Mercer University
6-2 , 4-1
Chattanooga
6-1 , 4-0
Team Stats
MER 0, UTC 3
UTC - Sears,Aaron 32 yd field goal 4 plays, 8 yards, TOP 02:13
MER 0, UTC 10
UTC - Brown,Kameron 53 yd interception (Sears,Aaron kick)
MER 0, UTC 17
UTC - Mayes,Jamoi 34 yd pass from Hutchinson,Preston (Sears,Aaron kick) 4 plays, 54 yards, TOP 01:19
MER 0, UTC 24
UTC - Ford,Ailym 10 yd run (Sears,Aaron kick), 7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 03:36
MER 7, UTC 24
MER - Harper,Devron 39 yd pass from Payton,Fred (Folser,Devin kick) 3 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:01
MER 7, UTC 27
UTC - Sears,Aaron 29 yd field goal 12 plays, 72 yards, TOP 04:24
MER 14, UTC 27
MER - Payton,Fred 14 yd pass from Payton,Fred (Folser,Devin kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:00
MER 14, UTC 34
UTC - Phillips,Sam 53 yd pass from Hutchinson,Preston (Sears,Aaron kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:48
MER 21, UTC 34
MER - Harper,Devron 3 yd pass from Payton,Fred (Folser,Devin kick) 10 plays, 77 yards, TOP 05:15
MER 21, UTC 41
UTC - Gibson,Jay 3 yd pass from Hutchinson,Preston (Sears,Aaron kick) 9 plays, 68 yards, TOP 05:36
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
No. 11 Mercer Suffers First Conference Loss at No. 8 Chattanooga
10/22/2022 6:36:00 PM | Football
Slow start and turnovers play factor in loss
Chattanooga, Tenn. – A slow start and six turnovers led to the Bears suffering their first conference loss of the season, Saturday afternoon at No. 8 Chattanooga.
No. 8 Chattanooga (6-1, 4-0 SoCon) handed No. 11 Mercer (6-2, 4-1 SoCon) its first conference loss of the season. The Bears had six turnovers and were unable to force any from the Mocs. The five turnovers were a season-high for the Bears and it was the first game the Bears' defense did not have a takeaway.
The Bears could not get much going on the ground as they rushed for a season-low 64 yards on the day.
Devron Harper added to his school record eight receiving touchdowns, with two more on the day to push his season total to 10 receiving touchdowns.
Fred Payton completed 19-of-28 passes for 250 yards with three passing touchdowns and three interceptions. Payton's first touchdown pass of the game to Devron Harper was Payton's 22nd passing touchdown of the season, a school record.
Isaac Dowling led the Bears with 14 tackles including 12 solo. Ty James had seven receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown. It was James' fourth 100-yard receiving game.
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer fumbled the opening kickoff, but the defense held Chattanooga to a field goal.
On Mercer's first offensive possession Fred Payton was intercepted by Chattanooga's Kameron Brown who returned it 47 yards for a touchdown to give the Mocs a 10-0 lead just minutes into the game.
Chattanooga would extend its lead to 24-0 after a 10-yard rushing touchdown from Ailym Ford.Â
Â
Mercer would go hurry-up on its next possession and it worked, as the Bears went three plays, 75 yards in one minute and a second as Devron Harper hauled in a 39-yard touchdown pass to get the Bears on the board early in the second quarter.
After Chattanooga tacked on a field goal, the Bears drove down the field and Fred Payton found Ty James in the corner of the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown. That made it a 27-14 game going into halftime.
On the first possession of the second half, Sam Phillips scored on a 53-yard reception to give Chattanooga a 34-14 lead.
Â
The Mercer offense responded on its next possession. The Bears went on a 10 play 77-yard scoring drive that was capped off by a 3-yard Devron Harper receiving touchdown on fourth-and-goal.
Â
The Mocs would score the lone touchdown in the fourth quarter to make it 41-21.
UP NEXT
Mercer will look to bounce back at VMI next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m from Lexington, Virginia.
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.
Â
