North Andover, Mass. - Stonehill used big plays on offense, defense and special teams to not only snap their three-game losing skid but end Merrimack's three-game winning streak in an exciting 24-14 win over the host Warriors on Friday night.
The defense intercepted five passes, including three deep in Stonehill territory, and held the Northeast-10's leading receiver, Chris Laham without a catch, as they held a high scoring Warrior attack well below its season scoring average.
Trailing 7-0 early in the second quarter, Cruz Parsons (Signal Hill, Calif.) entered the game at quarterback and promptly engineered the Skyhawks first scoring drive of the game. He rushed for 24 of the 64 yards that Stonehill picked up on the 11-play drive. Jefferey Payne (West Haven, Conn.) did the rest, including the final 16 yards on a run off the left side into the endzone.
Merrimack got the ball in excellent field position following the kickoff and drove into the redzone but Colin Temple was picked off in the back of the endzone by junior Kyle Griffin (Walpole, Mass.).
With the score still tied at 7-7 and time winding down in the half, the Warriors went to a hurry up offense and methodically moved the ball down the field into Stonehill territory. Temple was intercepted again, however, this time by Jon Kilborn (North Dartmouth, Mass.) at the two-yard line.
Neither team could muster any points in the third quarter, but the Skyhawks used the big play to get on the board in the opening stages of the fourth. After a short run by Payne, Parsons put on one of his patented scrambling displays and broke free from the pass rush for a 22 yard gain. He then connected with J.J. Niamkey (Quincy, Mass.) on a 39 yard bomb down the right side, giving Stonehill a 14-7 lead. For Niamkey, it was his seventh receiving touchdown of the season and fourth consecutive game in which he has a scoring grab.
The Warriors would answer, however with a 10-play, 64-yard drive that featured one run by Temple, three by Richard Johnson and six from Mike Young who punched in the tying score from three yards out.
The Skyhawks responded themselves as Payne picked up the squibbed kick, broke free from a pack of Warriors, made one man miss and raced to the endzone for a 74 yard score. His score was the first Stonehill kick return for a touchdown since Niamkey's 90-yarder at Iona in 2006.
Determined to make a big play with Laham, who leads the conference with 11 touchdown receptions, Temple threw into double coverage and was again intercepted by Kilborn.
Stonehill took 3:07 off the clock before a Brett Perrone (Southington, Conn.) punt pinned the Warriors back at their own 15. On the very next play, Jared Zanello (Walpole, Mass.) stepped in front of a pass to collect his fourth interception of the season.
Eddie Vachon (Newton, Mass.) helped the running game pound way, advancing to the two yard line before a Perrone field goal made it 24-14.
Temple's final pass of the game was Kilborn's third interception of the game, sealing the Skyhawk victory.
Kilborn had a monster game, recording career-highs with 14 tackles, three interceptions and two pass breakups. Zanello was outstanding as well, registering nine tackles and two sacks in addition to his interception.
Offensively, Vachon had 96 yards on 20 carries, while Parsons, who didn't put the ball in the air a great deal, was 6-for-10 for 76 yards and a score to go along with 42 yards on the ground. Payne meanwhile, had 176 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns.
The win for Stonehill moves their record to 5-4, assuring them of their first winning season since 1996.
The Skyhawks will close out their season with 1 p.m. home game against American International on Saturday, November 10.