Saturday, September 10
Atlanta, Ga.
3 PM
Mercer University
0-2 , 0-1
10
at
35
Georgia Tech
2-0 , 1-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Mercer
7
0
3
0
10
Georgia Tech
7
14
7
7
35
Team Stats
MER
GT
Total Yards
320
444
Pass Yards
235
80
Rushing Yards
85
364
Penalty Yards
45
10
1st Downs
19
25
3rd Downs
10
6
4th Downs
1
1
TOP
29:42
30:18
1st Quarter
MER 7, GT 0
MER - Avery Ward 32 yd pass from John Russ (Cole Fisher kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:00
MER 7, GT 7
GT - Thomas, J. 13 yd run (Butker, H. kick), 8 plays, 65 yards, TOP 4:28
2nd Quarter
MER 7, GT 14
GT - Jordan, M. 1 yd run (Butker, H. kick), 11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:51
MER 7, GT 21
GT - Marshall, M. 10 yd run (Butker, H. kick), 5 plays, 91 yards, TOP 1:38
3rd Quarter
MER 10, GT 21
MER - Cole Fisher 31 yd field goal 17 plays, 61 yards, TOP 8:20
MER 10, GT 28
GT - Jordan, M. 1 yd run (Butker, H. kick), 11 plays, 78 yards, TOP 6:10
4th Quarter
MER 10, GT 35
GT - Marshall, T. 11 yd run (Butker, H. kick), 4 plays, 23 yards, TOP 1:57
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
K
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
K/P
/ Football
Photo by: Judy Stapleton
Mercer Falls at Georgia Tech, 35-10
9/10/2016 7:35:00 PM | Football
ATLANTA – Redshirt senior quarterback John Russ masterminded a 75-yard opening scoring drive for Mercer en route to a career-best 24 completions but Mercer fell at Georgia Tech Saturday afternoon, 35-10, front of a crowd of 49,992 at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field Saturday afternoon.
HEAD COACH BOBBY LAMB'S TAKE
"We knew it would be a perimeter offensive game. Their speed out-flanked us several times and they got some big plays … But they've got a really good football team and they do a great job. Their quarterback is dynamic, which we knew all week long. I'm just proud of the effort our kids gave."
TURNING POINT
After a 7-0 lead, Georgia Tech scored 21 unanswered points for a two touchdown lead heading into halftime.
IT WAS OVER WHEN
Georgia Tech's Cerge-Henderson blocked Cole Fisher's 37-yard field goal attempt that would have pulled Mercer within one possession of the Ramblin' Wreck.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer took advantage of a Georgia Tech miscue as Zach Jackson recovered a Marcus Marshall fumble and John Russ led the Bears down the field 75 yards in nine plays to set up the 32-yard touchdown pass to Avery Ward as Mercer took the early 7-0 lead.
Georgia Tech struck back on its next two drives, pulling even with Mercer on a 13-yard run by Justin Thomas before the first quarter ended. The Yellow Jackets then took a 14-7 lead on their next drive with the first of two one-yard touchdown runs by Matthew Jordan.
Tech's third score of the game was highlighted by big plays as the Jackets traveled 91 yards in five plays with a 31-yard rush by Qua Searcy, a 16-yard run by Clinson Lynch and Thomas' 31-yard pass to Ricky Jeune to set up Marcus Marshall's 10-yard scoring run.
Mercer steadily drove 61 yards on 17 plays to start the second half setting up Cole Fisher's 31-yard field goal and cutting Georgia Tech's lead to 21-10. The Yellow Jackets responded with Jordan's second scoring touchdown after a 78-yard drive that spanned 6:10 and nearly brought the third quarter to a close.
Tech would block Fisher's 37-yard attempt early in the fourth quarter and then score two possessions later with an 11-yard run by TaQuon Marshall that extended Georgia Tech's lead to a final tally of 35-10.
OFFENSIVE STAR
QB John Russ made the most of his opportunity to play in front of the biggest crowd ever to watch Mercer football. The senior signal caller set a school record with 24 completions on 38 attempts for 225 yards and one touchdown. He added eight carries for 24 yards, but it was through the air that Russ proved his worth.
His 32-yard touchdown pass to WR Avery Ward in the first quarter gave Mercer the early 7-0 lead over the Yellow Jackets. Russ hit eight different receivers with completions on the game.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUT
With a team-high nine total tackles, LB Tripp Patterson led Mercer's defense against its second triple-option opponent in as many weeks. Seven of his nine were solo tackles. The redshirt senior now leads Mercer with 17 total tackles on the season, two ahead of fellow linebacker Tyler Ward.
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer moves to 0-2 (0-1 SoCon), while Georgia Tech improves to 2-0 (1-0 ACC).
TEAM NOTES
Mercer returns to Macon to host Tennessee Tech on Saturday, Sept. 17. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at Five Star Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
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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HEAD COACH BOBBY LAMB'S TAKE
"We knew it would be a perimeter offensive game. Their speed out-flanked us several times and they got some big plays … But they've got a really good football team and they do a great job. Their quarterback is dynamic, which we knew all week long. I'm just proud of the effort our kids gave."
TURNING POINT
After a 7-0 lead, Georgia Tech scored 21 unanswered points for a two touchdown lead heading into halftime.
IT WAS OVER WHEN
Georgia Tech's Cerge-Henderson blocked Cole Fisher's 37-yard field goal attempt that would have pulled Mercer within one possession of the Ramblin' Wreck.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer took advantage of a Georgia Tech miscue as Zach Jackson recovered a Marcus Marshall fumble and John Russ led the Bears down the field 75 yards in nine plays to set up the 32-yard touchdown pass to Avery Ward as Mercer took the early 7-0 lead.
Georgia Tech struck back on its next two drives, pulling even with Mercer on a 13-yard run by Justin Thomas before the first quarter ended. The Yellow Jackets then took a 14-7 lead on their next drive with the first of two one-yard touchdown runs by Matthew Jordan.
Tech's third score of the game was highlighted by big plays as the Jackets traveled 91 yards in five plays with a 31-yard rush by Qua Searcy, a 16-yard run by Clinson Lynch and Thomas' 31-yard pass to Ricky Jeune to set up Marcus Marshall's 10-yard scoring run.
Mercer steadily drove 61 yards on 17 plays to start the second half setting up Cole Fisher's 31-yard field goal and cutting Georgia Tech's lead to 21-10. The Yellow Jackets responded with Jordan's second scoring touchdown after a 78-yard drive that spanned 6:10 and nearly brought the third quarter to a close.
Tech would block Fisher's 37-yard attempt early in the fourth quarter and then score two possessions later with an 11-yard run by TaQuon Marshall that extended Georgia Tech's lead to a final tally of 35-10.
OFFENSIVE STAR
QB John Russ made the most of his opportunity to play in front of the biggest crowd ever to watch Mercer football. The senior signal caller set a school record with 24 completions on 38 attempts for 225 yards and one touchdown. He added eight carries for 24 yards, but it was through the air that Russ proved his worth.
His 32-yard touchdown pass to WR Avery Ward in the first quarter gave Mercer the early 7-0 lead over the Yellow Jackets. Russ hit eight different receivers with completions on the game.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUT
With a team-high nine total tackles, LB Tripp Patterson led Mercer's defense against its second triple-option opponent in as many weeks. Seven of his nine were solo tackles. The redshirt senior now leads Mercer with 17 total tackles on the season, two ahead of fellow linebacker Tyler Ward.
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer moves to 0-2 (0-1 SoCon), while Georgia Tech improves to 2-0 (1-0 ACC).
TEAM NOTES
- Saturday's crowd of 49,992 at Bobby Dodd Stadium is the largest to ever watch a Mercer football game.
- Mercer is 1-16-1 all-time against Georgia Tech and 0-12-1 when facing the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta.
- QB John Russ and C Kirby Southard made their 37th consecutive starts for the Bears.
- Mercer remained perfect in the red zone (4-for-4) this season following Cole Fisher's 31-yard field goal in the second half.
- Mercer has scored in 42 straight games dating back to a 52-0 loss to Rollins on October 24, 1941.
- Russ' 32-yard touchdown pass to Avery Ward marked Mercer's first score against Georgia Tech in eight meetings. The Bears' last score against the Yellow Jackets came in 1912.
- Russ has thrown a touchdown pass in 32 of 37 contests over the course of his career.
- Russ set a school-record with 24 completions. The senior tossed 225 yards and one touchdown while adding 24 yards on the ground.
- Marquise Irvin was Mercer's leading receiver for a second straight week, totaling seven catches for 65 yards.
- Seven Bears recorded at least one carry, led by Alex Lakes' 10 for 30 yards.
- Stephen Houzah recorded his first career reception and carry. He finished the contest with two catches for four yards and one carry for two yards.
- Mercer's 17-play, 61-yard drive to open the second half was its longest of the season. It lasted eight minutes and 20 seconds.
- Payton Usher tied a career-high three receptions for 21 yards.
- The Bears have forced a turnover in 21 of the last 24 games, including 13 in a row at one point.
- The forced and recovered fumble in the fourth quarter by Brandon Gurley was the first of his career.
- Zach Jackson's fumble recovery on Georgia Tech's first drive was the second of his career.
- Tripp Patterson led the Bears with nine total tackles, seven of which were solo.
- Kyle Williams recorded Mercer's lone tackle for a loss. It was one of three total tackles for Williams.
- Eric Jackson tied a career-high with four tackles. He added the first pass break-up of his career.
- Tyler Zielenske's 57-yard punt in the first quarter was a career-long. It bested his former career-long of 52 yards against Austin Peay on Oct. 11, 2014.
- Zielenske's 57-yard punt is also the fifth-longest in Mercer history.
- Cole Fisher's 31-yard field goal in the third quarter was his fourth made field goal of the season. He's 4-for-5 after a 37-yard attempt in the fourth quarter was blocked.NEXT UP
Mercer returns to Macon to host Tennessee Tech on Saturday, Sept. 17. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at Five Star Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
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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