Many players have driven the Kingsmen’s turnaround, but no one has set the aggressive tone quite like “Merk.” The chiseled 6-foot-4, 200-pound wide receiver is a defender’s nightmare: play him tight, and he’ll burn you deep; try a two-deep zone, and you risk getting stiff-armed into the band section. With Merkel and fellow junior college transfer Tyler Woodworth, sophomore QB Joe Farley is dealing with a wealth of options. The dynamic receiving pair has combined for over 65 catches, six touchdowns and more than 1,000 yards. “They’re big, they’re fast, they can do it all,” Farley said. Merkel, a native of Burlington, Kentucky, put his athleticism on full display homecoming week with a spectacular 100-yard kick return for a touchdown against Chapman. The Kingsmen will need that intensity and more when they face the Panthers again on Saturday for the SCIAC title.
