Mercer football (9-1, 8-0 Southern Conference) won its second-straight SoCon title Saturday after a dominant 63-17 win over the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (5-6, 4-3 SoCon). The No. 8 Bears have not lost to a SoCon opponent at home since Oct. 14, 2023. The victory came during Mercer's homecoming weekend, the Bears' fourth homecoming win in the last five years.
The game was the Bears' ninth win in a row after the team fell in the home opener to Presbyterian College, and the team became the first team in the SoCon since 2022 to go undefeated in conference play. Mercer dropped its first game of the season season in a rare home loss, but bounced back after freshman quarterback Braden Atkinson '29 took over the reins. The team covered 545 yards on offense during the victory, with 333 yards through the air and 212 yards on the ground.
The Bears' defense played another strong game, especially against the run. Mercer gave up 107 yards on the ground to the Mocs while holding the visitors to 138 yards through the air. Despite its difficulties against Mercer, Chattanooga remains a top-15 rushing offense in the FCS this season, averaging more than 200 yards per contest.
Mercer's defensive front, however, has allowed 2.38 yards per rush and just 75 yards on the ground each game this season, which ranks fourth in the FCS. The Bears have only allowed three rushing touchdowns this year, which ties them for first in the FCS with Harvard University, which has played one game fewer than Mercer.
Chattanooga started off the game strong after an early interception in the first quarter set the Mocs up for a 24-yard field goal to take the lead. The Bears responded quickly as Atkinson connected with tight end Malik Simmons ‘26 for the first of his two touchdowns on Saturday. The 33-yard touchdown reception was Simmons' longest reception of the season.
The Bears scored twice more during the first quarter: Atkinson hit wide receiver Adonis McDaniel ‘27 for a 6-yard touchdown reception and running back Ty Doughty ‘29 sprinted to the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown run.
Mercer's defensive front shut out the Mocs' offense during the second and third quarter of the game, and the Bears solidified their lead with five touchdowns before the fourth quarter.
Running back CJ Miller ‘27 rushed for two touchdowns in the third quarter on a 36-yard run and a 8-yard run, and wide receiver Brayden Smith ‘27 capped off the hot streak on a 32-yard catch from Atkinson to end the third quarter with the team leading 56-3.
Driving against Mercer's reserve players, the Mocs found the end zone twice before the game was over by way of a 7-yard pass and a 1-yard rushing touchdown from running back Ryan Ingram.
The final score of the game came from quarterback DJ Smith '26 who 31 yards into the end zone. Coming into the game during the third quarter to replace Atkinson, it was Smith's first game back since starting against Presbyterian on Aug. 30. Smith, who transferred to Mercer from a junior college in Mississippi, had hopes of leading the program during some of its most productive seasons in its history. Instead, turnovers and injuries have plagued the former Gatorade Player of the Year for Mississippi, and he has been benched the last two seasons in favor of freshman quarterbacks.
For their final game of the regular season, the Bears will take on Auburn University in Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Mercer is winless in 13 games against the Tigers, including an 0-2 record since the program was reinstated in 2013.
Nevaeh Wilson '28 is majoring in Journalism and minoring in Film Studies. She has been writing for The Cluster since her freshman year, and has worked for Mercer's ESPN studio. She enjoys watching college and professional sporting events.
