Mercer Meets VMI on Military Appreciation Day

MACON, Ga. – After a bye week last weekend, Mercer Football returns to the gridiron for another Southern Conference matchup at Five Star Stadium as it welcomes VMI for a 3:05 p.m. kick on Military/Community Heroes Appreciation Day.

The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and, as always, fans can listen in as "Voice of the Bears" Rick Cameron and his crew broadcast across the airwaves on The Creek (100.9 FM) and the SportsMic App.

GAMEDAY LINEUP
» Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 19 / 3:05 p.m. (ET)
» Teams: Mercer (2-4, 1-2 SoCon) vs. VMI (4-3, 1-0 SoCon)
» Location: Macon, Ga. | Five Star Stadium (10,200)
» Television: ESPN+
» Television Talent: Frank Malloy (Play-by-Play) | Jason Patterson (Analyst) | Kristin Banks (Sideline)
» Radio: Mercer Sports Network | 100.9 The Creek FM | SportsMic
» Radio Talent: Rick Cameron (PxP), Roger Jackson (Analyst), Charles Davis (Sideline)
» Live Stats: MercerBears.com
» Twitter Updates: @MercerFootball

GAME DAY EXPERIENCE
Mercer Athletics will honor the men and women who serve or have served our country on the home front and abroad, as well as those who protect and serve our communities on Military/Community Heroes Appreciation Day. All military and first responders can receive free tickets for themselves and their families courtesy of SCANA Energy by clicking HERE.

Black Field is now the place to be on Saturday's in the fall, featuring the Ford Concert Series, Macon Beer Company Bear Garden and Toby Town. Rising artists Maggie Renfroe, Caroline Jones and Craig Campbell will take to the Ford Concert Series stage prior to the game.

SERIES HISTORY | LAST MEETING
Mercer leads the all-time series over VMI, 4-1, dating back to 2014 when the two teams first met. The Bears have won three straight against the Keydets, including a 48-38 win in Lexington last season.

In 2018, running backs Tee Mitchell and Tyray Devezin combined for 284 rushing yards and four touchdowns to lead Mercer to a 48-38 road win at VMI in Southern Conference action at Foster Stadium last September. After allowing 20 first-half points, the Bears held VMI scoreless in the third quarter with an interception and two turnovers forced on downs before withstanding a late rally by the Keydets.

KEY IN ON THE KEYDETS
VMI is currently in the midst of one of its hottest starts to a season in program history. The Keydets have won four games already this year - they had only won four games in a season once since 2003. The Keydets are led offensively by quarterback Reece Udinski, who has already set the SoCon record with 298 consecutive pass attempts without an interception. Running back Alex Ramsey was named the Stats FCS Player of the Week and SoCon Offensvie Player of the Week after rushing for 163 yards in VMI's win over Samford last week.

Quick Hits

Bears running back Deondre Johnson has rushed for 6.93 yards per carry this season, which ranks 13th best in the FCS.
Senior linebacker Will Coneway has once again paced the Bears defense with 9.7 tackles per game - good enough for 19th nationally. Coneway's 269 career tackles rank as the 10th most among all active players in the FCS.
Redshirt freshman kicker Caleb Dowden remains perfect on field goal and extra-point attempts this season - one of two players in the FCS.
As a team, Mercer leads the country with 30.42 yards per kick return this season – Deondre Johnson's 98-yard touchdown against Chattanooga is one of just three kickoff return touchdowns in the FCS this season.

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.

Mercer Meets VMI on Military Appreciation Day

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Players Mentioned

Will Coneway

Tyray Devezin

Caleb Dowden

Deondre Johnson

Tee Mitchell

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