Mercer dismantles Presbyterian 63-10 to kick off season
Presbyterian Blue Hose vs. Mercer Bears: Full Highlights
Presbyterian Blue Hose vs. Mercer Bears: Full Highlights
MACON, Ga. -- — D.J. Smith accounted for four touchdowns and threw for 320 yards and Mercer took charge early in a 63-10 win over Presbyterian in the season opener for both teams on Thursday night.
Dwayne Mcgee ran it from the 3 on Mercer's first drive for a 7-0 lead. Following a Blue Hose field goal, Smith helped lead an eight-play, 62-yard drive that ended with his 13-yard scoring pass to Kelin Parsons and a 14-3 lead.
Smith — who threw three touchdowns and ran for one — plunged in from the 1 for a 21-3 lead midway through the second quarter.
The Bears scored two touchdowns in each of the first three quarters and posted three TDs in the fourth. Smith threw a 68-yard touchdown to Brayden Smith and connected on a 9-yarder with Tyrell Coard for a 42-3 advantage. Smith's lone punt return was a 75-yard touchdown and the game's final score with 1:39 remaining.
Mercer collected 500 yards on offense and went 8 for 11 on third down conversions.
Presbyterian scored its touchdown when Ty Englehart threw a 24-yard pass to Cincere Gill to reduce the deficit to 42-10 before the end of the third. Engelhart threw for 141 yards and was intercepted twice.
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Game Information
2024 Pioneer Football League Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Drake | 6-0 | 7-1 |
Butler | 4-2 | 8-2 |
Morehead State | 4-2 | 6-4 |
St. Thomas-Minnesota | 4-2 | 5-5 |
San Diego | 4-2 | 6-3 |
Davidson | 4-3 | 6-4 |
Dayton | 3-3 | 5-4 |
Presbyterian | 2-4 | 4-6 |
Valparaiso | 1-4 | 3-6 |
Marist | 1-6 | 1-9 |
Stetson | 0-5 | 2-7 |
2024 Southern Conference Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Mercer | 6-1 | 9-1 |
Chattanooga | 5-2 | 6-4 |
East Tennessee State | 4-2 | 6-4 |
Western Carolina | 4-2 | 5-5 |
Wofford | 3-4 | 5-5 |
Samford | 2-3 | 3-6 |
The Citadel | 2-5 | 4-6 |
Furman | 1-4 | 2-7 |
VMI | 1-5 | 1-9 |