Garron Brown led Merrimack to a 23-20 win over Windham on Friday night. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

MERRIMACK — Just two weeks ago, a struggling 1-3 Merrimack High School football team was on the brink of missing playoff contention but has since found new life.

That’s what a couple of wins will do for you as the Tomahawks won their second straight game, 23-20, over Windham on Friday night at Student Memorial Field.

The win puts the Tomahawks at 3-3 overall, 2-3 in Division I and perhaps gives them a path to a playoff berth.

The Merrimack fans roared from the game’s opening play; a 75-yard run that Tomahawk senior running back Garron Brown brought home for a quick six. It set the tone for the night, and the ‘Hawks look like a much different team than the one that was 1-3 just two weeks ago.

Believe, Merrimack faithful.

“No one believes in us, not even the kids from our own school a lot of the times,” said Brown, who rushed 18 times for 210 yards. “But we show up, we put in the work daily, have a great coaching staff, and maintain our winning mindset no matter what’s thrown our way.”

After Brown’s first score, Windham’s lead back Tiger An responded with a 5-yard TD, putting the Jags up 7-6 due to a missed Tomahawk PAT. But Merrimack QB Sahil Mujawar’s wideout chemistry made the ‘Hawks unpredictable and Aiden Centrella’s six receptions for 31 yards, typically short rollouts to the sidelines, proved to be crucial to Merrimack’s success. Mujawar hit Logan Day for a 3-yard touchdown pass at the end of the first to put them up six, 13-7, and Merrimack never relinquished the lead.

Brown’s explosive offense translated to defense, picking off Windham QB Billy DePietro. Shortly after, Mujawar and Day connected again on a 25 yard go-route giving Merrimack a 20-7 halftime advantage.

The Jags, however, still had plenty left in the tank to stage a rally.

“We watch games every weekend where teams come back… You gotta play all four quarters and that’s never in question for our guys,” said Byrne. “Tonight, it was one mental slip up that Merrimack capitalized on, rather than effort being in question. They played mistake free football tonight and protected the ball incredibly well, so hats off to them.”

A recovered onside kick by Windham’s Romeo Akin put the Jags in Merrimack’s territory with growing confidence. Akin’s heads-up play led to a 35-yard connection between Jaguar QB DePietro and Matthew Desmarais. An’s 14-yard TD run (his second of the night) was followed by an unsuccessful two-point conversion from Windham’s Cam Williams, cutting the Tomahawk deficit to just a touchdown. With three minutes of play remaining, DePietro found WR Benjamin Roy for a 12-yard slant, making it 23-20 Merrimack.

But with under two to play, Brown found an opening for 50 yards and was in the spotlight of a victorious win for his program.

Merrimack hopes to make it three straight next Friday night at Stellos Stadium vs. Nashua South.

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