."

Merrimack's Matthew Schmitt attempted an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, and it looked like Jonathan Sadia had a chance to recover it, but Memorial ended up with the ball to end the game.

"He jumped on top of it and got the win knocked out of him and we don’t recover it," Jackson said. "We kept playing. They don’t quit and I’m proud of the effort they put in. We would love to always come out on the winning end, but in sports and life, that doesn’t happen all the time."