Saturday, October 8
Chattanooga, Tenn.
4 PM
Mercer University
2-3 , 1-2
31
at
52
Chattanooga
6-0 , 4-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Mercer
3
0
14
14
31
Chattanooga
14
24
14
0
52
Team Stats
MER
UTC
Total Yards
352
531
Pass Yards
234
258
Rushing Yards
118
273
Penalty Yards
73
87
1st Downs
17
25
3rd Downs
4
8
4th Downs
0
2
TOP
22:56
37:04
1st Quarter
MER 0, UTC 7
UTC - M. Colvin 9 yd pass from A. Bennifield (H. Ribeiro kick) 11 plays, 65 yards, TOP 5:01
MER 3, UTC 7
MER - Cole Fisher 30 yd field goal 12 plays, 62 yards, TOP 4:52
MER 3, UTC 14
UTC - C. Board 25 yd pass from A. Bennifield (H. Ribeiro kick) 5 plays, 79 yards, TOP 2:15
2nd Quarter
MER 3, UTC 21
UTC - D. Craine 54 yd run (H. Ribeiro kick), 2 plays, 50 yards, TOP 0:44
MER 3, UTC 24
UTC - H. Ribeiro 20 yd field goal 9 plays, 51 yards, TOP 4:08
MER 3, UTC 31
UTC - B. Lenoir 5 yd pass from A. Bennifield (H. Ribeiro kick) 9 plays, 39 yards, TOP 3:31
MER 3, UTC 38
UTC - X. Borishade 7 yd pass from A. Bennifield (H. Ribeiro kick) 7 plays, 57 yards, TOP 1:12
3rd Quarter
MER 10, UTC 38
MER - Alex Lakes 13 yd run (Cole Fisher kick), 1 plays, 26 yards, TOP 0:16
MER 10, UTC 45
UTC - A. Bennifield 21 yd run (H. Ribeiro kick), 5 plays, 46 yards, TOP 2:07
MER 10, UTC 52
UTC - M. Pardue 29 yd interception (H. Ribeiro kick)
MER 17, UTC 52
MER - Marquise Irvin 83 yd pass from John Russ (Cole Fisher kick) 3 plays, 86 yards, TOP 1:34
4th Quarter
MER 24, UTC 52
MER - John Russ 3 yd run (Cole Fisher kick), 6 plays, 38 yards, TOP 1:36
MER 31, UTC 52
MER - CJ Kleckley 3 yd run (Cole Fisher kick), 10 plays, 94 yards, TOP 2:28
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
K
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
Photo by: Judy Stapleton
Mercer Falls at No. 3/5 Chattanooga, 52-31
10/8/2016 7:43:00 PM | Football
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – John Russ connected with Marquise Irvin for an 83-yard touchdown pass but Mercer could not recover from a 38-3 halftime deficit as the Bears fell at No. 3/5 Chattanooga, 52-31, Saturday afternoon at Finley Stadium.
The third-ranked Mocs scored on their first six possessions and, despite outscoring Chattanooga by two touchdowns in the second half, Mercer could not overcome the early deficit.
TURNING POINT
After Mercer responded to Chattanooga's initial touchdown with a field goal, the third-ranked Mocs rattled off five consecutive scores to take a 38-3 lead into halftime.
IT WAS OVER WHEN
After Mercer came out of the gate in the second half and scored immediately off a blocked punt, Mercer gave up a touchdown on Chattanooga's ensuing possession then allowed the Mocs to score off a pick-six. That gave Chattanooga a 52-17 lead with 7:58 left in the third quarter, a lead that proved to be insurmountable.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After trading a touchdown for a field goal, Mercer struggled to stop Chattanooga's offense in the first half. The Mocs ran out to a 38-3 lead at halftime after scoring on its first six possessions (five touchdowns followed by a field goal).
Mercer would outscore Chattanooga in the second half, 28-14. It started with a 13-yard run by Alex Lakes early in the third quarter before Chattanooga responded with a quick score on a five-play drive then a pick-six with a 29-yard interception return.
Midway through the third quarter John Russ found Marquise Irvin for an 83-yard touchdown pass, the second-longest touchdown pass in school history. Russ would then run in a score from three yards out early in the fourth quarter with his 29th career rushing touchdown. With less than a minute remaining, CJ Kleckley added the final score for Mercer with a three-yard touchdown run.
OFFENSIVE STAR
Marquise Irvin had 139 yards receiving on four catches including a career-long 83-yard touchdown reception.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUT
Will Coneway had a career-best 11 total tackles (seven solo, four assisted) to lead Mercer's defense. That includes a solo tackle for a loss of one yard.
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer returns home to Five Star Stadium to host Western Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 15. Kickoff time for the game that will be broadcast on ESPN3 is set for 4 p.m.
QUOTING BOBBY LAMB
"Obviously they are the defending champions three times running. They are a very talented team with nine starters back on offense. At the end of the day we got punched in the gut in the first half and didn't play very well. When play a team as good as they are, you get exposed in a hurry and we got exposed.
"I'm very proud of what we did in the second half. I thought we came back and fought. We scored 28 points in the second half and held them [to 14]. It was a good turnaround for us at halftime."
On the emotions of the players:
"In a game like this you have to control your emotions. It is a physical game and it is an emotional game. It is a game where you get mad because you were hit by the wrong guy at the wrong time. But at the end of the day, you have to keep your head about you and we weren't able to do that today. I'm very disappointed in that and that is going to be addressed by our staff or they won't be able to play for us. We have to do a better job at that. We're not good enough to give teams free yards as you can see up there today."
On the fourth quarter:
"We blocked that punt and that got us going a little bit and got the momentum on our side. We came out and execute. Marquise Irvin made a couple of big plays down the field. They are very hard to get down the field on because their defensive line rushes so well."
"For us to rebound and get the yards that we had, that was pretty good for us."
On what was said at halftime:
"I didn't have to say a whole lot. All we had to do was look at the scoreboard and look at the statistics. I was disappointed because we had no fire in our belly. We let them punch us in the gut and let them keep punching. We didn't fight back until the third quarter. That all falls on me and we'll get that straight and corrected. We have to play within our system, we have to play within ourselves and we need to do a better job of that."
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NOTES
Team
How to Follow the Bears:
For complete coverage of Mercer Football, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerFootball (Twitter), /MercerFootball (Facebook) and @MercerFootball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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The third-ranked Mocs scored on their first six possessions and, despite outscoring Chattanooga by two touchdowns in the second half, Mercer could not overcome the early deficit.
TURNING POINT
After Mercer responded to Chattanooga's initial touchdown with a field goal, the third-ranked Mocs rattled off five consecutive scores to take a 38-3 lead into halftime.
IT WAS OVER WHEN
After Mercer came out of the gate in the second half and scored immediately off a blocked punt, Mercer gave up a touchdown on Chattanooga's ensuing possession then allowed the Mocs to score off a pick-six. That gave Chattanooga a 52-17 lead with 7:58 left in the third quarter, a lead that proved to be insurmountable.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After trading a touchdown for a field goal, Mercer struggled to stop Chattanooga's offense in the first half. The Mocs ran out to a 38-3 lead at halftime after scoring on its first six possessions (five touchdowns followed by a field goal).
Mercer would outscore Chattanooga in the second half, 28-14. It started with a 13-yard run by Alex Lakes early in the third quarter before Chattanooga responded with a quick score on a five-play drive then a pick-six with a 29-yard interception return.
Midway through the third quarter John Russ found Marquise Irvin for an 83-yard touchdown pass, the second-longest touchdown pass in school history. Russ would then run in a score from three yards out early in the fourth quarter with his 29th career rushing touchdown. With less than a minute remaining, CJ Kleckley added the final score for Mercer with a three-yard touchdown run.
OFFENSIVE STAR
Marquise Irvin had 139 yards receiving on four catches including a career-long 83-yard touchdown reception.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUT
Will Coneway had a career-best 11 total tackles (seven solo, four assisted) to lead Mercer's defense. That includes a solo tackle for a loss of one yard.
RECORDS UPDATE
- Mercer: 2-3 (1-2 SoCon)
- #3/5 Chattanooga: 6-0 (4-0 SoCon)
Mercer returns home to Five Star Stadium to host Western Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 15. Kickoff time for the game that will be broadcast on ESPN3 is set for 4 p.m.
QUOTING BOBBY LAMB
"Obviously they are the defending champions three times running. They are a very talented team with nine starters back on offense. At the end of the day we got punched in the gut in the first half and didn't play very well. When play a team as good as they are, you get exposed in a hurry and we got exposed.
"I'm very proud of what we did in the second half. I thought we came back and fought. We scored 28 points in the second half and held them [to 14]. It was a good turnaround for us at halftime."
On the emotions of the players:
"In a game like this you have to control your emotions. It is a physical game and it is an emotional game. It is a game where you get mad because you were hit by the wrong guy at the wrong time. But at the end of the day, you have to keep your head about you and we weren't able to do that today. I'm very disappointed in that and that is going to be addressed by our staff or they won't be able to play for us. We have to do a better job at that. We're not good enough to give teams free yards as you can see up there today."
On the fourth quarter:
"We blocked that punt and that got us going a little bit and got the momentum on our side. We came out and execute. Marquise Irvin made a couple of big plays down the field. They are very hard to get down the field on because their defensive line rushes so well."
"For us to rebound and get the yards that we had, that was pretty good for us."
On what was said at halftime:
"I didn't have to say a whole lot. All we had to do was look at the scoreboard and look at the statistics. I was disappointed because we had no fire in our belly. We let them punch us in the gut and let them keep punching. We didn't fight back until the third quarter. That all falls on me and we'll get that straight and corrected. We have to play within our system, we have to play within ourselves and we need to do a better job of that."
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NOTES
Team
- With the loss Mercer now trails Chattanooga 19-7-1 all-time including a 1-2 mark in the modern era.
- Saturday's game at No. 3/5 Chattanooga marked just the sixth time Mercer has played a top 25 program. The Bears are 1-5 all-time against ranked teams.
- Mercer has now scored in 45 consecutive games dating back to a 52-0 loss at Rollins on Oct. 24, 1941.
- Mercer is now 19-3 when scoring 30 points under Bobby Lamb and 41-4 all-time as a program.
- Will Coneway led the Mercer defense with 11 total tackles in Saturday's contest marking a career-high (previous: 7).
- The 52 points allowed by Mercer were the most since a 52-0 loss at Rollins on Oct. 24, 1941. It is the most the Bears have allowed in the modern era.
- Chandler Curtis blocked a punt Saturday marking the fourth blocked kick of the season for the Bears this year. It marked the first career blocked kick for Curtis.
- Cole Fisher's 30-yard field goal marked his ninth successful field goal attempt of the season.
- Fisher has now successfully converted a field goal attempt in every game this season.
How to Follow the Bears:
For complete coverage of Mercer Football, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerFootball (Twitter), /MercerFootball (Facebook) and @MercerFootball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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