WCU Football Game #10 - Mercer Bears

Game 10 - #10/12 Mercer Bears 

In the season's tenth game, the Catamounts return home to face the #10/12 ranked Mercer Bears on Homecoming 2025 in Cullowhee.   The Bears finished the 2024 season in first place with a 7-1 conference record (11-3 overall) and advanced to the NCAA playoffs making it to the second round.

When: Saturday, November 8, 2025

Time:  2:30 pm
Where: Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
   -Play-by-Play:  Gary Ayers • Daniel Hooker • Producer: Jeff Bryson

TV/video:  ESPN+ 

Live Stats:   Live Stats

Enrollment:  9,124 

Nickname:  Bears

Mascot: Toby & Tot

Fan Message Board:  MU Bear Down

The Series: In only the 12th meeting between the two teams, the Cats own a 2-9 overall record against the Bears, having dropped the last eight (9) games played in the series. The Cats are 1-4 against the Bears in games played in Cullowhee.  

Last Season's Game vs. Mercer (October. 26, 2024) - Middle Frames Rally Leads No. 17/14 Mercer Past No. 24 WCU - Macon, Ga. – Cole Gonzales threw for 395 yards and accounted for three touchdowns including scoring strikes to AJ Colombo and Zion Booker while rushing for a third as No. 24 Western Carolina raced out to a 24-7 first-half lead at No. 17/14 Mercer on Saturday afternoon. However, the Bears rallied back with 27-straight points between the second and third quarters and then held on for a 44-34 victory over the Catamounts in Southern Conference action at Five Star Stadium.

Last Season's Record (2024 Mercer): 11-3 overall, 7-0 home, 4-3 away, 0-0 neutral, 7-1 SoCon

This Season's Record (2025 Mercer):  7-1 overall, 3-1 home, 4-0 away, 0-0 neutral, 6-0 SoCon

Head Coach: Mike Jacobs -  A 21-year collegiate coaching veteran with footprints of success throughout each stop of his storied career, Mike Jacobs was announced as the 21st head coach in the history of the Mercer football program on Jan. 18, 2024. Jacobs, who has compiled a 74-17 (.813) record across head coaching stops at both Notre Dame (Ohio) and Lenoir-Rhyne, boasts the nation’s sixth-best winning percentage among active coaches at the NCAA Divisions I and II levels. He is fresh off of a 2023 campaign that saw him lead Lenoir-Rhyne to a 13-2 clip that was accentuated with an appearance in the semifinal round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs.

Kerwin Bell's record vs. Mercer:  0 - 4

Mike Jacobs's record vs. WCU:    1 - 0

Mercer hauled in six first-place votes to emerge as the preseason favorite to capture the 2025 Southern Conference title.  Eleven Bears, including four first-teamers, earned a spot on the 2025 Coaches Preseason All-Southern Conference squad in July. Andrew Zock was crowned as the SoCon’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. First Team: Andrew Zock (DL), Xavier Jennings (OL), Adjatay Dabbs (WR), Brayden Smith (RS) Second Team: CJ Miller (RB), Autavius Ison (RB), Tyler Murray (OL), Adonis McDaniel (WR), Donovan Watkins (LB), John McConnell (P), Jaiden Hamilton (LS)]

Mercer will ride a 10-game win streak against SoCon opponents into Saturday’s game at Whitmire Stadium, and a 9-1 record versus the Cats in the last 10 games played. 

2024 Mercer Statistics (8 games):   

Rushing Offense: 1323 yards
Yards per game: 178

Yards per rush: 5.1 yards

Rushing 1st downs: 71
TDs rushing: 13
Passing Offense: 2676 yards or 335 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 13 yards
Passing 1st downs: 123
Passing: Att-Comp-Int: 300-205-6

TDs Passing: 26
Total Offense: 4099 yards or 512 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 6-3
3d Down Conversions: 49 of 105 (47%)
4th Down Conversions: 2 of 3 (67%)
Field goal attempts: 11 of 14
On-side kicks: 0-0
Red Zone Scores: 29 of 34
Red Zone Touchdowns: 22 of 34

PAT:  38 of 38