Football is Back: Mercer Set to Kick-Off Season Saturday

Saturday, October 10

Jacksonville, Ala.

3 p.m.

Mercer University

Jacksonville State

Photo by: Judy Stapleton

Football is Back: Mercer Set to Kick-Off Season Saturday

10/8/2020 1:42:00 PM | Football

The Bears travel to Jacksonville State to open 2020 season

By: Travis Rae

MACON, Ga. – For the first time since 1921, the Mercer football team will open up its season in October. Mercer's conference schedule was pushed to the spring because of COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the Bears with three non-conference games, starting with the Jacksonville State Gamecocks Saturday at 3 p.m. (ET) at Burgess-Snow Field.

If you can't make the game, catch the broadcast on ESPN3. As always, the game will also be broadcast by the "Voice of the Bears" Rick Cameron and his crew on The Creek (100.9 FM) and the SportsMic App.

GAMEDAY LINEUP
» Date | Time: Saturday, Oct. 10 | 3 p.m. (ET)
» Teams: Mercer (0-0, 0-0 SoCon) at Jacksonville State (0-1, 0-0 OVC)
» Location: Jacksonville, Ala. | Burgess-Snow Field (24,000)
» Television: ESPN3
» Television Talent: Mickey Shadrix (PxP), Butch Barker (Analyst)
» Radio: Mercer Sports Network | 100.9 The Creek FM | SportsMic
» Radio Talent: Rick Cameron (PxP), Roger Jackson (Analyst), Charles Davis (Sideline)
» Live Stats: JSUGamecocksports.com
» Twitter Updates: @MercerFootball
» Game Notes: Mercer | JSU | SoCon

The season-opening matchup pits the Bears against the Gamecocks for the first meeting between the two programs.

SCOUTING JACKSONVILLE STATE
Jacksonville State enters the contest with the Bears coming off a 41-24 loss to Florida State on Oct. 3. Late in the second quarter, the Gamecocks was leading 21-7 over the Seminoles, following a Zerrick Cooper touchdown run. Over the final 34 minutes of the game, JSU was limited to three points.

Cooper, the Gamecocks' senior quarterback, entered the season with several school records in his sights, but none as close as JSU's career touchdown passes record. He needs just one to tie Ed Lett's record of 80 set from 1979-82.

Jacksonville State is averaging 24.0 points per game and has tallied 307 yards of total offense. In the first game of the season, the Gamecocks rushed for 63 yards as a team, led by Josh Samuel with 20. Dave Russell led the receiving core with seven receptions and 74 yards.

Quick Hits

For the third straight season, Mercer opens the season on the road. Mercer is 1-1 in its last two road openers. Mercer is coming off a 49-27 victory over Western Carolina in last year's season opener.
This is the first showdown with Ohio Valley Conference opponent Jacksonville State.
Senior running back Tyray Devezin is looking to become the fourth Mercer Bear to rush for 2,000 yards in his career. Entering the season opener, Devezin has rushed for 1,986 yards. Besides closing in on the 2,000 mark, Devezin is 675 yards away from becoming the school's all-time leading rusher.
Earlier this week, the Bears announced the team's captains for the 2020 season. The players voted Michael Campbell, Deondre Johnson, Harrison Frost, Lance Wise and Devezin as captains.
Saturday marks the first of three games that the Bears will play in October. Besides the season-opener at Jacksonville State, Mercer travels to Army West Point (Oct. 24) before hosting Abilene Christian on Oct. 31.
Tyray Devezin was named to the FCS Players to Watch List by Stats FCS. He is one of 15 players to make the list and is one of three Southern Conference players on the list. The Woodstock, Ga., native is coming off an impressive junior campaign, which saw him rush for the first 1,000-yard season of his career.
Saturday marks the first game as a Bear for Head Coach Drew Cronic. In his previous four years as a head coach, Cronic is 3-1 in season openers. Last season at Lenior-Rhyne, Cronic defeated St. Augustine's 68-7 to open the 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.