Saturday, September 8
Macon, Ga.
6 p.m.
Mercer University
1-1
45
vs
3
Jacksonville
1-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Jacksonville
0
0
0
3
3
Mercer
7
24
14
0
45
Team Stats
JU
MER
Total Yards
212
404
Pass Yards
15
130
Rushing Yards
197
274
Penalty Yards
92
40
1st Downs
13
22
3rd Downs
7
5
4th Downs
1
0
TOP
35:41
24:19
1st Quarter
JU 0, MER 7
MER - Robert Riddle 3 yd run (Cole Fisher kick), 5 plays, 60 yards, TOP 1:22
2nd Quarter
JU 0, MER 14
MER - Stephen Houzah 5 yd pass from Kaelan Riley (Cole Fisher kick) 8 plays, 66 yards, TOP 3:13
JU 0, MER 17
MER - Cole Fisher 29 yd field goal 4 plays, 3 yards, TOP 0:53
JU 0, MER 24
MER - Tee Mitchell 14 yd run (Cole Fisher kick), 8 plays, 59 yards, TOP 3:53
JU 0, MER 31
MER - Tyray Devezin 5 yd run (Cole Fisher kick), 6 plays, 89 yards, TOP 1:49
3rd Quarter
JU 0, MER 38
MER - Kaelan Riley 7 yd run (Cole Fisher kick), 11 plays, 71 yards, TOP 6:06
JU 0, MER 45
MER - Tyray Devezin 9 yd run (Caleb Dowden kick), 3 plays, 33 yards, TOP 1:12
4th Quarter
JU 3, MER 45
JU - Javier Arce-Ram 49 yd field goal 7 plays, 27 yards, TOP 4:35
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
8
TD
0
YDS
84
INT
0
CMP
8
TD
1
YDS
46
INT
0
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
K
/ Football
K
/ Football
DB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
K
/ FootballQB
/ FootballQB
/ Football
DL
/ FootballPhoto by: Allyson Lamb
Bears Dominate Dolphins in Lamb’s 100th Career Win
9/8/2018 11:50:00 PM | Football
Mitchell, Devezin run rampant with three touchdowns in home opener
MACON, Ga. – Mercer exploded for 40-plus points in its home opener against Jacksonville for the second consecutive season, downing the Dolphins, 45-3, at Five Star Stadium on Saturday.
The victory over Jacksonville (1-1) clinched Mercer head coach Bobby Lamb's 100th career win and helped the Bears improve to 1-1 overall. Lamb has earned 33 of his 100 career wins at Mercer (first 67 at Furman).
Running backs Tee Mitchell and Tyray Devezin put on a show for the Mercer offense, combining for 217 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Mitchell gained a game-high 118 yards while Devezin added 99 yards and a pair of scores.
Turning Point
Mercer's ability to control the ground game contributed heavily to its success in controlling both the tempo and the scoreboard. The momentum started with Mitchell's first two touches of the game; a 25-yard gain followed by a 22-yard scramble to get inside Jacksonville's red zone. Two carries later, Robert Riddle edged in a three-yard touchdown run, further paving the way to a 274-yard rushing performance by Mercer.
It Was Over When
Devezin's 5-yard punch into the end zone proved to be the backbreaker for the Dolphins, capping off a six-play, 89-yard drive with 1:32 remaining in the opening half. Devezin's touchdown carry extended Mercer's lead to 31-0, while also capping off a 24-point second quarter.
Offensive Star
Mitchell sparked the offense for Mercer, rushing for 118 yards on 12 carries and adding one touchdown. The senior eclipsed 2,000-career rushing yards following his first carry of the game, joining John Russ and Alex Lakes as the only three Bears to reach the milestone. Mitchell, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., averaged a career-high 9.8 yards per carry.
Defensive Star
Malique Fleming anchored the Bears' defense with nine total tackles on the evening. Fleming collected three solo tackles, while also forcing his third career fumble.
How It Happened
The Bears scored on their first drive of the game, taking an early seven-point lead behind 56 yards rushing and a three-yard touchdown run by Riddle. Mercer scored on each of its first four possessions to open the second quarter – two rushing touchdowns, one passing touchdown and a field goal by Cole Fisher – to stretch its lead to 31-0 before halftime.
Mitchell and Devezin both had a first-half rushing touchdown, while Kaelan Riley connected with Stephen Houzah for a five-yard score through the air.
Mercer kept its foot on the gas in the third quarter, outscoring the Dolphins, 14-0, to take a 45-point advantage. Riley capped off an 11-play, 71-yard drive to pen the second half with a seven-yard touchdown scramble for his first rushing touchdown of the season. Devezin collected Mercer's final points with a nine-yard strike on the ground in the third quarter. Jacksonville spoiled the shutout with a 49-yard field goal with 1:30 remaining in the contest.
Coach Lamb's Take
Lamb's opening statement:
"I'm very proud of our team for bouncing back from a difficult loss last week against a powerful Memphis team," head coach Bobby Lamb said. "This week was about us improving in all phases of our game and there were certainly plenty of positives throughout the night.
"I thought our defense dominated the first half and controlled the line of scrimmage. Offensively, I was proud of our linemen for being a force all night and I thought both of our quarterbacks distributed the ball well. You can't say enough about Tee Mitchell and Tyray Devezin either; they were great on the ground."
Lamb on his 100th career win:
"[To win] 100 career games feels great, but when you win 100, you're probably getting old. I'm proud of that accomplishment. Looking back at my career, those 100 wins have come from all the players and coaches that have been with me over these past 14 seasons [and two games].
"It was a very rewarding night to get that win. We'll certainly celebrate a little bit tonight."
Notables
» Mercer averaged 8.1 yards per carry, its second-best single-game average in program history.
» Robert Riddle, who earned his first career start, was 8-for-11 for 84 yards through the air. Mercer's quarterbacks were a combined 16-for-21 for 130 yards and one touchdown, tossed by Riley.
» Mercer's 274 rushing yards are its most in a single-game since running for 275 against Western Carolina on Oct. 15, 2016.
» Mercer's defense held Jacksonville to 212 total yards of offense after the Dolphins racked up 514 yards in their season opener.
» Marquise Irvin caught five passes for 72 yards. He has 178 receiving yards through two games this season.
» Will Coneway's 10 total tackles led Mercer. He added one sack and 1.5 tackles for loss.
» Malique Fleming (nine tackles) was one of three Bears to force a fumble, joining Brandon Coney and Austin Wysor.
» Eric Jackson and Luke Ward collected fumble recoveries.
» Cole Fisher's 29-yard field goal was his first of the season.
» Kickers Brad Powell and Caleb Dowden saw action. Dowden, a true freshman, was successful in his lone extra-point attempt.
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.
The victory over Jacksonville (1-1) clinched Mercer head coach Bobby Lamb's 100th career win and helped the Bears improve to 1-1 overall. Lamb has earned 33 of his 100 career wins at Mercer (first 67 at Furman).
Running backs Tee Mitchell and Tyray Devezin put on a show for the Mercer offense, combining for 217 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Mitchell gained a game-high 118 yards while Devezin added 99 yards and a pair of scores.
Turning Point
Mercer's ability to control the ground game contributed heavily to its success in controlling both the tempo and the scoreboard. The momentum started with Mitchell's first two touches of the game; a 25-yard gain followed by a 22-yard scramble to get inside Jacksonville's red zone. Two carries later, Robert Riddle edged in a three-yard touchdown run, further paving the way to a 274-yard rushing performance by Mercer.
It Was Over When
Devezin's 5-yard punch into the end zone proved to be the backbreaker for the Dolphins, capping off a six-play, 89-yard drive with 1:32 remaining in the opening half. Devezin's touchdown carry extended Mercer's lead to 31-0, while also capping off a 24-point second quarter.
Offensive Star
Mitchell sparked the offense for Mercer, rushing for 118 yards on 12 carries and adding one touchdown. The senior eclipsed 2,000-career rushing yards following his first carry of the game, joining John Russ and Alex Lakes as the only three Bears to reach the milestone. Mitchell, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., averaged a career-high 9.8 yards per carry.
Defensive Star
Malique Fleming anchored the Bears' defense with nine total tackles on the evening. Fleming collected three solo tackles, while also forcing his third career fumble.
How It Happened
The Bears scored on their first drive of the game, taking an early seven-point lead behind 56 yards rushing and a three-yard touchdown run by Riddle. Mercer scored on each of its first four possessions to open the second quarter – two rushing touchdowns, one passing touchdown and a field goal by Cole Fisher – to stretch its lead to 31-0 before halftime.
Mitchell and Devezin both had a first-half rushing touchdown, while Kaelan Riley connected with Stephen Houzah for a five-yard score through the air.
Mercer kept its foot on the gas in the third quarter, outscoring the Dolphins, 14-0, to take a 45-point advantage. Riley capped off an 11-play, 71-yard drive to pen the second half with a seven-yard touchdown scramble for his first rushing touchdown of the season. Devezin collected Mercer's final points with a nine-yard strike on the ground in the third quarter. Jacksonville spoiled the shutout with a 49-yard field goal with 1:30 remaining in the contest.
Coach Lamb's Take
Lamb's opening statement:
"I'm very proud of our team for bouncing back from a difficult loss last week against a powerful Memphis team," head coach Bobby Lamb said. "This week was about us improving in all phases of our game and there were certainly plenty of positives throughout the night.
"I thought our defense dominated the first half and controlled the line of scrimmage. Offensively, I was proud of our linemen for being a force all night and I thought both of our quarterbacks distributed the ball well. You can't say enough about Tee Mitchell and Tyray Devezin either; they were great on the ground."
Lamb on his 100th career win:
"[To win] 100 career games feels great, but when you win 100, you're probably getting old. I'm proud of that accomplishment. Looking back at my career, those 100 wins have come from all the players and coaches that have been with me over these past 14 seasons [and two games].
"It was a very rewarding night to get that win. We'll certainly celebrate a little bit tonight."
Notables
» Mercer averaged 8.1 yards per carry, its second-best single-game average in program history.
» Robert Riddle, who earned his first career start, was 8-for-11 for 84 yards through the air. Mercer's quarterbacks were a combined 16-for-21 for 130 yards and one touchdown, tossed by Riley.
» Mercer's 274 rushing yards are its most in a single-game since running for 275 against Western Carolina on Oct. 15, 2016.
» Mercer's defense held Jacksonville to 212 total yards of offense after the Dolphins racked up 514 yards in their season opener.
» Marquise Irvin caught five passes for 72 yards. He has 178 receiving yards through two games this season.
» Will Coneway's 10 total tackles led Mercer. He added one sack and 1.5 tackles for loss.
» Malique Fleming (nine tackles) was one of three Bears to force a fumble, joining Brandon Coney and Austin Wysor.
» Eric Jackson and Luke Ward collected fumble recoveries.
» Cole Fisher's 29-yard field goal was his first of the season.
» Kickers Brad Powell and Caleb Dowden saw action. Dowden, a true freshman, was successful in his lone extra-point attempt.
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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