NORTH ANDOVER, MA - Making his first career start, Kurt Leone (Marshfield, MA) threw for 334 yards in the first half as Merrimack routed Husson College 42-7 Saturday afternoon at a humid Warrior Field.

The win is head coach John Perry's first as Merrimack's head coach.

Using a no-huddle attack, Leone connected with six different receivers in the first half, including four for passing touchdowns, two of them to Chris Laham (Westwood, MA). The Warriors took the opening kickoff and marched right down the field as Leone connected with Jawara Loftis (Dorchester, MA) on a 24-yard pass to cap off an eight play, 63-yard drive. Moments later, Leone found Jeremiah Watts (Clovis, CA) in the end zone from 25 yards out, and it was quickly 14-0 Merrimack just 5:54 into the first quarter.

Leone then found Laham for two scores, one for 22 yards and the other for 29 yards, before Richard Johnson (Brockton, MA) raced 79 yards down the right sideline to give the Warriors a 35-0 lead heading into halftime.

After Justin Lindle got Husson on the board with a one-yard rush, preseason All-American Andrew Jackson (New Britain, CT) answered right back returning the ensuing kickoff 81 yards for the touchdown.

Laham finished with 153 yards receiving on 11 catches. He tied Elfren Quiles on the Merrimack all-time scoring list with 23 career touchdowns. Johnson rushed for 99 yards on 11 carries, while freshman Anthony Smalls (Natick, MA) debuted with 78 rushing yards. Loftis finished with five catches for 85 yards.

Merrimack (1-0) will visit Division I-AA Bryant University, formerly of the Northeast-10, next Saturday at 1 p.m. The Bulldogs, who won the 2007 Northeast-10 Championship, edged Merrimack 37-34 in overtime a year ago.