No. 7 Mercer football (9-2, 8-0 Southern Conference) will face No. 11 University of South Dakota (9-4, 6-2 Missouri Valley Football Conference) in the second round of the NCAA FCS playoffs this Saturday, Dec. 6.
The Coyotes are coming off of a decisive first-round victory against Drake University on Saturday, Nov. 29, winning 38-17 off of a strong defensive effort and explosive plays. While South Dakota typically relies on its run game, one of the best in the FCS, the Coyotes found success against Drake's mediocre pass defense. Redshirt junior quarterback Aidan Bouman finished the outing 15-for-20 for 261 yards and four touchdowns, including two 20+ yard touchdown passes.
Bouman is on a hot streak as of late, passing for nine touchdowns and just one interception on 561 yards in his last two games. Previously, he had only put up 200+ yards three times over 11 games, only two of them coming with a score. His chemistry with the team's leading receiver Larenzo Fenner will provide a constant deep and red zone threat to a susceptible Mercer passing defense. Fenner has caught for 100+ yards and three scores in two consecutive games for South Dakota, and is averaging 22.64 yards per reception.
Typically, the team leans on running back L.J. Phillips Jr., who is averaging over six yards per carry and nearly 130 yards per game, good for 13th and fourth in the FCS, respectively. Philips' production is partly due to his high usage rate in the Coyotes' run game – the sophomore back ranks third in the FCS in rushing attempts. Of the team's 17 rushing touchdowns this year, Philips has scored all but one of them.
Philips wasn't tasked very heavily against Drake, but did the most with his opportunities, racking up 132 yards on 14 attempts, and adding a touchdown by the end of the game. He averaged 9.4 yards per carry, his second-best mark this season.
South Dakota's run-heavy approach will test Mercer's defensive strengths, though, as the Bears are much better against the run than the pass. Mercer possesses one of the FCS' best run defenses, giving up the fourth-least yards per game in the FCS. Defensive end Andrew Zock '28 is always a significant threat, while linebackers Drew Clare '27 and Julian Fox '28 are playing their best football of the season. Kobe McInnis '29 has also enjoyed a strong season with 21 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles and will likely be a leader on the defensive line next season.
Mercer's formidable defensive line, helmed by Zock, who ranks fourth in sacks in the FCS, will face a difficult opponent in South Dakota, who has given up just over one sack per game this season.
The Bears are well-rounded offensively, fielding one of the best passing offenses in the FCS off of Jerry Rice Award winner Braden Atkinson's '29 stellar play and chemistry with wide receiver Adjatay Dabbs '28 and Brayden Smith '27. The rushing attack of CJ Miller '27, who has gone for 125 yards or more from scrimmage in Mercer's last four conference games, adds a second wrinkle to the high-flying offense.
South Dakota has also experienced some of the FCS' best teams this year, going up against five ranked FCS teams and coming out with a 3-2 record against them, including then-No. 8 South Dakota State University. Mercer's two games against ranked opponents this year have come against the University of California–Davis – which was declared a no contest due to weather – and a last-second win against Western Carolina University.
With a win, Mercer will advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in program history. If the Bears' drop the game at home, it will be the second straight year that Mercer loses in the second round.
Jacob Hossler '28 is an English and Law and Public Policy double major at Mercer University. While not serving as the Sports Editor at The Cluster, he enjoys running, writing and photography.
