Throughout this preseason, Purple & Gold will preview all of Western's 2015 football opponents. Today we look at the Mercer Bears.
For the fifth game of the season, the Catamounts remain in Cullowhee to meet the Mercer Bears for their first ever football visit to Cullowhee.
This is only the second meeting between Mercer and the Catamounts on the gridiron. The Cats picked up a win in the initial meeting between these two teams last season in Macon, so we expect the Bears will travel to Cullowhee expecting to return the favor.
Mercer
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| Courtesy Mercer Athletics |
When: Saturday, October 10th at 3:30 pm
Where: E.J. Whitmire Stadium. Cullowhee, NC
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
TV / video: SoCon Digital Network
Head Coach: Bobby Lamb
Bobby Lamb enters his third season as head coach of Mercer football. In his first season, the Bears set a NCAA Division I record for wins by a first-year program with a 10-2 campaign. The 2013 win total also set a school record for victories, surpassing the previous mark of seven wins by Lake Russell’s 1931 and 1932 squads. Lamb led the Bears into their first season of Southern Conference play in 2014,
Last year’s record (Mercer): 6-6 overall (home: 4-3 away: 2-3), 1-6 in the SoCon
Last Season's Game vs. Mercer (Oct. 18, 2014): Catamounts Light Up Mercer's Black Out, 35-21 - Spearman Robinson hauled in three of Western Carolina's four receiving touchdowns on Saturday afternoon as the Catamounts remained perfect in Southern Conference play with a 35-21 road victory over the Mercer Bears at the Mercer University Stadium. Mitchell finished the game 13-of-18 passing for 194 yards with the career-high tying three touchdown passes. He also added 62 yards rushing, second just to freshman tailback Detrez Newsome who carried the ball 16 times for 76 of his 115 all-purpose yards. Benson tallied 63 receiving yards and 37 on kickoff returns.
Offensive starters - Returning/Lost: 11 / 0
Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 11 / 0
Specialist - Returning/Lost: 6 / 1 - The Bears lose kicker Will Roper to graduation
Offensive Formation: Pistol (Lamb was known for his run-heavy I-formation offenses at Furman, but now he's utilizing a spread attack that closely resembles those of Western Carolina and Chattanooga out of the Pistol)
Defensive Formation: 3-4
Even though the Mercer Bears only had one Southern Conference victory in 2014, Mercer completed the season in second place in scoring offense (32.5 ppg) and fourth overall in scoring defense (24.1 ppg). The Bears also picked up seven individual honors in the postseason. Freshman wide receiver Chandler Curtis was named to the SoCon All Conference first team and freshman Alex Lake also was first team All SoCon. Two Bear defensive linemen picked up second team honors, Alex Avant & Tyler Ward - while Wilson Heres was named to the second team as an offensive lineman. Defensive lineman Austin Barrett and linebacker Kyle Williams were named to the all freshman team. All 22 of the 2014 starters are set to return for Mercer, and with just one year removed from a NCAA record 10 wins as a first-year program, the Bears made quite a statement in their first year in the Southern Conference. Any doubts, just ask Chattanooga, The Citadel, or Samford.
At the 2015 SoCon Media Day, the Bears were selected to finish in 6th place by both the coaches and media for the 2015 season. Mercer's Chandler Curtis and Alex Lakes were named to the Preseason All-Southern Conference First Team, headlining six Bears on the preseason teams. The Bears' defense helped add to the program's awards haul, placing three individuals on the Preseason All-Socon Second Team. Senior defensive back Alex Avant, defensive tackle Austin Barrett and linebacker Tyler Ward represented the defense, while sophomore punter Matt Shiel, a transfer from Auburn, gave Mercer its sixth honoree with second team honors.
2014 Mercer Statistics:
Rushing Offense: 2437 yards
Yards per game: 203.1
Yards per rush: 5.0 yards
TDs rushing: 27
Passing Offense: 2375 yards or 187.9 yards per game
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 156-274-10
Total Offense: 5812 yards or 401 yards per game
Passing 1st downs: 96
Rushing 1st downs: 123
Fumbles-Lost: 17 - 7
Penalties-Yards: 77 - 727 yards
3d Down Conversions: 57 of 146 or 39%
4th Down Conversions: 8 of 21 or 38%
Field Goals - Attempts: 7 of 12
Red-Zone Scores: 37 of 45 (82%)
Red-Zone Touchdowns: 33 of 45 (73%)
Punts (No. Yards): 46 (1761 yds)
Avg, per punt: 38.3 yds
Time of possession per game: 29: 16
Sacks: 14
Who does the Bears play prior to Western? The Bears open the season with two of three games on the road. Mercer opens on the road against Austin Peay. Returning home the following weekend to play Stetson in Macon. On September 19, they are at Tennessee Tech, followed the next week by a visit in Macon by the Wofford Terriers. The Bears then travel up the mountain to meet the Cats.
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