Where: Bob Water Field, Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
-Play-by-Play: Gary Ayers • Daniel Hooker • Producer: Jeff Bryson
The Series: In only the 10th meeting between the two teams, the Cats own a 2-7 overall record against the Bears, having dropped the last seven (7) games played in the series. The Cats are 1-3 against the Bears in games played in Cullowhee.
Last Season's Game vs. Mercer (October. 8, 2022) - Catamount Football Falls on the Road at No. 12 Mercer- Macon, Ga. – No. 12 Mercer used a balanced offensive attack and created five Catamount turnovers in upending upset-minded Western Carolina 49-6 in Southern Conference action Saturday afternoon at Five Star Stadium. The Bears scored six first-half touchdowns to build a 42-point halftime edge while WCU only managed a pair of 43-yard Richard McCollum field goals in the road defeat
Last Season's Record (2022 Mercer): 7-4 overall, 4-1 home, 3-3 away, 5-3 SoCon
Kerwin Bell's record vs. Mercer: 0 - 2
The Bears finished 7-4 overall last year, and 5-3 in the SoCon. Their last loss came in the regular-season finale, losing 50-44 in double overtime at eventual quarterfinalist Samford. Mercer entered the season ranked 17th by Athlon Sports and 19th by HERO Sports. The Bears put 12 players on the preseason All-SoCon squads, second only to Furman. Mercer returns a SoCon-best nine all-conference players from a season ago, including a quartet of first-team selections.
Last season, the Bears overpowered the Catamounts by 43 points in Macon, making for the worst outing of the season for the Catamounts. Hopefully, the Cats extract an overdue win over the Bears in Cullowhee. Mercer is 18-23 (.439) over the last decade in games played against conference teams away from Macon, including a 16-21 mark against SoCon opponents. The Bears are 6-4 over the last two seasons against league opponents on the road, including a 3-1 mark during the 2021 campaign. The Bears have dropped three of their last five road games (1-1 in the last two) against league foes dating back to last season heading into their road tilt at Western Carolina.
Wide receivers Devron Harper and Ty James are on the watch list for the Walter Payton Award which is given annually to the national offensive player of the year in NCAA Division I FCS college football. The Bears were one of just four squads nationwide to have multiple representatives included in the announcement. Harper was a finalist for the Payton Award last season, finishing 14th in the final vote tally. A league-best nine All-Southern Conference players are among the returners for the Bears this season. First-team selections John Thomas (OL) and Isaac Dowling (LB) are also added, as Mercer also returned a SoCon-best four 1st team all-conference honorees as well.
Mercer is 7-22 over the last decade against nationally ranked opponents, including a 7-18 mark against ranked FCS opponents. Four of the Bears’ seven wins against Top 25 FCS foes have come away from Macon (4-10 record), while Mercer has posted a trio of wins against Top 10-ranked FCS opponents (3-6 vs. Top 10). The Bears are 5th in scoring in the SoCon averaging 23.6 points per game (ppg) and third in scoring defense, giving up just 23.5 ppg. The Bears are 5th in rushing yardage with 132.8 ypg and second in rushing defense, giving up 114.4 ypg. Mercer is 4th in passing yardage and 3rd in passing defense.
Yards per game: 132.5
Yards per rush: 3.4 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 57
TDs rushing: 12
Passing Offense: 1595 yards or 199.4 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 8.4 yards
Passing 1st downs: 67
Passing: Att-Comp-Int: 190-127-2
Total Offense: 2655 yards or 332 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 15-10
3d Down Conversions: 38 of 106 (35.8%)
4th Down Conversions: 6 of 13 (46%)
Field goal attempts: 7 of 9
On-side kicks: 0-0
Red Zone Scores: 19 of 25
Red Zone Touchdowns: 12 of 25
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