Mercer University
Stetson
Mercer Defeats Stetson in Record-Setting Home Opener
9/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University football team used a record-breaking first half to roll to a 57-14 victory over Stetson in the Bears' home opener at Five Star Stadium on Saturday evening.
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer opens the season 2-0 for the second time in its last three seasons, while Stetson drops to 1-1 on the year.
TURNING POINT
Trailing 17-7 late in the first quarter, Stetson threatened deep in Mercer territory, but the Bears' defense would come up with a turnover to stop the drive. Jeremy James tipped a pass at the goal line, before Corey Lockett swallowed up the pass in the end zone.
Mercer used the momentum to roll to a program-record 51 points and 476 yards of total offense in the first half, putting up 34 unanswered points to head into halftime with 51-7 lead.
STAT OF THE GAME
Although there were several statistics that jumped out in an eye-popping first half, the manner of Mercer's scoring drives in the first half may have been the most impressive. The Bears had four scoring drives last under two minutes in length, including back-to-back one-play scores that opened the flood gates.
MERCER NOTABLES
- Mercer is now 11-0 in non-conference games under head coach Bobby Lamb.
- The night game success continued for Mercer, who improved to 7-1 when playing at the lights at Five Star Stadium.
- The Bears scored 57 points and are now 16-1 when scoring 30+ points during Lamb's tenure.
- Mercer won the turnover margin, 3-0, after tallying three interceptions on the evening.
- The Bears scored 51 first half points, the most in program history for points in a single half. The previous record was 42, which came in wins over Ave Maria (9/20/14) and Warner (11/15/14).
OFFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS
- With a program record 623 total yards of offense, Mercer improves to 17-2 when eclipsing 400 yards under Lamb.
- Mercer's 476 yards of total offense in the first half set a program record for most yards in a single half.
- The Bears scored on their first eight possessions of the game, after putting points on the board in each of their first half drives.
- Junior quarterback John Russ threw for 336 yards and four touchdowns on 16-of-19 passing. The 336 yards and four touchdowns are both program records.
- One week after completing passes to nine different receivers, Russ connected with 10 different receivers in tonight's victory. He fell one completion shy of tying his career-high of 17, which he set last week against Austin Peay.
- Sophomore running back Tee Mitchell broke a 69-yard TD run in the second quarter, marking the Bears' longest play from scrimmage in 2015 and his second rushing score of the season, fourth of his career. Mitchell also scored on a 46-yard reception in the second quarter, his second of the season and fourth of his career.
- Sophomore Alex Lakes scored his third rushing TD of the season and 20th of his career on a one-yard run.
- Lakes' one-yard TD run on Mercer's opening drive increased Mercer's streak of scoring in games to 31 straight contests.
- Robert Brown led the Bears' receiving corps for the second straight week, hauling in two catches for a team-best 85 yards. Avery Ward added two receptions for 67 yards and a score.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
- Mercer only had two players record four or more tackles in the contest, however, the Bears had 36 players find their way onto the defensive box score.
- The Bears had a season-best 10 tackles-for-loss including two apiece from Isaiah Buehler, Stephen Houzah and Michael Wagner.
- Mercer held Stetson to 299 yards of total offense in the contest, including just 43 yards on the ground. The Bears have now held both of their 2015 opponents under 60 yards rushing this season.
- Buehler continued his tear to start his first collegiate season, pushing his season total to 3.5 tackles-for-loss thanks to a pair of sacks on the night.
- Tosin Aguebor's sack in the first half, pushed his season total to two and gave him 3.5 tackles-for-loss on the year.
- Freshman cornerback Stephen Houzah intercepted the first two passes of his career in the second quarter, setting the program's single-game record with a pair of picks.
UP NEXT
Mercer returns to the Volunteer state to face a Ohio Valley Conference opponent for the second time in three weeks, as the Bears travel to Tennessee Tech for a 7 p.m. EST match-up.
