Sunlake senior Nathan Merriman broke the school's single-game rushing record on Sept. 4, his first full varsity football game in two years.

Comeback Followed Two Years Sidelined by Injuries

Merriman, a wide receiver and running back who wears No. 21, had spent the previous two seasons sidelined by injuries. His comeback game came in a 30-26 non-conference loss to River Ridge, where five turnovers kept the Seahawks from pulling out the win.

"That was my first game back from a two-week break, and that was the first full game I played in the last two years because of my injuries," Merriman told The Perch, Sunlake's student newspaper.

The Sunlake Football Recruiting account confirmed the record on X on Tuesday, Sept. 15, describing Merriman's night as an unstoppable rushing performance. The exact yardage total has not been publicly reported.

Weeklong Anticipation Built Before Kickoff

The anticipation had been building for days. Merriman said football consumed his thoughts in the lead-up to kickoff.

"I was so hyped. I was so ready. The whole week, all I could think about was the game," he said. "I'd be going to sleep, and I'd just be picturing in my head of what could happen."

Turnovers Proved Too Costly to Overcome

Once on the field, Merriman said the entire team matched that energy. But the turnovers proved costly. Five giveaways stalled drives and handed River Ridge scoring chances the Seahawks could not overcome.

The loss dropped first-year head coach Chris DiGiacomo's squad to 1-2 on the season. Sunlake opened with a 13-6 win over Central before falling 20-14 to Bradenton Bayshore on Aug. 28, according to Tampa Bay Beacons. The Seahawks have since bounced back with a win over Wharton. Merriman said he hopes to keep contributing as both a receiver and a running back for the rest of the season.

Asked about his goal from here, Merriman kept it to one word: "Winning."