Opportunities were abundant for Merrimack football in playoff loss

The Merrimack High School football team lined up at the Bedford 21-yard line for its third offensive play of last Saturday's Division I semifinal.

The Tomahawks had picked up 51 yards on their first two plays, and it looked like they'd get more when quarterback Justin Grassini saw receiver Justin Weiser open. But the ball was tipped and went right to Bedford's Miles Strickler for an interception, ending Merrimack's first threat.

What at the time felt like the first of many opportunities for Merrimack slipped away, but the Tomahawks had other chances in what was eventually a 27-20 loss to the Bulldogs in overtime.

Seven times - including that first drive and the overtime - Merrimack got down inside the Bedford 25-yard line, but was only able to score on two of those drives. That includes two first-and-goal situations in regulation where the Bulldogs didn't allow a point.

"I think they played red zone defense similar to what Pinkerton does," Merrimack coach Kip Jackson said. "Really good teams, once you get inside the 10, there's smaller spaces to maneuver. A lot of our plays this year have been big plays. It's easier to defended somebody where there's less room."

There were two situations that could have been daggers.

On the first play after Merrimack took a 7-0 lead, Bedford's Connor Robert was picked off by Merrimack's Tyler DeNeill, giving the Tomahawks the ball back at the Bulldogs' 18-yard line.

But faced with a third-and-6, Merrimack was called for holding, and after an incompletion, Grassini was picked off in the end zone by Lucien Mumpini (three interceptions) to end the drive.

The Tomahawks went into halftime with a 14-0 lead and received the kickoff to start the second half, putting together a 14-play drive. On first-and-goal from the Bedford 9, Joe Eichman picked up five years to get Merrimack to the 4-yard line.

But DeNeill lost two yards on second down and Merrimack was again called for a hold on third, setting of a third-and-goal from the 21. The Tomahawks tried  an option pass, but Bedford defended it well and Weiser was forced to run, getting just a yard.

Facing fourth-and-goal from the 20, Merrimack went for it and Grassini connected with Dan McKilliop for a touchdown, but the score was waved off and McKilliop was called for pass interference. Now at the Bedford 35-yard line, on fourth down, Grassini's pass underneath to Eichman fell incomplete and Merrimack turned it over on downs.

"We talked about the difference in games with teams are pretty evenly matched, it's going to be turnovers and special teams," Jackson said. "We missed an extra point and we turned the ball over way too much, and that what the difference."

The loss ends the best season for Merrimack in over two decades, as the Tomahawks won more games (9-2 overall) than in any season in that span. It was the first time in the playoffs for Merrimack since 2005, and last week's quarterfinal win over Goffstown was the first playoff win since 1995.

Grassini finished the year with his name in the record books, as his 43 touchdown passes set a single-season state record and the nine touchdowns he threw in the regular season against Pinkerton was also a state record.

"It's been a great year, this is a great group of kids," Jackson said. "We needed to play better. These guys are great student athletes and they're going to do well at the next level. They've done everything I've asked of them."