Saturday, September 17
Macon, Ga.
4 PM
Mercer University
1-2 , 0-1
34
vs
27
Tennessee Tech
1-2 , 1-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Tennessee Tech
7
7
13
0
27
Mercer
3
7
14
10
34
Team Stats
TTU
MER
Total Yards
257
401
Pass Yards
239
259
Rushing Yards
18
142
Penalty Yards
65
70
1st Downs
18
22
3rd Downs
5
5
4th Downs
2
0
TOP
35:12
24:48
1st Quarter
TTU 7, MER 0
TTU - Byrd, Dontez 100 yd kickoff return (Madonia, Nick kick)
TTU 7, MER 3
MER - Cole Fisher 42 yd field goal 8 plays, 39 yards, TOP 2:34
2nd Quarter
TTU 7, MER 10
MER - John Russ 15 yd run (Cole Fisher kick), 4 plays, 78 yards, TOP 1:03
TTU 14, MER 10
TTU - Patton, Kip 27 yd pass from Birdsong, Micha (Madonia, Nick kick) 6 plays, 62 yards, TOP 2:32
3rd Quarter
TTU 21, MER 10
TTU - Giberti, Jordan 21 yd pass from Birdsong, Micha (Madonia, Nick kick) 7 plays, 71 yards, TOP 2:55
TTU 21, MER 17
MER - Sam Walker 22 yd pass from John Russ (Cole Fisher kick) 9 plays, 87 yards, TOP 3:00
TTU 21, MER 24
MER - Sam Walker 9 yd pass from John Russ (Cole Fisher kick) 10 plays, 66 yards, TOP 3:01
TTU 27, MER 24
TTU - Poplar, Josh 8 yd fumble recovery (Madonia, Nick kickblocked)
4th Quarter
TTU 27, MER 31
MER - John Russ 1 yd run (Cole Fisher kick), 6 plays, 27 yards, TOP 1:32
TTU 27, MER 34
MER - Cole Fisher 49 yd field goal 8 plays, 36 yards, TOP 1:24
Players Mentioned
DE
/ Football
K
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
Mercer Rallies for 34-27 Win over Tennessee Tech
9/17/2016 8:55:00 PM | Football
MACON, Ga. – John Russ and Sam Walker scored twice, Cole Fisher hit a school record 49-yard field goal and Mercer scored 24 of the final 31 points in the game as the Bears rallied for a 34-27 win over Tennessee Tech in front of 9,772 fans at Five Star Stadium Saturday.
Mercer (1-2) could have had the final four scores in the game overall but a controversial call on a ruled fumble by Walker led to a touchdown on a fumble recovery for Tennessee Tech (1-2). The call ignited Mercer, which blocked the extra point attempt, and pushed the Bears to prevent the Golden Eagles from reaching the end zone in the final quarter.
TURNING POINT
The controversial call near the end of the third quarter that was ruled a Sam Walker fumble returned for a touchdown ignited a team already dominating a second half. Mercer responded by holding Tennessee Tech to negative 14 offensive yards in the fourth quarter thanks to a Stephen Houzah interception, a Tripp Patterson sack and a Zach Jackson sack and forced fumble.
IT WAS OVER WHEN
Payton Usher churned out nine yards for a first down inside the Tennessee Tech red zone, allowing John Russ to kneel on the ball three times as the clock ran out.
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a tale of two halves as Mercer started the game allowing a 100-yard kickoff return and gave up 165 yards of offense in the first half but only allowed 92 yards in the second half, including negative 14 yards in the fourth quarter.
Following the kickoff return, Cole Fisher hit a 42-yard field goal then John Russ gave Mercer the lead with a 15-yard run with 3:23 left in the half. Tennessee Tech would strike back with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Michael Birdsong to Kip Patton with 51 seconds remaining before intermission, taking a 14-10 lead into halftime.
After the Golden Ealges scored a 21-yard Bridsong touchdown pass to Jordan Giberti early in the third quarter, Mercer responded with two Sam Walker touchdown passes from Russ to pull within three at 24-21. Pinned back deep in Mercer territory, a controversial call was ruled a Walker fumble that was recovered and returned eight yards for a touchdown by Tennessee Tech. That play sparked the Bears as Eric Jackson blocked the PAT kick, Russ scored from one yard out and Fisher's school record 49-yard field goal sealed the win, along with three defensive plays in the fourth quarter that registered negative yardage for TTU.
OFFENSIVE STAR
It is a tie between Sam Walker and John Russ. Walker had four catches for 39 yards and two touchdowns, one of which was a battle against two defenders. Meanwhile Russ was 23-for-35 for 259 yards passing and two scores while running for two more touchdowns himself as he tallied 46 yards rushing on 10 carries.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUT
Zach Jackson tallied six total tackles, half of which registered for a total loss of 16 yards. Of his three tackles for a loss, two were sacks for a loss of 15 yards. Jackson also forced two fumbles in the game – the second of which coming on Tennessee Tech's final drive, a turnover that clinched the game for the Bears – and was responsible for a pass break-up.
RECORDS UPDATE
- Mercer: 1-2, 0-1 SoCon
- Tennessee Tech: 1-2, 1-0 OVC
- Mercer evened the all-time series with Tennessee Tech, 1-1.
- QB John Russ and C Kirby Southard made their 38th consecutive starts for the Bears.
- Today's attendance: 9,972
- Mercer has scored in 43 straight games dating back to a 52-0 loss to Rollins on Oct. 24, 1941.
- John Russ' two rushing touchdowns brings him to 28 career rushing touchdowns.
- Saturday's game marked the sixth time John Russ ran for two touchdowns in a game. It is also the second time he has achieved that feat this year (last: vs. #15/15 The Citadel on Sept. 1, 2016)
- With two passing touchdowns, John Russ has now thrown 61 touchdown passes in his career.
- John Russ has thrown a touchdown in 33 of 38 contests over the course of his career.
- The 23 passes completed by John Russ ties for second-most in school history.
- The two touchdowns scored by Sam Walker ties a career-high for the redshirt sophomore.
- The Bears have forced a turnover in 22 of the last 25 games, including the last two in a row.
- The four forced fumbles in the game marks a new school record.
- The 10.0 tackles for a loss ties for second-most in school history (vs. Stetson, 2014).
- Zach Jackson's two forced fumbles ties a school record (tying Tunde Ayinla's two forced fumbles vs. Stetson in 2014) and marks a career best.
- Zach Jackson's 3.0 tackles for a loss also ties a school record matching Corey Lockett's 3.0 tackles for a loss against Davidson in 2013.
- Stephen Houzah's 35-yard interception return is a career-long mark and ties for the second-longest in school history.
- Jeremy James led Mercer with nine total tackles, a mark that ties a career-high.
- Cole Fisher's 49-yard field goal in the fourth quarter set a new school record.
Mercer's bye week falls next week which means the Bears don't return to the gridiron until Oct. 1 when Southern Conference play resumes for the Orange and Black at VMI.
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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