Smothering Defense Helps Football Rout VMI In SoCon Home Opener

Saturday, September 30

Macon, Ga.

4 p.m.

Mercer University

3-2 , 1-1

VMI

2-3 , 1-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

VMI

Mercer

Smothering Defense Helps Football Rout VMI In SoCon Home Opener

9/30/2023 6:36:00 PM | Football

Box Score Postgame Press Conference Photo Gallery

MACON – The Mercer football team limited visiting VMI to just 213 yards of total offense, including just 66 second-half yards, and used a big day on the ground to rout visiting VMI, 38-3, to secure its first Southern Conference win of the season on Saturday evening at Five Star Stadium.

Mercer (3-2, 1-1 SoCon) improved to 40-19 all-time in Five Star Stadium with the result, while also notching a win in its SoCon home opener for the fourth-straight season. It was the third loss in the last four outings for the Keydets (2-3, 1-1) who fell to 3-7 all-time in the series with the Orange & Black.

Senior Devron Harper became the program's all-time all-purpose yards leader with a big all-around day, while Lance Wise Jr. and Solomon Zubairu climbed atop the program's all-time list for interceptions and quarterback hurries, respectively. Al Wooten II's 76-yard touchdown jaunt on the game's first play from scrimmage also marked a superlative for the program.

THE BASICS

SCORE: Mercer 38, VMI 3
RECORDS: Mercer 3-2, 1-1 SoCon; VMI 2-3, 1-1 SoCon
LOCATION: Macon, Ga. (Five Star Stadium)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

Mercer set the tone of the afternoon on the game's first play from scrimmage as Al Wooten II darted up the middle untouched for a 76-yard rushing touchdown. The scamper eclipsed a 4-week-old school record for longest rush from scrimmage. MU 7, VMI 0

What a start to this one‼️@newera20ii with the longest rushing touchdown of the season for the Bears!#RaiseTheBar | #RoarTogether pic.twitter.com/9jGGHjkD33
— Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) September 30, 2023

2ND QUARTER

An interception and ensuing 30-yard return from Lance Wise Jr. set the Bears up at the VMI 34-yard line and led to another score by the hosts. Carter Peevy completed a pair of passes to advance the hosts inside the 10-yard line and newcomer Tyrell Coard took care of the rest with an 8-yard end around. MU 14, VMI 0

Richie Coffey forced and recovered a fumble on the ensuing possession to hand the ball back to the Orange & Black and set up the final points before the halftime break. Carter Peevy found Devron Harper on a short-gainer on the second play from scrimmage, then followed with a 33-yard scoring strike to the speedy senior on the following play. MU 21, VMI 0

FUMBLE!

Big time defensive play from @904LaRich who forces the fumble and scoops it up to set up the Mercer offense with great field position!#RaiseTheBar | #RoarTogether pic.twitter.com/4sQiRImEr2
— Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) September 30, 2023

3RD QUARTER

The Bears forced a 3-and-out on the opening possession of the second half, and then found some special teams magic. Devron Harper hauled in a deep punt from SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week Jack Culbreath at the Mercer 27 yards line, then sliced and diced his way through the defense for his second punt return touchdown in as many home games. MU 28, VMI 0

The ensuing possession saw VMI trend toward the positive with a 33-yard pass reception on first down, but the drive stalled after that. Nonetheless, the Keydets still put their first points of the afternoon on the board with a 46-yard field goal from Cade Beck. MU 28, VMI 3

Mercer punched right back on the following possession with an 11-play, 58-yard scoring drive. Al Wooten carried the ball three times for 25 yards, including a 19-yard scoring scamper down the near sideline. MU 35, VMI 3

Special Teams Touchdown!@DevronHarper with his second @TruistNews TD of the game. He takes the punt 73 yards for the touchdown!

Q3 | 13:18
Mercer 28, VMI 0#RaiseTheBar | #RoarTogether pic.twitter.com/LXsBZcESst
— Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) September 30, 2023

4TH QUARTER

The Bears bridged the third and fourth quarters with a 9-play, 84-yard scoring drive that put the final points of the contest on the board. Al Wooten II tacked up 41 more rushing yards on the possession and Carter Peevy found Devron Harper on a 22-yard strike, but it was Reice Griffith's 23-yard field goal that capped the big offensive day. MU 38, VMI 3

Strip sack for freshman @BraydenManley5 who comes off the edge to force the fumble and @CadenCamese recovers it!

Q4 | 4:41
Mercer 38, VMI 3#RaiseTheBar | #RoarTogether pic.twitter.com/7hukSrtnia
— Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) September 30, 2023

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Junior Al Wooten II carried the ball a dozen times for 164 yards to notch the sixth-highest single-game rushing output in school history, while also adding a pair of rushing touchdowns. His 76-yard touchdown run on the game's first play from scrimmage shattered Carter Peevy's 4-week-old school record for longest run from scrimmage.
+ Senior Devron Harper totaled 217 all-purpose yards, including 100 yards on punt returns alone, to climb atop the school's all-time list for that category. He keyed his big day on the gridiron with a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown – his second punt return score of the season.
+ Junior Ken Standley led the Orange & Black defense on Saturday with nine tackles, including 2-1/2 tackles for loss (one sack), and a pass break-up.
+ Senior Lance Wise Jr. became Mercer's all-time interceptions leader with a pickoff in the second quarter, while senior Solomon Zubairu etched his name at the top of the program's all-time quarterback hurries list with two more against the Keydets.

NOTABLES

+ With their 401 yards on Saturday, the Bears have now racked up 400 or more total yards in both of its home contests this season. Mercer registered 451 yards in its home victory over Morehead State earlier this month.
+ The Bears tallied 298 rushing yards (48 carries) on Saturday – their highest single-game rushing total since putting up 346 rushing yards in a 55-14 win at VMI last season.
+ Mercer forced a season-best three turnovers on Saturday against the Keydets – the most for the Orange & Black defense since forcing five turnovers against VMI last year.
+ VMI mustered just 27 yards in the fourth quarter on Saturday, including just two rushing yards (3 carries). That followed a third quarter that saw the Keydets tally just 39 yards, including a loss of eight yards on the ground.

UP NEXT

The Bears will hit the road again next weekend when they make the long trip to Johnson City, Tenn., to take on East Tennessee State (1-3, 0-1 SoCon) at William B. Greene Jr. Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. The Bucs were a 42-28 victim at Samford earlier Saturday.

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