NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.
— Ayden Pereira had an impressive performance, leading the Merrimack Warriors to a decisive 51-17 victory over Colgate in a non-conference showdown on Saturday. This win marked Merrimack’s third consecutive triumph, bringing their overall record to 4-4.

Right from the start, the Warriors established control of the game, never allowing Colgate to take the lead. Merrimack went into halftime with a 17-10 advantage and then took charge in the third quarter, scoring three touchdowns to solidify their dominance.

Pereira showcased his versatility by running for a 19-yard touchdown shortly after a Colgate punt, expanding the lead to 24-10. Later in that same quarter, he connected with Jalen McDonald on a stunning 46-yard touchdown pass, putting the Warriors ahead by three touchdowns. Colgate’s response came when Jake Stearney threw a 47-yard touchdown to Brady Hutchison, but Pereira quickly retaliated with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Trevor Shorter, despite a missed extra point attempt that left the score at 37-17.

In what can only be described as a remarkable outing, Pereira completed 15 of his 20 passes for a total of 292 yards while also rushing for 102 yards on 13 carries. His overall offensive contribution totaled an impressive 395 yards, significantly surpassing Colgate’s 283 yards. Merrimack collectively amassed 535 yards of offense.

On the other side, Stearney had 155 passing yards, threw one touchdown, but also faced challenges, being intercepted twice throughout the game.