The Bears came out of Saturday with an undefeated record of 3-0 on the season as the team beat the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 10-3. It was the Bears’ first ranked win of the season as Chattanooga was ranked No. 16 and Mercer, who was 9-23 against ranked opponents heading into the game, was ranked No. 24.
This was Chattanooga’s first game against an FCS program after having faced FBS teams University of Tennessee and Georgia State University and it was Mercer’s first taste of Southern Conference play.
The teams’ defenses came prepared to stymie each other’s offenses, holding each to less than 300 yards of total offense and forcing seven punts from both sides. A week removed from throwing for 237 pass yards against Bethune-Cookman University, Mercer quarterback DJ Smith ‘26 struggled against the River Mocs to the tune of going 12-of-17 for 103 yards and one interception. It is Smith’s third straight game with an interception.
In the second quarter, Chattanooga was the first team to get into the redzone and threaten to score, but cornerback Dainsus Miller ‘26 blocked the 34-yard field goal attempt. On top of the blocked kick, Miller had three total tackles and a career-high two pass breakups in the game.
The only touchdown of the game was scored by the Bears on a 9-yard touchdown run by the team’s leading receiver, Brayden Smith ‘27. It was Smith’s fourth touchdown of the season despite having his quietest game yet with just 56 total yards.
The Bears’ defense would bend, however, giving up a 65-yard pass on Chattanooga’s first play following the touchdown. With the ball on their own 10-yard line, Mercer stood up two straight running plays before sacking the Mocs’ quarterback on third down to force a field goal.
The longest drive of the game, which traveled 52 yards in 14 plays, ended in a missed field goal attempt by Mercer kicker Reice Griffith ‘27. It was Griffith’s first missed attempt of the season. Four plays later, however, a Myles Redding ‘25 interception gave Mercer’s offense the ball on Chattanooga’s 46-yard line. While a River Mocs penalty put the Bears on the 25-yard line, they could not capitalize on the prime field position, settling for a Griffith field goal. It was the Bears' second and final trip to the redzone in the game
Mercer will face its second SoCon opponent on Saturday, taking on The Citadel in Five Star Stadium. The Citadel (2-1) has lost to Mercer in its last four contests with the Bears.
