Mercer’s first game against UC Davis declared “no contest” after lightning delay halts play in fourth quarter

Mercer University’s first football game of the season agains UC Davis in Montgomery was declared a “no contest” at around midnight Sunday morning after rain and lightning around central Alabama stopped the game in the fourth quarter, the team announced on X.com.

All stats from the game were voided, Mercer’s announcement said. The game was stopped at around 10 p.m. with 7:46 left in the fourth quarter while the Bears were trailing the Aggies 23-17. 

Mercer was behind 23-3 at one point in the game but began mounting a comeback with about five minutes remaining in the third quarter. That effort began with a 69-yard touchdown run from running back Autavious Ison, which the Bears followed up with a defensive stop and a smooth scoring drive to make it a one-score game.

Mercer had the ball again and was inside UC Davis territory when officials cleared the field for the lightning delay. The Bears will now officially open their season against Presbyterian College at 6 p.m. on Aug. 30, the school announced on X.com.