Week 2 of the FCS playoffs brought us the first game for the lone SoCon team in the playoff bracket. The Mercer Bears matched up against Rhode Island on Saturday afternoon at Five Star Stadium in Macon, GA. Defense was the story in this game as the Bears beat the Rhode Island Rams 17- 10.
In the first quarter Rhode Island had an 87-yard punt return touchdown by Shawn Harris negated after a review and it being determined that Harris gave a fair catch signal. Rhode Island would get the ball and quarterback Hunter Helms would have a throw picked off on the ensuing play by Myles Redding for a pick and a sprint into the end zone for a Mercer touchdown in what would be the first half’s only touchdown as Mercer went up 7-0.
The rest of the first half would go quietly until 24 seconds left where the Rams would get stuffed on a pair of plays that could of resulted in a game tying touchdown, however, Rhode Island would have to settle for a 17 – yard field goal by Ty Groff as time expired in the first half.
The 2nd half would see the Rams going ahead as a Shawn Harris punt return would set them up at midfield before a Hunter Helms touchdown would hit Marquis Buchanan for a 56-yard touchdown to give Rhode Island the 10-7 lead.
In the 4th Mercer would take the lead for good as they had a 7-play 69-yard scoring drive that was sparked by a Dwayne McGee 33-yard run to set the Bears up on first and goal from the 10-yard line, Whitt Newbauer would then toss a 4- yard touchdown to Adjatay Dabbs to put them up 14-10
The Bears would get one final spark as on a Mercer drive 5 minutes later as Dwayne McGee would do the heavy lifting on an 8-play 58-yard scoring drive that would end in a 24-yard field goal by Reice Griffith to put the final points up and give the Bears the win over Rhode Island 17-10
Mercer will next advance to face #2 national seed, North Dakota State as they make the trip up north to play at NDSU in the very hostile Fargodome environment. That game will be broadcast nationally on Saturday Dec 14th at 3:00 p.m. ET.
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