Pickles Crowned SoCon Offensive Player Of The Week
10/12/2026 3:00:00 PM | Football
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – A clutch dual-threat performance in 16th-ranked Mercer's come-from-behind, buzzer-beating victory over Western Carolina on Saturday provided another superlative on Monday afternoon when quarterback JP Pickles was named as the Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Week.
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Pickles, a senior from Tallahassee, Fla., amassed 218 offensive yards, including 86 on the ground (21 carries), as the Bears (5-2, 2-1 SoCon) overcame a 7-0 halftime deficit to turn back the upset-minded Catamounts, 17-14, at Five Star Stadium. Despite making his first appearance in the contest late in the first quarter, Pickles also managed to throw for 132 yards and two touchdowns on 12-for-15 passing with an interception as well.
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Pickles hooked up with a diving Brayden Smith on an 18-yard touchdown strike to knot the game up late in the third period, and then surged the Bears ahead on a 63-yard scoring strike midway through the final stanza. He ran for 41 yards on the eventual game-winning drive, including a 26-yard jaunt to open the possession.
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Mercer will hit the road for the fourth time in five weeks on Saturday when the Bears trek to Birmingham, Ala., to take on SoCon rival Samford (1-5, 1-2) at Pete Hanna Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and Nexstar affiliates as part of the league's Ingles Game of the Week package. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by visiting the Samford athletic ticketing portal.
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Pickles, a senior from Tallahassee, Fla., amassed 218 offensive yards, including 86 on the ground (21 carries), as the Bears (5-2, 2-1 SoCon) overcame a 7-0 halftime deficit to turn back the upset-minded Catamounts, 17-14, at Five Star Stadium. Despite making his first appearance in the contest late in the first quarter, Pickles also managed to throw for 132 yards and two touchdowns on 12-for-15 passing with an interception as well.
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Pickles hooked up with a diving Brayden Smith on an 18-yard touchdown strike to knot the game up late in the third period, and then surged the Bears ahead on a 63-yard scoring strike midway through the final stanza. He ran for 41 yards on the eventual game-winning drive, including a 26-yard jaunt to open the possession.
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Mercer will hit the road for the fourth time in five weeks on Saturday when the Bears trek to Birmingham, Ala., to take on SoCon rival Samford (1-5, 1-2) at Pete Hanna Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and Nexstar affiliates as part of the league's Ingles Game of the Week package. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by visiting the Samford athletic ticketing portal.
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