Mercer Wins Triple Overtime Thriller

Saturday, November 2

Macon, Ga.

7 p.m.

Mercer University

4-5 , 3-3

Samford

4-5 , 3-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Samford

Mercer

11/3/2019 1:48:00 AM | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Bears down Bulldogs in marathon game

By: Jace Sanders

MACON, Ga. – Caleb Dowden knocked a 38-yard field goal through to give Mercer a 36-33 win in the third overtime over Southern Conference foe Samford Saturday night at Five Star Stadium.

Dowden drilled the game-winner to send the orange-clad fans home happy after the Bears (4-5, 3-3 SoCon) and Bulldogs (4-5, 3-3 SoCon) traded touchdowns in the first overtime and field goals in the second. It was sweet redemption for the redshirt freshman, as he missed a 35-yarder at the end of regulation to send the game to overtime.

Offensive Star
Tyray Devezin turned in another record-setting performance for the Bears, carrying the ball 38 times for 130 yards and four touchdowns. Devezin's four scores are tied for the most in a single game in program history.

Defensive Star
Linebacker Sidney Otiwu etched his name in the school record books with 21 tackles in the game. Otiwu shattered the previous school record of 18 – set in 2014 by Tyler Ward – after starting with 14 in the first half.

Stat Geek
Kaelan Riley completed 21 of his 44 passing attempts in the game for 250 passing yards with no turnovers. Riley's favorite targets were Yahsyn McKee and David Durden – who had 117 and 63 receiving yards on nine and three catches, respectively.

Mercer's special teams proved to be the difference in the game, as Dowden made three of his four field goal attempts in the game. Grant Goupil punted seven times for an average of 43.0 yards per punt – three inside the 20 – and with a long of 51 yards.

Notable

Sidney Otiwu's 21 tackles broke Tyler Ward's school record of 18 tackles set against Furman in 2014.
Tyray Devezin rushed for four touchdowns, which tied Alex Lakes for the most touchdowns scored in a single game in school history. Lakes accomplished the feat against Warner on November 15, 2014.
With the win, Mercer has defeated Samford for the second year in a row – it is the first time the Bears have knocked off the Bulldogs in consecutive contests since they did so in 1929 and 1932.

Up Next
The Bears will take the field at Five Star Stadium one last time in 2019 next Saturday as they welcome Wofford on Homecoming and Senior Day.

Follow the Bears
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