No. 6 Mercer Falls To No. 11 South Dakota In FCS Playoffs

Saturday, December 6

Macon, Ga.

Noon

Mercer University

9-3 , 8-0

#11 South Dakota

10-4 , 6-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

South Dakota

Mercer

No. 6 Mercer Falls To No. 11 South Dakota In FCS Playoffs

12/6/2025 5:30:00 PM | Football

Box Score

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

MACON – Visiting and 11^th-seeded South Dakota amassed 550 yards of total offense, including 309 yards on the ground, and scored 24 points off of four turnovers by sixth-seeded Mercer on the way to a 47-0 victory over the Bears in the second round of the FCS Playoffs on Saturday afternoon at Five Star Stadium.

The loss did nothing to damper another phenomenal season for the Orange & Black (9-3) who put together a nine-game win streak that fueled the program to its second-consecutive Southern Conference championship. The Coyotes (9-4) advance to the quarterfinals round of the FCS Playoffs for the second-straight year where they will take on third-seeded Montana.

THE BASICS

SCORE: South Dakota 47, Mercer 0
RECORDS: Mercer 9-3 (8-0 SoCon); South Dakota 10-4 (6-2 MVFC)
LOCATION: Macon, Ga. (Five Star Stadium)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

South Dakota used their opening possession of the afternoon to take the lead for good, capping a 7-play, 80-yard scoring drive with an 8-yard touchdown run by Reid Watkins. LJ Phillips carried the ball four times for 57 yards on the possession, including a 41-yard gainer that moved the visitors inside the 10-yard line. USD 7, MU 0

Gabriel Hardman's interception near midfield on the ensuing possession set the Coyotes up for another touchdown drive. Aidan Bouman connected with Jack Martens on 17-yard pass on the opening play of the drive, and LJ Phillips made it a two-score game six plays later on a 16-yard touchdown run to the near sideline. USD 14, MU 0

2ND QUARTER

LJ Phillips helped the Coyotes scratch the scoreboard again midway through the second period, rushing four times for 40 yards, including a 15-yard scoring jaunt. The drive was fueled on Aidan Bouman's 45-yard pass to Tysen Boze on the second play of the possession as well. USD 21, MU 0

The Coyotes got a 24-yard run from LJ Phillips, as well as a costly 15-yard facemask call, to kickstart their next possession, but their drive stalled at the Mercer 20-yard line. Will Leyland's 40-yard field goal, however, gave the visitors a 24-0 lead heading to the locker rooms. USD 24, MU 0

3RD QUARTER

South Dakota came out of the halftime gates with the same determination, driving 68 yards on just three plays to tack up another touchdown. Mercer got a big pass break-up from Donovan Watkins on the second play of the drive, but Aidan Bouman found Larenzo Fenner on a 66-yard scoring pass seconds later. USD 31, MU 0

The hosts fell short on a fourth-down conversion attempt at the South Dakota 37-yard line on the ensuing possession, and South Dakota took advantage of the momentum one play later. Aidan Bouman connected with Tysen Boze on a 63-yard touchdown pass on the next play from scrimmage. USD 38, MU 0

The Coyotes got some unconventional points to extend their lead late in the third quarter. Aidan Bouman's quick punt on fourth down was downed at the Mercer 1-yard line, and Braden Atkinson jumped on his own fumble in the end zone on the ensuing play from scrimmage for a safety. USD 40, MU 0

4TH QUARTER

South Dakota used a 6-play, 42-yard touchdown drive early in the final quarter to put the final points of the afternoon on the board. The Coyotes used a quartet of mild ground gainers to move all the way down inside the 30-yard line, and Tennel Bryant covered the final 26 yards on a 4^th-and-4 play. USD 47, MU 0

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ CJ Miller carried the ball 18 times for 105 yards, while also logging a reception. It was the fifth 100+-yard rushing game of the season for the junior running back.
+ Sophomore Julian Fox led the Mercer defense with a career-high 14 tackles (8 solo), including 2-1/2 tackles for loss. Senior Drew Clare logged 10 tackles (6 solo), including one stop behind the line of scrimmage.
+ Senior Adonis McDaniel logged a team-high four catches for 32 yards, while junior Brayden Smith tallied a team-best 42 receiving yards on three receptions.

NOTABLES

+ Mercer fell to 2-3 all-time in the NCAA postseason. The Bears logged a 1-1 record in FCS Playoff appearances in both 2023 and 2024.

UP NEXT

Season complete.

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