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Tarleton State University Athletics

MerrimackRecap_ChrisRobinson
20
Merrimack MER 1-3 , 0-0
45
Winner Tarleton St. TSU 4-0 , 0-0
Merrimack MER
1-3 , 0-0
20
Final
45
Tarleton St. TSU
4-0 , 0-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
MER Merrimack 0 14 0 6 20
TSU Tarleton St. 10 7 21 7 45

Game Recap: Football | | Grant Cohen

Tarleton State Football’s second half storm lifts Texans to win over Merrimack

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Behind 28 unanswered points in the second half, No. 4 nationally-ranked Tarleton State Football picked up its fourth win of the season with a 45-20 decision over Merrimack on Family Weekend at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. 

Tarleton State (4-0, 0-0) has started with four straight wins for the second time in the Division I era, now doing so in back-to-back seasons. The Texans moved their Family Weekend record to 11-0 since head coach Todd Whitten returned to Stephenville in 2016. 

Quarterback Kaden Anderson threw for 407 yards, completing 23-of-32 passes to go with three touchdowns and no turnovers. Anderson is the first Tarleton State quarterback since 2022 to throw for 400+ yards in a game. Freshman Bryce Green led the rushing attack by netting 74 yards while wide receiver Marquis Willis had 87 receiving yards off seven catches and a touchdown. 

Defensively, linebacker Chris Robinson led with seven tackles and returned a fumble recovery for 77-yard touchdown. Linebacker Kaleb Brown added a sack and an interception on Saturday. 

"We are certainly pleased with a win. I thought the second half was excellent on both sides of the ball," Whitten said. "We took good care of the football and moved the ball very well up and down the field. In ways, we were our own worst enemy tonight. We'll take this open week to get better fundamentally and get some of our guys back that are banged up right now." 

After Tarleton State was left empty-handed on its first offensive drive of the game, the Texans made up for it on the defensive side of the ball. The Texans took advantage of a Merrimack fumble, with Robinson recovering the ball for the 77-yard scoop and score. Robinson's touchdown marked the first defensive touchdown of the year for Tarleton State. 

Forcing the Warriors to punt on their next offensive drive, the Texans quickly marched down to the red zone to set up a score. Tarleton State capitalized with a 36-yard field goal by kicker Alejandro De La Poza. The Texans held the Warriors scoreless through the first 15 minutes and maintained its 10-0 lead. 

A 73-yard catch and run from junior running back Miequle Brock put the Texans five yards away from another score, with another running back finishing off the drive. Playing his old position at quarterback, senior James Paige carried it himself and eased his way for the five-yard touchdown. 

Merrimack answered on its next drive, using eight plays capped off by a 24-yard touchdown pass to chip away at the deficit. The Warriors followed their first touchdown of the game with another score right before the half. With just six seconds left in the half, Merrimack threw a touchdown pass to make it a 17-14 game going into the locker room. 

On Tarleton State's first offensive drive of the second half, the Texans quickly got to work. It took the Texans just four plays to find the end zone again, with Anderson finding Willis for a 32-yard score. When the Texans forced Merrimack to a three and out, the Texans followed suit with another touchdown. 

This time, a freshman shined in the spotlight. 

Green broke free and took it to the house for 29 yards to put the Texans up by 17 with 7:09 left in the third quarter. Once again the Texans held Merrimack without a score on its next drive and once again, Tarleton State capitalized with a score. Fifth year wide receiver Cydd Ford came down with his first collegiate touchdown, catching a 42-yard pass from Anderson to make it a 38-14 game at the end of the third quarter. 

Merrimack answered early in the fourth quarter with a touchdown, but the defense bounced back to keep the momentum from swinging. After an interception from Brown, tight end Danny Joiner caught a touchdown pass on the next play to make it a 25-point game. The Texans held firm for the final six minutes to come away with a 25-point win. 

Tarleton State has its bye week next Saturday and returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Memorial Stadium against Chicago State. 
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