Game Preview: No. 11 Mercer Hosts Defending SoCon Champion ETSU

MACON, Ga. – The Bears welcome ETSU to Five Star Stadium on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. The teams met on the final week of the regular season last year for the regular season Southern Conference championship. ETSU edged the Bears 38-35.
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
» Date | Time: Saturday, Oct. 15 | 4 p.m.
» Teams: ETSU (3-3, 1-3) at Mercer (5-1, 3-0)
» Location: Macon, Ga. | Five Star Stadium (10,200) 
» Television: ESPN+
» Television Talent:  Frank Malloy (PxP), Jason Patterson (Analyst)
» Radio: Mercer Sports Network | 100.9 The Creek FM | SportsMic
» Radio Talent: Rick Cameron (PxP), Bryce Koon (Analyst), Charles Davis (Sideline)
» Live Stats: StatBroadcast
» Twitter Updates: @MercerFootball
 
QUICK FACTS

Mercer is 37-18 at Five Star Stadium.
This is the eighth meeting between the programs. ETSU leads the series, 4-3.
In the last game of the season last year - to decide the SoCon champion - ETSU defeated Mercer 38-35.
This is a matchup of the top two pass defenses in the SoCon. Each team allows less than 190 passing yards per game.
ETSU is the second consecutive opponent Mercer will face that is averaging 30+ points per game this season.
The game features the leading rusher and receiver in the SoCon. ETSU's Jacob Saylors averages 123.0 rushing yards per game. Mercer's Ty James averages 76.2 receiving ypg.

SCOUTING ETSU

ETSU is led by first year head coach George Quarles. The Bucs are coming off a 11-2, 7-1 (SoCon) season in 2021. Last year, the Bucs defeated Mercer 38-35 in the last game of the season and were crowned SoCon regular season champions.
ETSU grabbed its first conference win of the season last week with a 44-21 win over VMI.
Mercer is the second ranked opponent ETSU has faced this season. The Bucs lost 24-16 to then No. 10 Chattanooga on Oct. 1.
Quarterback Tyler Riddell is sixth in the conference in passing yards per game (161.2). Riddell has eight passing touchdowns to five interceptions on the season.
Running back Jacob Saylors paces the Bucs' rushing attack with a SoCon best 123.8 rushing yards per game. Last week against VMI, Saylors finished with 225 all-purpose yards and three rushing touchdowns.
ETSU's defense had four takeaways last week against VMI. The Bucs are second in the conference in turnover margin at +5, trailing only Mercer who is +8 in turnover margin.

DOMINANT WIN OVER WESTERN CAROLINA

Mercer defeated Western Carolina 49-6 last week. The 43-point win marked the most points Mercer defeated a conference opponent by since Oct. 17, 2015, when the Bears defeated ETSU 52-0.
The Bears' defense had a season-high five takeaways in the win.
Isaac Dowling was named SoCon defensive player of the week. Dowling had a team-high eight tackles and two interceptions in the win.

DYNAMIC DUO AT WIDE RECEIVER

Wide receivers Ty James and Devron Harper have proven to be dangerous weapons in the Mercer offense.
James leads the SoCon in receiving yards with 457 yards. He was named FCS Offensive Player of the Week for his week 0 performance against Morehead State. In the game, James had 5 receptions for 192 receiving yards and three touchdowns all in the first half.
Harper has scored eight touchdowns in the last three games to bring his total to a conference best 12 touchdowns on the season.
Harper is tied for the FCS lead in receiving touchdowns with eight.
He is the only player in the SoCon to score in three different ways – receiving (8), rushing (3) and returning (1).

DOMINANT DEFENSE

Mercer's defense has been one of the best in the FCS through six games. The Bears have held their last four opponents to less than 100 yards rushing.
The defense is top-10 in the FCS in scoring defense (8^th) and total defense (10^th).
Mercer's defense has 12 intercerptions to lead the FCS.
The Bears' defense leads the SoCon in scoring defense (13.7 ppg), total defense (286.8 ypg) and passing defense (173.3 ypg). They also have only allowed three passing touchdowns, tops in the SoCon.
In Mercer's 17-0 win over The Citadel, linebacker Isaac Dowling tied a career-high with 17 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack in the game.
Against Gardner-Webb, the Bears forced three Gardner-Webb turnovers. Cam Sims had a 67-yard pick-six to give the bears a 21-point lead at halftime.
No team has scored in the fourth quarter against Mercer.

MOVING UP IN THE POLLS

Mercer is ranked No. 11 in the AFCA Coaches FCS Top 25 and No. 12 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25.
That is the highest ranking in program history.

BY THE NUMBERS

16-0: Quarterback Fred Payton owns a 16-0 TD-INT ratio. He is one of three quarterbacks in the FCS, yet to throw an interception.
60: Opponents are scoring just 60% of the time they reach the red zone against the Bears. That is the seventh best red zone defense in the FCS.
15: Mercer and ETSU each have 15 takeaways on the season, tied for third-most in the FCS.

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.

Game Preview: No. 11 Mercer Hosts Defending SoCon Champion ETSU

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Players Mentioned

Isaac Dowling

Devron Harper

Ty James

Fred Payton

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Game Preview: No. 11 Mercer Hosts Defending SoCon Champion ETSU

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Isaac Dowling

Devron Harper

Ty James

Fred Payton

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