Bears Rally, Slip Past No. 25 Chattanooga In Overtime

Saturday, November 7

Chattanooga, Tenn.

1 p.m.

Mercer University

8-2 , 5-1

#25 Chattanooga

6-4 , 5-2

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT	Final F
Mercer	0	7	0	0	7	14
Chattanooga	7	0	0	0	0	7

11/7/2026 11:55:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Mercer took its first lead of the afternoon on JP Pickles' 9-yard touchdown pass to Brayden Smith in the first overtime period, and Ke'Vion Wellington forced a fourth-down fumble on the ensuing extra-time possession, to give the 11^th-ranked Bears a 14-7 win over No. 25 Chattanooga on Saturday afternoon in Finley Stadium.

The result marked the sixth-straight victory for the Bears (8-2, 5-1 SoCon) who have now won eight of their last 11 matchups against nationally-ranked FCS opponents. The setback snapped a five-game win streak for the Mocs (6-4, 5-2) who have now dropped three-straight games to the Orange & Black for the first time in the 109-year history of the rivalry.

THE BASICS

SCORE: Mercer 14, Chattanooga 7 (OT)
RECORDS: Mercer 8-2 (5-1 SoCon); Chattanooga 6-4 (5-2 SoCon)
LOCATION: Chattanooga, Tenn. (Finley Stadium)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

A 16-yard punt return from Davon Kiser set Chattanooga up near midfield, and the Mocs followed with a 5-play, 53-yard scoring drive that capped on Battle Alberson's 4-yard quarterback keeper to the left side. The possession was keyed by Journey Wyche's 50-yard jaunt that moved UTC into the red zone. UTC 7, MER 0

2ND QUARTER

JP Pickles engineered a 6-play, 70-yard touchdown drive midway through the second period that knotted things back up. The Bears chewed up big chunks of yardage on the possession thanks to consecutive 20+-yard receptions, including a 34-yard gainer by Travion Solomon, before Brayden Smith culminated the drive by diving over the goal line on a 4-yard pop pass. UTC 7, MER 7

TOUCHDOWN BEARS‼️ @Braydensmithmu hauls in a pass at the 8-yard line and dives into paydirt. 2Q | 6:55 Mercer 7, Chattanooga 7 #ATTACK https://t.co/0mm6GX2E5T
— Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) November 7, 2026

3RD QUARTER

No scoring

INTERCEPTION‼️ @evinmcdowell_ with great coverage and he gets the pick! 🫡 #ATTACK https://t.co/NqE2CCJk1i
— Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) November 7, 2026

4TH QUARTER

No scoring

OVERTIME

Mercer made the best of its initial possession of the overtime period, driving 18 yards in four plays to set up the go-ahead score. JP Pickles, who hooked up with Brayden Smith on a 6-yard strike to open the drive, found the senior again on 2^nd-and-10, this time a leaping 7-yard catch in the back of the end zone. MER 14, UTC 7

TOUCHDOWN BEARS‼️ What a throw from @JPPickles19 and @BraydensmithMU gets the feet in for the TD! 😮‍💨 OT Mercer 14, Chattanooga 7 #ATTACK https://t.co/f8sxp1TjPr
— Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) November 7, 2026

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Senior Brayden Smith caught nine passes for 76 yards and two touchdowns to pace the Mercer offense, including a 4-yard touchdown catch in the second period.
+ Senior JP Pickles threw for 110 yards and two touchdowns on 13-for-22 passing, while also logging 20 rushing attempts for 73 yards.
+ 5^th Year Zahmari Palode-Gary carried the ball 18 times for 96 yards, including an 11-yard scamper in both the first and third quarters.
+ Senior Cameron Goggins led the way for the Bears with seven tackles (5 solo), while Evin McDowell (interception) and Ke'Vion Wellington (forced fumble) both tacked up turnovers for the Mercer defense.

NOTABLES

+ Mercer is now 16-25 against nationally-ranked opponents in the modern era of its program, including a 16-20 mark against ranked FCS foes. The Bears have won eight of their last 11 games against nationally-ranked FCS teams, and more than half of their 15 wins against Top 25 FCS foes have come away from Macon (9-12 away).
+ The Bears improved to 8-5 against Chattanooga with both teams under the umbrella of the Southern Conference (since 2013) and are 8-0 against the Mocs over that span when committing one or fewer turnovers. Mercer has now won three-straight games against UTC for the first time in the 109-year history of the series.
+ Mercer has now won nine of its last 11 road outings, including a current nine-game road winning skein against FCS foes. Mercer is 4-1 on the road this season with the only blemish coming in Week 3 against Georgia Tech in Atlanta. MU has captured 16 of its last 22 regular season road games as well.

UP NEXT

Mercer will snap the lid on the road portion of its 2026 regular season schedule on November 14 when the Bears make the long trek to central Tennessee, to lock horns with 9^th-ranked and Southern Conference frontrunner Tennessee Tech. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET at Tucker Stadium in Cookeville, Tennessee. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by visiting the Tennessee Tech athletics ticketing portal.

STAY CONNECTED

Follow Mercer Football on Twitter and Instagram and "Like" Mercer Football on Facebook.

SUPPORT THE BEARS

Support the Mercer athletics department by making a gift to the Mercer Athletic Foundation. To find out more information about the Mercer Athletic Foundation, email maf@mercer.edu.