Mercer Stays Perfect in SoCon Play With Statement Win Over Furman

Freshman quarterback Brayden Atkinson fuels Bears’ surge as Mercer climbs to No. 10 ahead of showdown with Western Carolina.

MACON, Georgia – (41NBC/WMGT) – The Mercer Bears continue their dream run through the Southern Conference, remaining unbeaten in league play after a dominant 52-28 road win over Furman on Saturday – their first victory in Greenville since 2021.

Ranked No. 10 in the latest Coaches Poll, the Bears (now 6-0 in SoCon play) showed resilience after trailing 13-7 early. Mercer roared back in the second half, exploding for 21 points and 240 yards of offense in a commanding third-quarter performance.

Freshman quarterback Brayden Atkinson once again led the charge, earning his second straight Southern Conference Player of the Week honor. Over the past two games, Atkinson has thrown for 959 yards and nine touchdowns, bringing his season total to 2,400 yards with no interceptions during that stretch.

But Atkinson isn’t the only one shining. The Bears’ balanced attack and opportunistic defense have Mercer playing their best football of the season — right when it matters most.

Next up, the Bears travel to face ranked Western Carolina, a matchup that could decide the Southern Conference championship and the league’s automatic playoff bid.

Head coach Mike Jacobs said his team’s mindset has already shifted to “playoff mode.”

“We’ve had an edge and a demeanor about how we go about our business,” Jacobs said. “There’s an urgency to how we meet, practice, and play on Saturdays. The winner of this game secures at least a share of the conference championship, and we came here to play big games. We’ve put ourselves in position to do that again this weekend.”

Mercer and Western Carolina kick off Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN Plus, in what could be a defining moment for the Bears’ historic season.