Mercer University
Warner
Mercer Rolls to a 56-0 Rout of Warner
11/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
MACON, GA. – The Mercer University football team finished its 2014 home slate in style with a 56-0 rout of Warner on Saturday afternoon at Anderson Field.
It was a banner day for the Bears (6-5), as Alex Lakes and John Russ each surpassed season milestones and the defense pitched its second shutout of the year. Mercer tied a program record with 42 first half points, including offensive lineman Thomas Marchman's touchdown reception in the second quarter.
The Bears outgained Warner 472-123 in the game, boasting a 308-65 margin in the opening two quarters. Mercer's defense, who ranks among the FCS leaders in forced turnovers, coerced the Royals into three turnovers, thanks to interceptions by Lendell Arnold and Austin Barrett and Josh Bennett's fumble recovery.
"I don't know what it is about this team, but we take care of business against teams that we are heavily favored against," said head coach Bobby Lamb. "We did that today. I was really proud of the way we took care of the ball; we didn't have any turnovers."
Lakes paced the offense with 113 yards rushing and a career-high four touchdowns, becoming the program's first 1,000-yard rusher with his one-yard score in the first quarter. Tee Mitchell added 90 yards on the ground for the Bears, who racked up 277 yards rushing in the contest.
Russ was a near perfect 7-of-8 for 148 yards and two scores, eclipsing 2,000 yards passing on the season. Chandler Curtis racked up a game-high 118 all-purpose yards, including three receptions for 95 yards and a score, while Eli Grambling hauled in two catches for 44 yards and a touchdown.
The Bears' defense had their most dominant performance of the year, holding Warner to just 24 yards rushing and matching a season-best with seven tackles-for-loss and three sacks. Tripp Patterson led the way with 1.5 sacks, while Kelly Brooks added four tackles including two tackles-for-loss.
"In this day in time in college football, when you shut someone out, it's huge," added Lamb. "Especially in a blowout because in the fourth quarter, we put our third string in the game. More times than not, in a fourth quarter like that, you give up a score here or there. However, were were able to hold on and get the shutout for the whole team.
Mercer wasted no time finding the scoreboard, as Russ hit Curtis for a 78-yard touchdown bomb on the second play of the game for an early 7-0 advantage.
The Bears would then turn first-quarter interceptions by Arnold and Barrett into points, as Lakes wrapped up back-to-back short drives with a pair of touchdown plunges. Russ hit Marchman on a throwback pass for a one-yard score to start the second quarter, pushing the lead to 28-0.
Lakes added another three-yard run to wrap up a 56-yard drive in the second quarter, before Mitchell's seven-yard scamper with 28 seconds left in the half sent the Bears into the locker room with a 42-0 advantage.
Mercer put together two more scoring drives in the second half, adding to its lead with Lakes' fourth touchdown of the day and Grambling's 31-yard touchdown reception from Michael Haynes.
The Bears will wrap up the 2014 season next Saturday, November 22, when they travel to Spartanburg, S.C. to take on Wofford. Kick-off is set for 1:30 p.m.
