Senior QB produces all 6 TDs in victory
Senior QB produces all 6 TDs as 59ers roll past Brickies
There’s no better quarterback in NWI now, and Andrean’s Zack Merrill proved it again in the 59ers’ 41-7 conference victory over Hobart. Merrill finished with six touchdowns.
Andrean’s Zack Merrill will take what the defense gives him. And he’ll take a lot.
There’s no better quarterback in Northwest Indiana right now, and Merrill proved it again Friday in the 59ers’ 41-7 Northwest Crossroads Conference victory over Hobart.
Merrill finished with six touchdowns — three rushing and three passing — for the 59ers (4-1, 1-0).
He rushed for 100 yards on 13 carries. He completed 9 of 11 passes for 179 yards with an interception.
Merrill, a 6-foot-1 senior, was almost flawless.
He started the scoring with a 19-yard TD run in the first quarter on a seven-play, 58-yard drive. He finished the scoring with a 10-yard TD pass to Nick Flesher in the third quarter.
It has been a big leap for Merrill, who struggled at times last season.
He said he’s worked hard to get it right.
“I think reading defenses was a big weakness for me last year,” he said. “I went into the offseason training three times a week in the summer. I studied as much as I could. I really feel more relaxed out there.”
Tyler Thomas, who caught a swing pass that he turned into an 83-yard TD, said Merrill is a top-notch quarterback.
“He’s the best one to me,” Thomas said. “It took us awhile to get our chemistry straight, but he makes big plays. I expect them from him.”
Merrill’s edge against the Brickies (4-1, 0-1) was with his feet.
He had been beating teams with his arm. He passed for 330 yards against New Prairie in a 44-28 victory.
Andrean coach Chris Skinner said the coaching staff wanted to run the ball because it figured the Brickies would gear up to take away the passing game.
Merrill actually ran for 107 yards in the first half. He lost 7 in the second half when the game was basically over. Andrean led 27-7 at halftime.
His longest run was a 39-yard TD run in the second quarter.
Merrill said most of his runs came on audibles at the line of scrimmage.
“We knew they liked to blitz off the edge,” he said. “I made some calls — the line and our linemen did a great job of blocking the guys they needed to.”
The 34-point margin of victory was the largest over Hobart since Andrean beat the Brickies 48-0 in 2011.
The 59ers’ defense was equally as good, intercepting two passes and holding Hobart to 150 yards.
Merrill said it has been rewarding.
“The season has been great, and this game was amazing,” he said.