Mercer University
VMI
Mercer's Second Half Comeback Falls Short in 28-21 Loss to VMI
10/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University football team's rally from an early 21-point deficit fell short, as the Bears dropped a 28-21 decision to Virginia Military Institute on Saturday, October 24 at Five Star Stadium.
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer slides to 3-4 overall and 0-3 in the Southern Conference with the loss, while VMI improves to 2-6 overall and 1-3 in the league.
COACH LAMB'S TAKE
"We made it 28-21 and we were in the game and the defense came up with big stops in the second half, but we just couldn't get anything going on offensively. I guess the one bright spot on offense was Chandler Curtis. He comes back and has a phenomenal day. We have to get him going a little bit more. I was proud of our defense for making adjustments at halftime though and coming out and stopping VMI in the second half."
TURNING POINT
VMI built up an early lead thanks to a dominant first quarter, scoring the first 21 points of the game. The Keydets put together two scoring drives of more than 85 yards during that time, while also taking advantage of a short field via Mercer's lone turnover for a 42-yard touchdown drive midway through the opening quarter.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 21-0 early in the second quarter, Mercer found the scoreboard for the first time all game on its third drive of the afternoon. John Russ hit Marquise Irvin for a 40-yard bomb that set up Russ' one-yard plunge to cut the deficit to 21-7.
However, the Keydets answered with a 65-yard drive that ended in Quan Myers' 11-yard touchdown reception. The Bears answered back with a quick scoring drive, as Alex Lakes' 37-yard touchdown run capped over a three-play, 75-yard series to trim the lead to 28-14 at the half.
Mercer pulled within one score thanks to the seven-minute scoring drive on its opening possession of the second half, as Russ hit Chandler Curtis for a two-yard score to make it a 28-21 game. The Bears' defense kept VMI off the scoreboard the rest of the way out, forcing three second half turnovers but the comeback ran out of gas.
STAT OF THE GAME
Mercer's defense forced four turnovers in the contest, but it wasn't enough to overcome VMI's effort on third downs. The Keydets converted an eye-popping 17-of-19 third downs in the contest.
OFFENSIVE STAR
Curtis had a strong performance in his return from injury, hauling in a team-leading seven receptions for a career-high 109 yards in his first action since the opening week of play. The sophomore wide receiver did the bulk of his damage in the second half, as six of his catches came after halftime.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS
Lee Bennett posted a career-high 14 tackles in the contest to lead a Bears' defense that held VMI scoreless in the second half. The sophomore linebacker also had a fumble recovery in the second quarter, helping Mercer force a season-best four turnovers on the day.
OFFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS
- The Orange and Black were held under 400 yards of total offense for the first time this season, finishing with 356 yards on a season-low 53 offensive plays.
- Quarterback John Russ' touchdown pass to Curtis in the third quarter gives him at least one touchdown pass in 27 of his 31 career contests.
- Russ fell five yards shy of his fourth game this season with 250 yards of total offense, completing 14-of-22 for 201 yards through the air and adding another 44 yards and a score on the ground.
- Curtis notched his first career game with over 100 yards receiving, while finishing with three plays of 20 yards or more.
- Largely due to a big deficit, the Bears running game never really got going. Mercer was held to a season-low 155 yards on the ground, while leading rushers Alex Lakes and Tee Mitchell combined for only 103 yards on 18 carries.
- Punter Matt Shiel had a career day, booting five punts for a career-best 51.4 yard average. The Australia native had two pinned down inside the 20-yard line including a booming 73-yard punt that flipped the field.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
- The Bears' defense forced a turnover for the 16th time in their last 18 games thanks to a season-high three interceptions.
- Mercer surrendered a season-high 567 yards of total offense, while giving up 391 yards through the air.
- Three players recorded double-digit tackles for the Bears, behind 14 stops from Lee Bennett, 11 from Mike Gray and 10 from Tyler Ward. Ward's 10 tackles on the afternoon gives him 10 double-figure tackle performances in his career.
- The defense recorded three sacks in the contest thanks to a career-high two sacks from Austin Barrett. The Bears have had three sacks or more four times this season.
- Tosin Aguebor notched 1.5 tackles-for-loss including one sack, moving his team-leading total to 4.5 this season.
- Alex Avant broke up the a game-high three passes in the contest to push his career total to 41 passes defended.
- Jeremy James forced a fumble for the second straight game, while also tallying five tackles, 0.5 for loss, and an interception this afternoon.
- Stephen Houzah's second half pick was his team-leading third of the season. Defensive lineman Kelly Brooks grabbed his first career interception in the third quarter.
UP NEXT
Mercer will continue SoCon play next weekend, as it travels to Charleston, S.C. for a Halloween match-up against The Citadel on Saturday, October 31. Kick-off is set for 1:30 p.m.
