Game Preview: No. 11 Mercer Plays First Ranked Team of Season in No. 8 Chattanooga

Saturday, October 22

Chattanooga, Tenn.

1:30 p.m.

Mercer University

Chattanooga

Game Preview: No. 11 Mercer Plays First Ranked Team of Season in No. 8 Chattanooga

10/21/2022 11:29:00 AM | Football

Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. on ESPN+

MACON, Ga. – The Bears are at No. 8 Chattanooga on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. Both teams enter the game undefeated in conference play. Last season, Mercer defeated Chattanooga 10-6 in Macon.
 
GAME DAY INFORMATION
» Date | Time: Saturday, Oct. 22 | 1:30 p.m.
» Teams: Mercer (6-1, 4-0) at Chattanooga (5-1, 3-0)
» Location: Chattanooga, Tenn. | Finley Stadium (20,620) 
» Television: ESPN+
» Television Talent:  Chris Goforth (Play-by-Play) Scott McMahen (Analyst) Dave Keylon (Sideline)
» 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 and Chattanooga are two of three remaining SoCon teams yet to lose a conference game this season.
This is the 33rd meeting between the programs. Chattanooga leads the series 20-11-1.
These are the top-two scoring defenses in the SoCon.
The SoCon's leading rusher - Chattanooga's Ailym Ford - will look to keep things going against the conference's second-best rush defense in Mercer.
Chattanooga's Ailym Ford and Mercer's Devron Harper are second and third in the conference in all-purpose yards.

SCOUTING CHATTANOOGA

Chattanooga is led by fourth year head coach Rusty Wright. Wright is a Chattanooga alum. The Mocs are coming off a 6-5, 5-3 (SoCon) season in 2021.
Chattanooga's three conference wins this season are over Wofford, ETSU, and VMI.
Like Mercer, Chattanooga has been dominant in the fourth quarter. The Mocs have outscored opponents 55-3 in the fourth quarter. Mercer is outscoring opponents 63-7 in the fourth.
Chattanooga running back leads the conference in rushing yards per game, averaging 116.0 yards per game.
The Mocs are deep at receiver,10 receivers have at least 10 receptions on the season.
Chattanooga's defense has been one of the best in the SoCon, they have the number one scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense in the SoCon.

FRED PAYTON SETS SCHOOL RECORD FOR PASSING TDs IN A GAME

Quarterback Fred Payton set a Mercer school record for most touchdown passes in a game with five last week against ETSU.
Payton's 21 passing touchdowns on the year are tied for the most by any Mercer player in a season. His 21 passing touchdowns lead the SoCon and are fourth-most in the FCS.

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 577 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 set a Mercer school record for most receiving touchdowns in a season with eight.
Harper has scored nine touchdowns in the last four games to bring his total to a conference best 13 touchdowns on the season.
Harper is tied for second in the FCS in receiving touchdowns with eight.
He is the only player in the SoCon to score in three different ways – receiving (8), rushing (4) and returning (1).

DOMINANT DEFENSE

Mercer's defense has been one of the best in the FCS this season. The Bears have held their last five opponents to less than 100 rushing yards.
The Bears have had the last two SoCon Defensive Players of the Week in Michael Campbell and Isaac Dowling.
The defense is top-15 in the FCS in scoring defense (12^th) and total defense (11^th).
Mercer's defense has 15 interceptions to lead the FCS.
The Bears' defense has only allowed four 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.
The defense has given up just seven points in the fourth quarter all season.

IN THE POLLS

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

BY THE NUMBERS

21: Quarterback Fred Payton owns a 21-1 TD-INT ratio. His 21 passing touchdowns are tied for the most by any Mercer quarterback in a season.
9: Mercer's turnover margin on the season is +9. The Bears lead the FCS in takeaways with 18.
5: Mercer has given up just five sacks on the season, every other team in the conference has given up at least 10.

FOLLOW THE BEARS
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