Mercer upsets number No. 9 ranked Chattanooga 35-28 amid Mocs’ miscues and weather delays
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (BVM) — Coming into Saturday’s matchup, the No. 9 ranked University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs were the Southern Conference leaders in total defense, allowing only 220.8 total yards per game.
In the first half of Saturday’s home game against Mercer they looked the part, but the second half revealed cracks.
Mercer (3-5, 3-2 Southern) stayed patient throughout the game and took the chances they needed in order to upset the Mocs (3-2, 3-1 Southern) and their stifling defense.
It was a defensive battle in the first half, with only 253 total yards from both teams combined.
The game started with a stalled Chattanooga drive just outside of the red zone followed by a Mercer punt. Momentum quickly swung to the Bears after that punt was muffed by the Mocs.
Mercer converted on Chattanooga’s miscue with a three yard rushing touchdown from sophomore running back Deondre Johnson with 6:41 to go in the first quarter.
The special teams’ nightmares were not over for Chattanooga as they would muff another punt in the second quarter. The Bears once again took advantage and punched the ball into the endzone to take a 14-7 lead into halftime.
Both offenses picked it up in the second half with each eclipsing 350 yards. On the Mercer side of the ball, the Bears were led by quarterback Carter Peevy. Peevy finished with an efficient 13 of 17 passing, with 167 yards in the air. Freshman wide receiver Ethan Dirrim found himself as Peevy’s go-to target in the second half with three receptions accumulating for 91 yards. The Bears committee of running backs pulled their weight tallying over 200 yards on the ground.
Mercer would score two more touchdowns to start the half, jumping out to a 28-7 lead.
Lance Jackson, the Mocs’ biggest positive of the day, would break off a much needed 66 yard run to ignite a 1:27 touchdown drive to trim it to a two possession game. The freshman running back in his first career game would tally 135 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.
As Mercer began it’s attempt to march back down the field, Peevy would make one of his only mistakes of the day. Chattanooga freshman defensive back, Jelen Lee would pick him off for the Bears’ only turnover. The Mocs would go down to score another touchdown to cut the deficit to 28-21.
Chattanooga forced another punt from Mercer and would get the ball back with 7:30 on the clock in the fourth and would need a touchdown to tie it. Just as the momentum looked like it was in the hands of the Mocs, a lightning delay would occur.
After approximately an hour delay, the Mocs did not have the same juice and went 3-and-out. Mercer proceeded to run down the clock and take a 35-21 lead with 1:34 to go.
After a second delay, the Mocs would return the kickoff to Mercer’s 27 yard line and get in the endzone in nine seconds. However, the Mocs could not come up with the ensuing onside kick and watched the Bears kneel out the remainder of the clock for a 35-28 victory.
The win for Mercer is their tenth all-time against Chattanooga as the Mocs lead the series 22-10.
Both teams will continue their conference schedules next week with Chattanooga traveling to Western Carolina and Mercer hosting Furman.
