Game #7: Mercer

In Western Carolina's seventh game of the season and the first of two back to back road games, the Cats travel to Macon, GA  to play the Mercer Bears.

Western faces the Bears for just the fifth time since Mercer joined the Southern Conference.








Mercer

When: Saturday, October 6th at 4:00 pm
Where: Five Star Stadium, Macon, GA
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
- Talent: Play-by-Play: Gary Ayers; Color Analyst: Daniel Hooker; Host / Producer: Jeff Bryson
TV / video: ESPN3 / CW62
- Talent: Frank Malloy (PxP), Jason Patterson (Analyst), Kristin Banks (Sideline)
Game Notes:     WCU    -     Mercer
Message Board:  MU Bear Down
The Series:  In only the 5th meeting between the two teams, the Cats own a 2-2 record against the Bears, having dropped the last two games played, one in Macon and one in Cullowhee.

Games played by the Bears this season prior to the WCU contest:  (6 games) The Bears are 3-3 as the Cats travel to Macon. Mercer kicked off the season with a 14-66 loss against the Memphis Tigers. The Bears rolled against the Pioneer League's Jacksonville, winning 45-3. In week 3, the Bears traveled to Birmingham where they beat the Bulldogs, 30-24. Returning to Macon, they lost to The Citadel, 31-38. In Lexington, they beat VMI, 48-38, then traveled to New Haven, Conn. to face Yale, in a losing effort 28-35.

Last Season's Game vs. Mercer (Nov. 10, 2017) Turnovers, Special Teams Lead Mercer Past No. 25 Western Carolina, 35-33 - Tyrie Adams threw for a season-high 378 yards and three touchdowns as No. 25 Western Carolina tallied its third-highest total offensive output with 507 yards on Saturday afternoon. However, costly turnovers and big plays in the special teams by Mercer guided the Bears to the upset victory over the Catamounts, 35-33, on Hall of Fame / Senior Day at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field.

Mercer's Last season's Record (2017):   5-6 overall,  3-2 home,  2-4 away,  4-4 SoCon
Mercer's current season Record (2018):  3-3 overall,  1-1 home, 2-2 away, 2-1 SoCon


Offensive Formation: Spread  (Pistol)
Defensive Formation:  3-4
Starters Returning/Lost:  13  /  9
Offensive starters - Returning/Lost:  6 / 5
Defensive starters - Returning/Lost:  7 / 4
Specialist - Returning/Lost:  4 / 1
Lost from the two-deep roster:  14

Key Losses:
Offense: WR  Chandler Curtis; WR Avery Ward 6; LT  Thomas Marchman; RG  Caleb Yates;
Defense: DE  Jalen Penn; OLB  Kyle Williams; ILB  Lee Bennett; OLB  LeMarkus Bailey;
Specialist:  KR & PR Chandler Curtis

In the offseason, HC Bobby Lamb hired a new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Joe Pizzo, safeties coach Mitch Doolittle and cornerbacks coach Darius Safford in addition to three other title changes on his coaching staff. Offensive line coach Casey Vogt will serve as Running Game Coordinator while running backs coach Carter Barfield will be the Co-Recruiting Coordinator alongside La'Donte Harris. Pizzo most recently held the same titles at NCAA Division II North Greenville, Doolittle returns to Mercer after spending one season at PC as their DC, Safford comes from West Georgia.

2018 Mercer Statistics  (6 games):
Rushing Offense: 1026 yards
Yards per game: 143.7
Yards per rush: 4.4 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 41
TDs rushing: 12
Passing Offense: 1499 yards or 249.8 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 13 yards
Passing 1st downs: 89
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 175-107-4
TDs Passing: 12
Total Offense: 3361 yards or 393.5 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 10-3
3d Down Conversions: 40%
4th Down Conversions: 100%
Field goal attempts: 7 - 10
On-side kicks: 0-0
Red Zone Scores: 23 of 25
Red Zone Touchdowns: 18 of 35

Game prediction: Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have a 20% probability of winning (28-38) over the Bears.

According to Massey, Western Carolina should be 3-4 after this game. I'm going to disagree, the Cats are 4-3 after this game.




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