Mercer set for another road challenge against ranked Wofford this weekend

After the dust settled on an intriguing, back-and-forth game with some unexpected turnovers and fun performances Saturday night, the Mercer Bears were 4-0.

What was going on the last time the Bears won their first four contests?

Well, President Obama had just begun his second term earlier that year, “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore was the top song of the year and Mercer was still playing in the Pioneer Football League.

That’s right. Mercer’s last 4-0 start came in 2013, its record-breaking debut season, its return to the gridiron after decades of hibernation. Those four wins were over Reinhardt — many will remember the last-second field goal the Bears used to welcome fans back to the football field for the first time since 1941 — Warner, Berry and Drake.

The hot start in 2024, while perhaps not as euphoric or historic as the big return 11 years prior, feels a little different. 

Two of Mercer’s four consecutive victories have come against Southern Conference opponents, foes from the conference Mercer joined in 2014 and still has not won, despite its
fantastic efforts in recent years.

The wins have earned the Bears the No. 12 ranking in the latest FCS Top 25 polls, one of its highest placings in recent history. And the wins started the Mercer career of new coach Mike Jacobs, too, the replacement for Drew Cronic after the former Bears head honcho became the offensive coordinator for Navy in the offseason.

All these changes, from the new level of competition to the new coaching staff, have made this bolt out of the gate by the Bears a memorable one.

You might not know it if you attended one of Mercer football’s Monday press conferences after these wins. Players are casual but confident, hungry and anticipatory. Coach Jacobs cracks some jokes, but he also focuses on something to fix each week, as any good coach does.

After the team’s latest win, a 38-21 home win over The Citadel last weekend, it’s more of the same.

“We played really good football, pretty much for three quarters,” Jacobs said. “I might like to throw that second quarter out, except for the last minute and a half or so.”

After the Bears tore off to a 14-0 lead through one quarter, that second quarter Jacobs mentioned saw a pick-six and solid passing by the Bulldogs tie the game at 14. 

A Mercer hook-and-ladder score — a thing of beauty thrown from quarterback D.J. Smith to receiver Kelin Parsons to running back Tyrell Coard — followed by a surprising Bears pick-six gave Mercer a 28-14 lead at half anyways, but Jacobs’ comments on the second quarter make sense.

It was that type of game, one where the Bears allowed some success to an opposing offense for perhaps the first time all year but still maintained control despite some momentum swings.

Even The Citadel’s passing success came with an asterisk, as Mercer limited the typically run-heavy Bulldogs to just 57 yards on the ground. Citadel almost had to pass.

“If you look at them coming into the game, they were about 60/40 running the ball to passing it,” Jacobs said. “They were just about the complete opposite of that… our rushing defense is really strong.”

The defensive performance meant sophomore defensive lineman Brayden Manley took a seat at the press conference. Much like his teammates that came to the presser last week, punter John McConnell and offensive lineman Israel Mukwiza, Manley is a bit unfamiliar with the whole deal.

“I don’t do this much,” he said to the room full of media members, smiling.

And yet, much like his teammates still, the d-lineman showed his character. His answers were short but thoroughly spirited. The pre-season all-conference player talked about his skillset, new challenges he’s faced and his favorite way to play.

“I like to rush the passer. Real fast,” Manley said.

When he talked about what that pre-season designation meant to him, Manley let loose another nice quip.

“I think I’m ready for that pressure. You know what they say, pressure makes diamonds,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Bears’ own ground game flourished as it has in each contest thus far. The team tallied 180 rushing yards with its stable of running backs, as Dwayne Mcgee led the way with 94 yards on the ground with Coard and Smith adding on.

Though they used fewer rushers than they did in the prior three wins, Mercer’s running back room and its depth have highlighted the season to this point.

“All five of our guys are good. Each one of our guys can make a play,” Coard said at the press conference. “I wish y’all could see everything we do behind the scenes.”

Those numbers fail to account for the success Mercer found throwing the ball to its running backs — Coard added two receiving touchdowns, making it a career day for the sophomore.

“It felt really great to just get out there and do what I can to help my team,” he said of his scores. “To do more than just rushing, to get the run blocking and receiving done is really important.”

Lots of the offensive success also runs through Smith, the juco transfer at quarterback, who has looked solid all year for the Bears. He threw for two touchdowns and rushed for two more Saturday, looking balanced aside from the tough interception in the second quarter.

“He probably has one throw in each game he’d like to have back,” Jacobs said. “But he’s been great for us… and he’s behind the offensive line. Those kids are playing some of their best football.”

With a ranked conference road win already under their belt, the Bears will need another one to maintain their undefeated season. No. 23 Wofford is on the docket this time, as Mercer will travel to Spartanburg, South Carolina to face the newly-ranked Terriers.

While Wofford’s last three seasons have been lean ones — after going 8-4 in 2019, the Terriers proceeded to finish 1-10, 3-8 and 2-9 from 2021 to 2023 — this year has looked difference thus far. Wofford upset both Gardner-Webb and No. 14 Richmond to start 2-0, then lost a close one 28-21 to another ranked team, No. 13 William and Mary.

“Wofford got going with that win over Furman late last year, Furman was a quarterfinal playoff team,” Jacobs said. “The wins this year are good. They haven’t had a bunch of pansies coming in. It will be another challenge.”

The Bears kick off against Wofford at 1:30 p.m. Saturday on ESPN+ and 100.9 The Creek.