NORTH ANDOVER - In five games (1-4), the Merrimack College football team combined to score 80 points. In the last two - both wins - the Warriors totalled 80, with nine TDs scored by six different players.
If Merrimack (3-4) plans to extend its winning streak to three games by beating Colgate (2-5) on Saturday (12 noon), the spread-out attack is a good place to start.
"Guys are getting more comfortable as we're a little bit younger, minus (running back) Jermaine (Corbett), in the skilled positions," said head coach Mike Gennetti. "Having those guys play as much as they played (over the last two weeks), finish a little bit better, execute a bit more and I just think they're a little bit more comfortable (has helped us). We're always talking week to week that we want and need to improve and be better than we were the week before. I think their signs of that."
Corbett has four TDs to lead the way the last two weeks. Kicker Lliam Davis has also been instrumental with six field goals and nine PATs. On the season, he is 10-for-12 on field goal tries and 17-for-17 on PATs.
"Lliam has a strong leg and he's accurate. He's been doing it for us for a while and obviously this is his best season," said Gennetti. "He's been a difference maker. (In the Stonehill win last week, he hit) a 53-yarder and I don't know, it may be the longest in school history."
Colgate is coming off a big 38-28 win over Georgetown. Quarterback Jake Stearey completed 14-of-23 passes for 195 yards a TD, while, running backs Marco Maldonado and Chris Gee combined for 191 rushing yards and two scores.
"They are a Patriot League team that's traditionally been a good football team," said Gennetti. "Regardless of record, those guys are going to be ready to play and we've got to be ready to play. They are not coming here to lay down for us so I know we have to be ready."
Colgate has one player on its roster with local ties, Dave Thomson. The 6-foot-6, 250 pound junior tight end is from Ontario and played at Brooks School.
After last week's 48-28 win over Stonehill, Gennetti said that defensively his team needs to "be a bit more accountable and we have to be a bit better in the run game." Certainly the Warriors will be tested defensively, and tested once again for four quarters.
"You play a tough schedule like we have played and the kids fought (to beat Stonehill)," said Gennetti. "They realize that they are going to find ways to be in games and find ways to close games out and win. These kids are resilient, they are tough and they fight."