Merrimack Mounts Stunning Comeback to Edge Fordham 27-26 in Thrilling Finish
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In a heart-stopping finish, Merrimack's Ayden Pereira orchestrated a spectacular fourth-quarter rally, lifting the Warriors to a 27-26 victory over Fordham on Saturday. The team trailed 26-13 heading into the final quarter, but Pereira's heroics sparked a dramatic turnaround. His 66-yard touchdown pass to Austin Palmer narrowed the gap to 26-20 with 9 minutes and 21 seconds remaining. The momentum shifted further in Merrimack's favor when Will Claude intercepted a pass from Gunnar Smith, setting up a 5-yard scoring toss from Pereira to Cade Callahan. Carlton Thai added the extra point, putting the Warriors in the lead. Fordham's subsequent possession ended with a fumble, securing Merrimack's come-from-behind win. Pereira, who completed 11 of 30 passes for 167 yards, also led the team in rushing with 77 yards. Smith, Fordham's quarterback, had a notable performance, completing 17 of 31 passes for 252 yards and one touchdown, but was also intercepted twice and lost a fumble. The Rams' Troy Worrell caught six passes for 160 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown that gave Fordham a 26-13 lead. The game's early stages saw Fordham force a three-and-out, followed by a safety after Krystian Pothel blocked a punt and the ball went through the end zone. The Rams capitalized on the field position, driving 50 yards to a 26-yard field goal by Bennett Henderson. They maintained a 19-13 halftime lead, with Smith's two touchdown runs and a 5-0 early advantage. Merrimack's only first-half touchdown came on Garry Rosemond Jr.'s 11-yard return of a blocked punt. With this thrilling victory, Merrimack has showcased its resilience and Pereira's exceptional leadership.
