Saturday, November 18
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
12 p.m.
Mercer University
5-6
0
at
56
#1 Alabama
11-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Mercer
0
0
0
0
0
Alabama
14
21
14
7
56
Team Stats
MER
UA
Total Yards
161
530
Pass Yards
54
265
Rushing Yards
107
265
Penalty Yards
10
5
1st Downs
9
22
3rd Downs
5
4
4th Downs
1
0
TOP
34:48
25:12
1st Quarter
MER 0, UA 7
UA - Irv Smith Jr. 8 yd pass from Jalen Hurts (JK Scott kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:33
MER 0, UA 14
UA - Najee Harris 3 yd run (JK Scott kick), 5 plays, 65 yards, TOP 1:41
2nd Quarter
MER 0, UA 21
UA - Calvin Ridley 66 yd pass from Jalen Hurts (JK Scott kick) 4 plays, 98 yards, TOP 1:24
MER 0, UA 28
UA - Josh Jacobs 7 yd pass from Jalen Hurts (JK Scott kick) 3 plays, 40 yards, TOP 1:15
MER 0, UA 35
UA - Hale Hentges 4 yd pass from Tua Tagovailoa (JK Scott kick) 3 plays, 49 yards, TOP 1:12
3rd Quarter
MER 0, UA 42
UA - Cam Sims 8 yd pass from Tua Tagovailoa (JK Scott kick) 6 plays, 58 yards, TOP 2:33
MER 0, UA 49
UA - B. Robinson Jr. 6 yd run (JK Scott kick), 2 plays, 6 yards, TOP 0:09
4th Quarter
MER 0, UA 56
UA - Derek Kief 13 yd pass from Tua Tagovailoa (JK Scott kick) 2 plays, 17 yards, TOP 0:47
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
6
TD
0
YDS
44
INT
3
CMP
1
TD
0
YDS
10
INT
0
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
K
/ Football
DB
/ Football
K/P
/ Football
DB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DB
/ FootballQB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
Photo by: Judy Stapleton
Mercer Falls in Season Finale at No. 1 Alabama
11/18/2017 3:32:00 PM | Football
Bears force one turnover in nonconference road loss
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Mercer forced and recovered a pair of fumbles in a 56-0 loss to No. 1 Alabama in the Bears' regular season finale at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
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The Bears (5-6, 4-4 Southern Conference) saw their season come to a close with their second loss to a nationally-ranked FBS/Southeastern Conference (SEC) opponent. Alabama (11-0, 7-0 SEC) remained unbeaten in its home finale. The crowd of 101,821 at Bryant-Denny Stadium marks the largest crowd to watch a Mercer football game.
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It Was Over When
A 66-yard touchdown pass by Jalen Hurts to Calvin Ridley on the first play of the second quarter gave Alabama a 21-0 advantage that it never looked back from.
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Stat of the Game
Mercer recorded its 15th and 16th fumble recoveries of the season to remain atop the FCS in the category and finished the season with 25 turnovers gained. Mercer recovered a fumble in seven of its 11 games this season.
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Offensive Star
Tee Mitchell finished with a game-high 17 carries for 57 yards. The junior running back notched 626 rushing yards for the season, the most on the team, and is 25 yards shy of the 2,000-yard mark.
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Defensive Standout
Malique Fleming (one forced fumble, one fumble recovery), Harrison Poole (one forced fumble) and Sidney Otiwu (one fumble recovery) all played roles in Mercer's two turnovers gained. Fleming and Poole finished with seven tackles apiece while Otiwu added three.
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How It Happened
Alabama found the end zone on its first five drives of the game and took a commanding 35-0 lead into halftime. Mercer came inches away from putting points on the board on its first drive of the game as a 52-yard field goal attempt by Cole Fisher bounced off the crossbar with 8:16 left in the first quarter. The field goal attempt followed a 40-yard kick return by Chandler Curtis, which started Mercer's drive at its own 43.
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Mercer's best opportunity of the first half came after Harrison Poole stripped Henry Riggs III and Sidney Otiwu came up with the fumble recovery at the Alabama 47. The Bears drove 30 yards and converted on fourth-and-1, but Kaelan Riley was eventually intercepted at the Alabama 9-yard line.
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Tee Mitchell gained 41 yards on six attempts to help push the Bears into Alabama territory on their first drive of the second half, but Mercer was halted on fourth-and-3 attempt as CJ Leggett was dropped for a loss. The 38-yard drive was Mercer's longest of the day as it failed to muster any further offense in the second half.
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Mercer forced the Crimson Tide to punt twice in the second half in addition to Malique Fleming coming up with the strip and fumble recovery on Alabama's second-to-last drive.
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Coach Lamb's Take
"Obviously it was not the result we wanted, but when you're playing the No. 1 team in the country and you don't execute the way you need to execute on offense and defense, you get exposed," said head coach Bobby Lamb. "We were exposed today early. Alabama is very powerful on offense and they have a great offensive line, a great system, and we couldn't seem to slow them down.
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"I thought we moved the ball well enough on offense in the first half; however, we'd get across the 50 and we'd stall a little bit. The three turnovers really hurt. I thought we started playing a little bit better in the second quarter on defense, but there is a reason that Alabama is Alabama. They have a very good football team. I guess the only stat we won today was time of possession, and that's because they were scoring so doggone quick. You want to say it was a great experience for our football team, a great experience for our seniors, and one that we'll learn from and take into next year as we continue to build this program."
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Notables
Team
» Mercer concluded its 2017 season with a 5-6 overall record. Two of those losses came against nationally-ranked FBS/SEC foes (Auburn, Alabama).
» Mercer fell to 0-3 against FBS opponents since reviving its football program in 2013.
» Mercer finished the 2017 season with a 2-4 road record.
» The 56-point loss marks Mercer's largest margin of defeat in the modern era.
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Offense
» Tee Mitchell finished with a game-high 17 carries. His 57 rushing yards led the team and left him 25 yards shy of 2,000 for his career.
» Mercer failed to score for the first time in 61 games, a streak that dated back to Oct. 24, 1941.
» Marquise Irvin caught two passes for 22 yards. He has 15 receptions for 152 yards and one touchdown in Mercer's three games vs. FBS opponents.
» Sam Walker caught a team-high four passes for 33 yards.
» Mercer went 1-for-2 on fourth down conversions; Riley connected with Walker for a two-yard pass on fourth-and-1 at the Alabama 35 in the second quarter.
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Defense
» Mercer leads the FCS with 16 fumble recoveries. The Bears have forced a fumble in eight games and recovered a fumble in seven games this season.
» It was Poole's second career forced fumble and Otiwu's first career recovery.
» Fleming recorded his second forced fumble of the season.
» Eric Jackson and Lee Bennett totaled nine and eight tackles, respectively, to lead the team.
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Special Teams
» Stephen Houzah and Curtis' 47- and 40-yard kick returns were the second and third longest allowed by Alabama this season (63-yard return by Colorado State on Sept. 16).
» Houzah's kick return was his first of the season.
» Fisher's 52-yard field goal attempt is tied for his season-long.
» Grant Goupil averaged 44.7 yards per punt on six punts, including a 52-yard yarder. He pinned three of his six punts inside the Alabama 20.
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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 Bears (5-6, 4-4 Southern Conference) saw their season come to a close with their second loss to a nationally-ranked FBS/Southeastern Conference (SEC) opponent. Alabama (11-0, 7-0 SEC) remained unbeaten in its home finale. The crowd of 101,821 at Bryant-Denny Stadium marks the largest crowd to watch a Mercer football game.
Â
It Was Over When
A 66-yard touchdown pass by Jalen Hurts to Calvin Ridley on the first play of the second quarter gave Alabama a 21-0 advantage that it never looked back from.
Â
Stat of the Game
Mercer recorded its 15th and 16th fumble recoveries of the season to remain atop the FCS in the category and finished the season with 25 turnovers gained. Mercer recovered a fumble in seven of its 11 games this season.
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Offensive Star
Tee Mitchell finished with a game-high 17 carries for 57 yards. The junior running back notched 626 rushing yards for the season, the most on the team, and is 25 yards shy of the 2,000-yard mark.
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Defensive Standout
Malique Fleming (one forced fumble, one fumble recovery), Harrison Poole (one forced fumble) and Sidney Otiwu (one fumble recovery) all played roles in Mercer's two turnovers gained. Fleming and Poole finished with seven tackles apiece while Otiwu added three.
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How It Happened
Alabama found the end zone on its first five drives of the game and took a commanding 35-0 lead into halftime. Mercer came inches away from putting points on the board on its first drive of the game as a 52-yard field goal attempt by Cole Fisher bounced off the crossbar with 8:16 left in the first quarter. The field goal attempt followed a 40-yard kick return by Chandler Curtis, which started Mercer's drive at its own 43.
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Mercer's best opportunity of the first half came after Harrison Poole stripped Henry Riggs III and Sidney Otiwu came up with the fumble recovery at the Alabama 47. The Bears drove 30 yards and converted on fourth-and-1, but Kaelan Riley was eventually intercepted at the Alabama 9-yard line.
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Tee Mitchell gained 41 yards on six attempts to help push the Bears into Alabama territory on their first drive of the second half, but Mercer was halted on fourth-and-3 attempt as CJ Leggett was dropped for a loss. The 38-yard drive was Mercer's longest of the day as it failed to muster any further offense in the second half.
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Mercer forced the Crimson Tide to punt twice in the second half in addition to Malique Fleming coming up with the strip and fumble recovery on Alabama's second-to-last drive.
Â
Coach Lamb's Take
"Obviously it was not the result we wanted, but when you're playing the No. 1 team in the country and you don't execute the way you need to execute on offense and defense, you get exposed," said head coach Bobby Lamb. "We were exposed today early. Alabama is very powerful on offense and they have a great offensive line, a great system, and we couldn't seem to slow them down.
Â
"I thought we moved the ball well enough on offense in the first half; however, we'd get across the 50 and we'd stall a little bit. The three turnovers really hurt. I thought we started playing a little bit better in the second quarter on defense, but there is a reason that Alabama is Alabama. They have a very good football team. I guess the only stat we won today was time of possession, and that's because they were scoring so doggone quick. You want to say it was a great experience for our football team, a great experience for our seniors, and one that we'll learn from and take into next year as we continue to build this program."
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Notables
Team
» Mercer concluded its 2017 season with a 5-6 overall record. Two of those losses came against nationally-ranked FBS/SEC foes (Auburn, Alabama).
» Mercer fell to 0-3 against FBS opponents since reviving its football program in 2013.
» Mercer finished the 2017 season with a 2-4 road record.
» The 56-point loss marks Mercer's largest margin of defeat in the modern era.
Â
Offense
» Tee Mitchell finished with a game-high 17 carries. His 57 rushing yards led the team and left him 25 yards shy of 2,000 for his career.
» Mercer failed to score for the first time in 61 games, a streak that dated back to Oct. 24, 1941.
» Marquise Irvin caught two passes for 22 yards. He has 15 receptions for 152 yards and one touchdown in Mercer's three games vs. FBS opponents.
» Sam Walker caught a team-high four passes for 33 yards.
» Mercer went 1-for-2 on fourth down conversions; Riley connected with Walker for a two-yard pass on fourth-and-1 at the Alabama 35 in the second quarter.
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Defense
» Mercer leads the FCS with 16 fumble recoveries. The Bears have forced a fumble in eight games and recovered a fumble in seven games this season.
» It was Poole's second career forced fumble and Otiwu's first career recovery.
» Fleming recorded his second forced fumble of the season.
» Eric Jackson and Lee Bennett totaled nine and eight tackles, respectively, to lead the team.
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Special Teams
» Stephen Houzah and Curtis' 47- and 40-yard kick returns were the second and third longest allowed by Alabama this season (63-yard return by Colorado State on Sept. 16).
» Houzah's kick return was his first of the season.
» Fisher's 52-yard field goal attempt is tied for his season-long.
» Grant Goupil averaged 44.7 yards per punt on six punts, including a 52-yard yarder. He pinned three of his six punts inside the Alabama 20.
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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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