Mercer University
Austin Peay
Big Second Half Lifts Mercer Past Austin Peay, 28-7
9/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University football team outscored Austin Peay 21-0 in the second half to open the season with a 28-7 victory at Governors Stadium on Saturday evening.
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer recorded its third straight season opening victory, moving to 1-0 on the year while Austin Peay drops to 0-1.
TURNING POINT
The Bears broke open a tie game on the opening drive of the second half, moving 62 yards on nine plays thanks a pair of APSU penalties and 32 yards rushing from Alex Lakes. Lakes capped off the drive with his second rushing touchdown of the day to hand Mercer a 14-7 lead. The Bears added two more scores in the fourth quarter to run away with the 21-point win.
Mercer's defense took care of the rest, holding the Governors scoreless in the second half. The play of the night on the defensive side came from Lee Bennett in the fourth quarter, as the sophomore linebacker stopped a potential game-tying drive with an interception deep in Bears' territory.
MERCER STANDOUTS
Mercer's running backs were the story of the game for the offense, accounting for a combined 260 yards rushing and each of the team's four touchdowns on the night. Alex Lakes ran for a game-high 159 yards on 23 carries, averaging 6.9 yards per carry and adding two touchdowns. Tee Mitchell finished with 101 yards and a score on 15 carries, while adding a 42-yard touchdown reception. Robert Brown added a team-best four receptions for 52 yards, including a soaring grab for a key first down in the fourth quarter.
Lee Bennett's interception was the story of the night for the defense, but the Leesburg, Fla., native also added two tackles including one stop for loss. Lendell Arnold paced the defense with seven tackles, while Tosin Aguebor (2.5) and Isaiah Buehler (1.5) each had multiple tackles-for-loss.
STAT OF THE GAME
Mercer scored the final 21 points of the game thanks to a dominating second half. The Bears outgained Austin Peay, 244-138, in the second half including 165 to 74 in the fourth quarter.
COACH LAMB'S TAKE
"It was a little more difficult to win the season opener since it was the first time that we've opened on the road. I'm very proud of our team for hanging in there and keep fighting. One of our themes this year is to finish and I was very proud of the way our guys finished this game off. Hopefully this sets the tone for the rest of the year."
NOTABLES
- Mercer is now 21-21 all-time in season openers, including a perfect 3-0 under head coach Bobby Lamb.
- The offense racked up 437 yards of total offense in the contest, eclipsing the 400-yard mark for the 18th time in the last three seasons.
- The Bears rushed for 261 yards in the contest, marking the 12th time the team has gone over 250 yards rushing since returning to the gridiron.
- Mercer had two rushers go over 100 yards for the first time since JeTarii Donald and John Russ each went over the century mark in the historic win over Stetson on November 23, 2013.
- Alex Lakes put Mercer's first points on the scoreboard with a one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. The sophomore running back added another one in the third quarter to push career rushing touchdown total to 19.
- The defense was stifling all night, limiting Austin Peay to one scoring drive while stopping the Governors short on each of their other 11 possessions. The Bears held APSU to 244 yards of total offense, including just 56 yards on the ground.
- The Bears' defense recorded stops on each of their first five drives and nearly recorded their sixth stop but a roughing the passer penalty would extend the drive and lead to Austin Peay's first score.
- Mercer forced a turnover for the 12th straight game in a streak that dates back to the opening game of the 2014 campaign.
- John Russ set a program record with 17 pass completions on the night, finishing 17-of-27 for 176 yards and a touchdown. He did so by spreading the wealth to a host of receivers in the contest, completing passes to nine different receivers including eight in the first half alone.
- The Bears had five players; LeMarkus Bailey, Isaiah Buehler, Chandler Curtis, Brandon Gurley and Caleb Yates make their first collegiate start tonight.
UP NEXT
Mercer returns home next Saturday, September 12, as it hosts Stetson in the 2015 home opener at Five Star Stadium, where the Bears are 12-3 over the past two seasons. Kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
