2024 Mercer Bears football team

2024 Mercer Bears football
SoCon champion
NCAA Division I Quarterfinals, L 7–31 at North Dakota State
Conference	Southern Conference
Ranking
STATS	No. 8
FCS Coaches	No. 7
Record	11–3 (7–1 SoCon)
Head coach	Mike Jacobs (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Anthony Soto (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Jahmal Brown (1st season)
Home stadium	Five Star Stadium
Seasons ←  2023 2025  →

2024 Southern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 8 Mercer $^		7	–	1					11	–	3
Western Carolina		6	–	2					7	–	5
Chattanooga		5	–	3					7	–	5
East Tennessee State		5	–	3					7	–	5
Samford		3	–	4					4	–	7
The Citadel		3	–	5					5	–	7
Wofford		3	–	5					5	–	7
Furman		2	–	5					3	–	8
VMI		1	–	7					1	–	11
$ – Conference champion ^ – FCS playoff participant Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2024 Mercer Bears football team represented Mercer University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bears were coached by first-year head coach Mike Jacobs and played at Five Star Stadium in Macon, Georgia.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 29	7:00 p.m.	Presbyterian *		Five Star Stadium Macon, GA	ESPN+	W 63–10	7,219
September 7	3:00 p.m.	at Bethune–Cookman *		Daytona Stadium Daytona Beach, FL	SWAC Digital	W 31–2	8,484
September 14	6:00 p.m.	at No. 14 Chattanooga	No. 23	Finley Stadium Chattanooga, TN	ESPN+	W 10–3	7,671
September 21	6:00 p.m.	The Citadel	No. 14	Five Star Stadium Macon, GA	ESPN+	W 38–21	10,489
September 28	1:30 p.m.	at No. 23 Wofford	No. 12	Gibbs Stadium Spartanburg, SC	ESPN+	W 22–3	1,219
October 12	3:30 p.m.	Princeton *	No. 8	Five Star Stadium Macon, GA	ESPN+	W 34–7	8,143
October 19	3:00 p.m.	at Samford	No. 7	Pete Hanna Stadium Homewood, AL	ESPN+	L 35–55	4,216
October 26	3:30 p.m.	No. 24 Western Carolina	No. 14	Five Star Stadium Macon, GA	ESPN+	W 44–34	7,389
November 2	3:00 p.m.	No. 23 East Tennessee State	No. 12	Five Star Stadium Macon, GA	ESPN+	W 37–31	8,692
November 9	1:30 p.m.	at VMI	No. 10	Alumni Memorial Field Lexington, VA	ESPN+	W 34–0	3,580
November 16	2:00 p.m.	at No. 10 (FBS) Alabama *	No. 7	Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	SECN+/ESPN+	L 7–52	100,077
November 23	3:00 p.m.	Furman	No. 8	Five Star Stadium Macon, GA	ESPN+	W 49–23	8,453
December 7	2:00 p.m.	No. 10 Rhode Island *	No. 8	Five Star Stadium Macon, GA (NCAA Division I Second Round)	ESPN+	W 17–10	8,012
December 14	3:30 p.m.	at No. 3 North Dakota State *	No. 8	Fargodome Fargo, ND (NCAA Division I Quarterfinal)	ABC	L 7–31
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

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Game summaries

vs. Presbyterian

See also: 2024 Presbyterian Blue Hose football team

Game One – Presbyterian Blue Hose (0–0) at Mercer Bears (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Hose	3	0	7	0	10
Bears	14	14	14	21	63

at Five Star Stadium • Macon, GA

• Date: Thursday August 29, 2024
• Game time: 7:00 p.m.
• Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 91 °F (33 °C) • Wind: S at 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h)
• Game attendance: 7,219
• Referee: Michael Farmer
• TV announcers (FloSports): Pete Yanity, Jared Singleton, Dave Friedman

Game information

First quarter (11:42) MER – Dwayne McGee 3-yard run, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 5 plays, 64 yards, 1:45; Mercer 7–0) (5:17) PRE – Mack Mikko 24-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 54 yards, 2:14; Mercer 7–3) (1:08) MER – Kelin Parsons 13-yard pass from DJ Smith, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 8 plays, 62 yards, 4:02; Mercer 14–3) Second quarter (8:40) MER – DJ Smith 1-yard run, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 4 plays, 47 yards, 1:45; Mercer 21–3) (1:16) MER – Tyrell Coard 4-yard run, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 10 plays, 71 yards, 4:00; Mercer 28–3) Third quarter (13:45) MER – Brayden Smith 68-yard pass from DJ Smith, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 3 plays, 77 yards, 1:10; Mercer 35–3) (4:57) MER – Tyrell Coard 9-yard pass from DJ Smith, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 13 plays, 83 yards, 7:37; Mercer 42–3) (3:34) PRE – Cincere Gill 24-yard pass from Ty Englehart, Mack Mikko kick (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:23; Mercer 42–10) Fourth quarter (10:48) MER – Parker Wroble 7-yard pass from Hess Horne, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 8 plays, 37 yards, 4:05; Mercer 49–10) (3:58) MER – Chris Joines 0-yard fumble recovery, Reice Griffith kick (Mercer 56–10) (1:39) MER – Brayden Smith 75-yard punt return, Reice Griffith kick (Mercer 63–10)

Statistics	PRES	MER
First downs	8	25
Total yards	137	500
Rushing yards	-7	139
Passing yards	144	361
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	10–23–2	25–30–1
Time of possession	27:47	32:13

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Presbyterian	Passing	Ty Englehart	7/19, 84 yards, TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Denim Edwards	6 carries, 15 yards
	Receiving	Nathan Levicki	1 reception, 57 yards
Mercer	Passing	DJ Smith	20/24, 331 yards, 3 TD, INT
	Rushing	Dwayne McGee	16 carries, 57 yards, TD
	Receiving	Brayden Smith	3 receptions, 83 yards, TD

at Bethune–Cookman

See also: 2024 Bethune–Cookman Wildcats football team

Game Two – Mercer Bears (1–0) at Bethune–Cookman Wildcats (0–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	0	21	7	3	31
Wildcats	0	0	2	0	2

at Daytona Stadium • Daytona Beach, FL

• Date: Saturday September 7, 2024
• Game time: 3:00 p.m.
• Game weather: Sunny, 87 °F (31 °C)
• Game attendance: 8,484
• Referee: Charles Green
• TV announcers (SWAC Digital): Michael Truilo, Johnny Vickers, Darryl Nattiel

Game information

First quarter No scoring plays Second quarter (6:06) MER – Brayden Smith 50-yard pass from D. J. Smith, Reice Griffin kick (Drive: 8 plays, 85 yards, 4:20; Mercer 7–0) (1:25) MER – Parker Wroble 14-yard pass from D. J. Smith, Reice Griffin kick (Drive: 6 plays, 55 yards, 2:26; Mercer 14–0) (1:02) MER – Kelin Parsons 35-yard pass from D. J. Smith, Reice Griffin kick (Drive: 1 play, 35 yards, 0:05; Mercer 21–0) Third quarter (6:46) MER – Dwayne McGee 1-yard run, Reice Griffin kick (Drive: 11 plays, 94 yards, 5:52; Mercer 28–0) (3:32) BCU – Orin Patu 0-yard safety (Mercer 28–2) Fourth quarter (3:35) MER – Reice Griffin 28-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 44 yards, 4:11; Mercer 31–2)

Statistics	MER	BCU
First downs	26	10
Total yards	483	166
Rushing yards	239	29
Passing yards	244	137
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	19–25–1	14–29–1
Time of possession	33:46	26:14

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Mercer	Passing	D. J. Smith	17/22, 237 yards, 3 TD, INT
	Rushing	Dwayne McGee	19 carries, 102 yards, TD
	Receiving	Brayden Smith	4 receptions, 85 yards, TD
Bethune–Cookman	Passing	Cam Ransom	14/29, 137 yards, INT
	Rushing	Courtney Reese	11 carries, 20 yards
	Receiving	Kobe Stewart	1 reception, 50 yards

at No. 14 Chattanooga

See also: 2024 Chattanooga Mocs football team

Game Three – No. 23 Mercer Bears (2–0) at No. 14 Chattanooga Mocs (0–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 23 Bears	0	7	0	3	10
No. 14 Mocs	0	3	0	0	3

at Finley Stadium • Chattanooga, TN

• Date: Saturday September 14, 2024
• Game time: 6:00 p.m.
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Chris Goforth, Chris Barnett, Dave Keylon

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	MER	UTC
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Mercer	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Chattanooga	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. The Citadel

See also: 2024 The Citadel Bulldogs football team

Game Four – The Citadel Bulldogs (2–1) vs No. 14 Mercer Bears (3–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	0	14	7	0	21
No. 14 Bears	14	14	7	3	38

at Five Star Stadium • Macon, GA

• Date: Saturday September 21, 2024
• Game time: 6:00 p.m.
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Frank Malloy, Phil Cox

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	CIT	MER
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
The Citadel	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Mercer	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at No. 23 Wofford

See also: 2024 Wofford Terriers football team

Game Five – No. 12 Mercer Bears (4–0) at No. 23 Wofford Terriers (2–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 12 Bears	3	3	2	14	22
No. 23 Terriers	3	0	0	0	3

at Gibbs Stadium • Spartanburg, SC

• Date: Saturday September 28, 2024
• Game time: 1:30 p.m.
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Jim Noble, Thom Henson, Van Hipp

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	MER	WOF
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Mercer	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Wofford	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Princeton

See also: 2024 Princeton Tigers football team

Game Six – Princeton Tigers (1–2) at No. 8 Mercer Bears (5–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Tigers	0	7	0	0	7
No. 8 Bears	17	3	0	14	34

at Five Star Stadium, Macon, GA

• Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
• Game time: 3:30 p.m.
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Frank Malloy, Phil Cox

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	PRIN	MER
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Princeton	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Mercer	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Samford

See also: 2024 Samford Bulldogs football team

Game Seven – No. 7 Mercer Bears (6–0) at Samford Bulldogs (2–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 7 Bears	0	0	0	0	0
Bulldogs	0	0	0	0	0

at Pete Hanna Stadium, Homewood, AL

• Date: Saturday October 19, 2024
• Game time: 3:30 p.m.
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Blake Gardner, Damian Mitchell, Justin Stuckey

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	MER	SAM
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Mercer	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Samford	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

No. 24 Western Carolina

See also: 2024 Western Carolina Catamounts football team

Game Eight – No. 24 Western Carolina Catamounts (4–3) vs No. 14 Mercer Bears (6–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 24 Catamounts	0	0	0	0	0
No. 14 Bears	0	0	0	0	0

at Five Star Stadium, Macon, GA

• Date: Saturday October 26, 2024
• Game time: 3:30 PM
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Frank Malloy, Phil Cox

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	WCU	MER
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Carolina	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Mercer	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

No. 23 East Tennessee State

See also: 2024 East Tennessee State Buccaneers football team

Game Nine – No. 23 East Tennessee State Buccaneers (5–3) vs No. 12 Mercer Bears (7–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 23 Buccaneers	14	0	7	10	31
No. 12 Bears	3	14	14	6	37

at Five Star Stadium • Macon, GA

• Date: Saturday November 2, 2024
• Game time: 3:00 p.m.
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 83 °F (28 °C) • Wind: NE 5 mph
• Game attendance: 8,692
• Referee: Brian Holland
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Frank Malloy (play-by-play), Phil Cox (analyst)

Game information

First quarter (10:49) MER - Reice Griffith 36-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 7 yards, 1:17; Mercer 3-0) (10:34) ETSU - Hakeem Meggett 68-yard pass from Jaylen King, Ewan Johnson kick (Drive: 1 play, 68 yards, 0:09; East Tennessee State 7-3) (2:02) ETSU - Gino English 1-yard run, Ewan Johnson kick (Drive: 9 plays, 46 yards, 3:41; East Tennessee State 14-3) Second quarter (13:29) MER - Brayden Manley 0-yard fumble recovery, Reice Griffith kick (East Tennessee State 14-10) (12:16) MER - Marques Thomas 25-yard interception, Reice Griffith kick (Mercer 17-14) Third quarter (9:22) MER - Kellin Parsons 34-yard pass from Whitt Newbauer, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 8 plays, 79 yards, 4:12; Mercer 24-14) (4:38) MER - Mic Wasson 20-yard punt return, Reice Griffith kick (Mercer 31-14) (2:40) ETSU - AJ Johnson 18-yard pass from Gino English, Ewan Johnson kick (Drive: 5 plays, 62 yards, 1:50; Mercer 31-21) Fourth quarter (12:44) MER - Reice Griffith 36-yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 10 yards, 1:34; Mercer 34-21) (5:55) ETSU - AJ Johnson 9-yard pass from Gino English, Ewan Johnson kick (Drive: 5 plays, 79 yards, 0:50; Mercer 34-28) (1:37) MER - Reice Griffith 31-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 61 yards, 4:18; Mercer 37-28) (0:45) ETSU - Ewan Johnson 44-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 49 yards, 0:52; Mercer 37-31)

Statistics	ETSU	MER
First downs	19	15
Total yards	472	292
Rushing yards	13	130
Passing yards	459	162
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	25-44-3	18-29-0
Time of possession	27:01	32:59

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
East Tennessee State	Passing	Gino English	14-19, 267 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Bryson Irby	7 carries, 11 yards
	Receiving	AJ Johnson	10 receptions, 162 yards, 2 TDs
Mercer	Passing	Whitt Newbauer	11-18, 124 yards, TD
	Rushing	Dwayne McGee	25 carries, 127 yards
	Receiving	Kelin Parsons	4 receptions, 60 yards, TD

at VMI

See also: 2024 VMI Keydets football team

Game Ten – No. 10 Mercer Bears (8–1) vs VMI Keydets (1–8) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 10 Bears	0	0	0	0	0
Keydets	0	0	0	0	0

at Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, VA

• Date: Saturday November 9, 2024
• Game time: 1:30 p.m.
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Wade Branner, Cal Murray

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	MER	VMI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Mercer	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
VMI	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at No. 10 (FBS) Alabama

See also: 2024 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

Game Eleven – No. 7 Mercer Bears (9–1) vs No. 10 (FBS) Alabama Crimson Tide (7–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 7 Bears	0	0	0	0	0
No. 10 (FBS) Crimson Tide	0	0	0	0	0

at Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL

• Date: Saturday November 16, 2024
• Game time: 2:00 p.m.
• TV announcers (SECN+/ESPN+): Jay Alter (play-by-play), Rocky Boiman (analyst) and Ashley Stroehlein (sideline)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	MER	ALA
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Mercer	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Alabama	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Furman

See also: 2024 Furman Paladins football team

Game Twelve – Furman Paladins (3–7) vs No. 8 Mercer Bears (9–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Paladins	0	0	0	0	0
No. 8 Bears	0	0	0	0	0

at Five Star Stadium • Macon, GA

• Date: Saturday November 23, 2024
• Game time: 3:00 p.m.
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Frank Malloy, Jason Patterson

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	FUR	MER
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Furman	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Mercer	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

No. 10 Rhode Island (NCAA Division I playoff–second round)

See also: 2024 Rhode Island Rams football team and 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football postseason

Game Thirteen – No. 10 Rhode Island Rams (11–2) at No. 8 Mercer Bears (10–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 10 Rams	-	-	-	-	0
No. 8 Bears	-	-	-	-	0

at Five Star Stadium • Macon, GA

• Date: Saturday December 7, 2024
• Game time: 2:00 PM EST
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Michael Reghi, Forrest Conoly

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	URI	MER
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Rhode Island	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Mercer	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

1. Kelley, Kevin (December 19, 2023). "Mercer Bears 2024 football schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
2. Anderson, Todd (December 17, 2023). "Six Home Games, Road Trip To Alabama Highlight 2024 Football Schedule". Mercer University, Department of Athletics. Retrieved March 25, 2024.