Merrimack football headed to postseason for first time in 11 years

Kip Jackson stood among a group of reporters Friday night, after his Merrimack High School football team had accomplished a few things that might have been unbelievable just 19 months ago.

After being informed that his Tomahawks, who had just defeated Pinkerton 68-29, had likely clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2005, Jackson nodded.

"Sorry, guys, this is me excited," he said with a laugh. "We want to keep moving forward."

While Jackson may not have wanted to marvel at the moment, that win by Merrimack (6-1) is worthy of it.

For starters, it was the most points scored in a game, and in a half (Merrimack had 49 at halftime), against Pinkerton. Ever.

"We've never had this happen to us," Pinkerton coach Brian O'Reilly said after the game. "They had 49 points on us at halftime, which I don't think anyone has ever had."

The Tomahawks got those 68 points thanks in part to the arm of quarterback Justin Grassini, who completed 24 of 36 passes for 509 yards, one interception, and nine touchdowns in just three quarters of action. The number of passing touchdowns is a single-game state record, and through seven games, the senior has thrown for 30 touchdowns, just five shy of another state record.

Grassini split those touchdowns evenly between three receivers, who each went over a hundred yards on the night. Joe Eichman had 10 catches for 197 yards and all three of his scores in the first quarter, while Justin Weiser had seven catches for 138 yards and Danny Vanecek added six catches for 156 yards. Eichman also had a rushing touchdown in the third quarter.

Seven of the nine touchdowns went for 25 yards or more, as Merrimack took advantage of some things the coaches saw in the Pinkerton secondary.

"The first play (a 64-yard completion to Eichman), we threw that seam, and then we were just attacking that all night," Grassini said. "It's a great feeling. I love spreading the ball out and getting it to every guy. I trust them all to catch a pass, get in the open field and score a touchdown."

Grassini has 53 touchdowns in his career as a three-year starter for Merrimack, with at least three games left to play, because the Tomahawks will have at least one postseason game.

That of itself is a big deal, considering that this year's seniors were likely seven or eight years old the last time Merrimack made the playoffs.

In 2005, the Tomahawks went 7-5, falling to Exeter in the semifinals and to Souhegan on Thanksgiving. Since then, Merrimack had just two winning seasons before this year - in 2010, when the team went 7-4 with non-division wins over Hollis Brookline, Nashua North and Souhegan, and last year, when it went 5-4.

With the win over Pinkerton, combined with Goffstown's win over Manchester Central, the Tomahawks are back in the playoffs.

How might Merrimack handle being in the postseason for the first time in a long time? Friday's win should be a good barometer, given that the Tomahawks had lost to Pinkerton and average of almost 30 points the last three seasons.

"Coach (Jackson) always talks about overcoming adversity and that's really what we were working on this week," Grassini said. "We knew there would be adversity facing Pinkerton, there is every year because they're a great team, they're always physical. We were just focused on overcoming that."

Merrimack finishes out the year against Timberlane on Friday and then at home against Goffstown on Oct. 28.