Mercer looks for second SoCon win a row
Mercer football is 1-0 in SoCon play after their 10-3 road win over Chattanooga. The Bears are looking for their second conference win against The Citadel at home
MACON, Georgia – (41NBC/WMGT) – At the Mercer football weekly press conference Monday, coach Mike Jacobs spoke with media about his team’s gritty 10-3 conference win Saturday over ranked Chattanooga.
The now 16th-ranked Bears (3-0) limited the preseason Southern Conference favorite Mocs to their fewest rushing yards in seven years and used a second-quarter rushing touchdown from Brayden Smith to take the lead for good.
Mercer has held an opponent to 29 or fewer rushing yards for the third time in as many games this season. The Bears held winless Chattanooga to just 19 yards on 20 carries on the ground and, and the Mocs were 0 for 12 on third down. Saturday’s win also snapped a two-game series losing streak.
Coach Jacobs says the defense stepped up, and field position was critical for a victory.
“Our ability to win the field position battle with our punting game has been tremendous,” he said. “And not just John [McConnell], but our coverage unit. That group has been tremendous as well. He’s a guy that’s positively affected our program in so many ways, its a huge, huge weapon for us to know that we can flip the field. When you’re playing good defense, you don’t have to take as many risks. When you have a guy that can do it and it’s full field kicks, it’s backfield kicks, I think he’s had eight kicks inside the 20 in the last two weeks. So, as much as I would rather never see him on the field, from an offensive success standpoint, when he’s out there, he’s been a huge weapon for us.”
That field position play was led by last week’s SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week, Bears punter John McConnell Jr., who continued his outstanding play with seven punts.
“There’s nothing better than seeing someone down the ball tight and seeing the defense go out there,” he said. “It’s the most fun playing football for me.”
Mercer is back at home Saturday to take on The Citadel in another SoCon matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
