Mercer Prepped for Battle at No. 15 Furman

Saturday, September 21

Greenville, S.C.

1 p.m.

Mercer University

#15 Furman

Photo by: Allyson Lamb

9/19/2019 5:49:00 PM | Football

Watch Listen Live Stats Game Notes

Bears and Paladins set for SoCon Game of the Week

By: Jace Sanders

MACON, Ga. – Mercer rolls back into Southern Conference action Saturday, as the Bears travel to face No. 15 Furman at 1 p.m. (ET) in Paladin Stadium.

The game is Mercer's second to be broadcast on Nexstar TV this season – fans in Macon can watch the game locally on WMUB (Cox Channel 112). As always, the game will also be broadcast by "Voice of the Bears" Rick Cameron and his crew on The Creek (100.9 FM) and the SportsMic App.

GAMEDAY LINEUP
» Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 21 / 1:05 p.m. (ET)
» Teams: Mercer (2-1, 1-0 SoCon) at #15 Furman (1-2, 0-0 SoCon)
» Location: Greenville, S.C. | Paladin Stadium (16,000)
» Television: Nexstar TV/ESPN+
» Television Talent: Peter Yanity (PxP) | Jared Singleton (Analyst)
» Radio: Mercer Sports Network | 100.9 The Creek FM | SportsMic
» Radio Talent: Rick Cameron (PxP) | Roger Jackson (Analyst) | Charles Davis (Sideline)
» Live Stats: FurmanPaladins.com
» Twitter Updates: @MercerFootball

Saturday's matchup pits Mercer head coach Bobby Lamb against his alma mater and former teammate – and Furman head coach – Clay Hendrix. Lamb and Hendrix led the Paladins to three SoCon titles and an appearance in the Division I-AA National Championship game in 1985.

SCOUTING FURMAN
Furman began its season with a 33-point win against Charleston Southern before losing back-to-back FBS games by a touchdown - Georgia State (42-48) and Virginia Tech (17-24). The Paladins, who are ranked 15th in the latest AFCA FCS Coaches' Poll, are the only SoCon team ranked in the coaches' poll.

Inside linebacker Braden Gilby was named the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week after registering 12 tackles and forcing a fumble in the loss at Virginia Tech Saturday. Freshman quarterback Darren Grainger has already made a splash in his first three games, being named the Stats FCS Freshman of the Week and SoCon Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 9.

Quick Hits

Mercer received three votes in the STATS FCS Top 25 Poll and four votes in the AFCA FCS Coaches' Top 25 Poll this week.
The Bears' high-powered offense has been clicking on all cylinders this season, as the Bears rank ninth in FCS with an average 42.7 points per game and 25th with 432.3 yards per game in 2019.
Redshirt sophomore Robert Riddle leads the FCS and is tied for third in all of Division I college football with 11 passing touchdowns this season - the only two players in the country with more are Anthony Gordon (Washington St.) and Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama).
Will Coneway ranks 41st in the FCS with 9.0 total tackles per game and is third in the SoCon in the category.
David Durden has been explosive in the kick return game this season, averaging 40.3 yards per return – good enough for second in the FCS and sixth in Division I.

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.