The Merrimack Warriors have released their inaugural football schedule at the Division I level, and it includes five home contests.
The 2019 season will be the first for Merrimack as a member of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and the Northeast Conference (NEC). Merrimack will have to complete a reclassifying process before being eligible to compete for the NEC title and the FCS Playoffs.
Merrimack completed their 2019 football schedule with the addition of their home-opener on Saturday, Aug. 31 against the Virginia-Lynchburg Dragons. The game is set for 6:00pm ET at Duane Stadium in North Andover, Massachusetts.
“I am extremely excited for our players and our staff to be entering our first year reclassifying to the Division I level and as a member of the Northeast Conference,” head coach Dan Curran said. “In addition to our NEC slate of games, we will have a very competitive out-of-conference schedule, as well, with opponents from the CAA, Big South, Patriot League, and the MEAC. The 2019 schedule will certainly be the most difficult schedule in program history, and I know I speak on behalf of the entire program when I say that we are looking forward to the challenge.”
After opening at home, Merrimack hits the road for consecutive road games at Central Connecticut on Sept. 7 and Saint Francis (Pa.) on Sept. 14.
The remainder of Merrimack’s 2019 football schedule rotates in a home-away fashion — vs. Mayville State (Sept. 21), at Lehigh (Sept. 28), vs. Bryant (Oct. 5), at Delaware State (Oct. 19), vs. Presbyterian (Oct. 26), at Rhode Island (Nov. 2), vs. Franklin Pierce (Nov. 16), and at LIU (Nov. 23).
Merrimack will have two open dates during the 2019 season — Saturday, Oct. 12 and Saturday, Nov. 9.
The Warriors wrapped up the 2018 season with a 5-5 overall record and a 5-4 record in Northeast-10 Conference action.