ETSU falls to Mercer, 21-13

MACON, Ga. (April 10, 2021) – In a game where offense was hard to come by and every possession counted, it was the Mercer Bears who stole the one-possession battle as they handed ETSU a devastating 21-13 loss in Macon, Ga. With the loss, the 20^th-ranked Buccaneers fall to 4-2 in the spring season as their playoff hopes take a hit.

The Bucs owned every facet of the game except for the one that mattered most, the final score. ETSU outgained Mercer (382-219) as the offense showed up late in the second half and the Bucs’ defense continued to flex its muscles.

ETSU failed to overcome the turnovers in Saturday’s loss as the Bucs coughed the ball up three times, directly resulting in 14 points for the Bears. One of the turnovers was a scoop and score for the Bears’ defense that put Mercer ahead 21-6 at the time.

Neither team wanted to put points on the board until Mercer broke through with a touchdown pass 32 seconds into the second quarter. The two squads combined for 20 points in the second quarter and then did not score again until the fourth quarter where each unit posted one touchdown apiece.

Brock Landis (Hoschton, Ga.) orchestrated a late fourth-quarter drive that provided the Bucs with some new life as he found Will Huzzie (Duluth, Ga.) for a four-yard touchdown strike. As they always do, the defense held strong and forced a Mercer punt. However, ETSU’s offense was unable to march down the field for the game-tying touchdown.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Second Quarter

• Mercer 7, ETSU 0: The Bears struck first at the beginning of the second quarter with Carter Peevy finding Drake Starks for a 22-yard touchdown strike.
• Mercer 7, ETSU 3: ETSU cracked the scoreboard for the first time with a 49-yard field goal by Tyler Keltner, finishing the 6-play, 56-yard drive that was set up by a 44-yard rush by Holmes.
• Mercer 14, ETSU 3: After an 80-yard kick return by Yahsyn McKee, the Bears scored their second touchdown with Carter Peevy sneaking in with a one-yard touchdown run.
• Mercer 14, ETSU 6: The Bucs trimmed the deficit to a one-score game with yet another Keltner field goal, this time burying a 39-yard attempt.

Fourth Quarter

• Mercer 21, ETSU 6: Mercer scored a gift of a touchdown, scooping up a Buccaneer screen pass that was behind the line of scrimmage, returning the fumble 63 yards for the gut-punching touchdown.
• Mercer 21, ETSU 13: The Bucs marched 80 yards down the field in 10 plays to get their first touchdown of the game to provide the Blue & Gold with some life. Brock Landis found Will Huzzie for a four-yard touchdown pass in the back of the endzone, their second connection of the season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Landis threw for a career-high 26-of-44 with 228 yards and one touchdown in the loss to the Bears – the 228 passing yards marked a new season high for the Buccaneer offense.
• Huzzie finished the contest with a career-high eight receptions for 74 yards and one touchdown, his third of the season.
• Quay Holmes (Powder Springs, Ga.) led both teams in rushing with 89 yards on 14 carries.
• The Bucs outgained the Bears 338-104 in the final three quarters of play…ETSU’s defense held Mercer to just 60 yards of offense in the second half.
• The Buccaneer defense held Mercer to just 219 total yards, the lowest output by an opponent against the Bucs this season.
• Both Mike Price (Stockbridge, Ga.) and Donovan Manuel (Ellenwood, Ga.) finished the game with career highs in tackles – Price led the Bucs with 14, while Manuel chipped in 11.
• Tyler Keltner (Tallahassee, Fla.) finished the game 2-for-2 in field goal attempts, connecting from 49 and 39 yards.
• The one-possession game marked the 11^th consecutive FCS one-possession contest…The Bucs are 5-6 in those contests (4-2 this spring).
• ETSU drops to 3-3 all-time against Mercer, snapping the three-game winning streak in the series.

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