The Bears climbed to No. 7 in the FCS rankings after bringing their record to 6-0 on the season with a 34-7 win against the Princeton Tigers on Saturday.
Over the course of the game, the Bears passed for 195 yards and rushed for 181 yards, totaling 376 yards to defeat the Tigers, who recorded fewer than 200 yards in the game. The defense and special teams were the stars of the game, however, with each scoring one touchdown, the defense forcing four turnovers and kicker Reice Griffth ‘27 going 2-for-3 on field goals.
The offense, led by second-string quarterback Hess Horne ‘25, looked unconvincing for most of the game until he was replaced by third-string Whitt Newbauer ‘28. The true freshman was 7-for-11 and 125 yards, adding his first-career touchdown on a 1-yard run late in the fourth quarter.
DJ Smith ‘26, the Bears’ starting quarterback, did not suit up for the game and was seen on the sideline with the team, wearing a brace on his ankle. In a press conference following the game, Head Coach Mike Jacobs said he expects Smith “to be back and recover very well.”
After a short three-and-out which saw two dropped passes from Princeton (the first of which, a deep throw over the middle of the field, could have been for a touchdown), the Bears got the ball back on their own 36-yard line. Their 54-yard, nine-play drive resulted in a 27-yard field goal from Griffith that put the Bears up 3-0 early.
Mercer’s defense forced another three-and-out in the first quarter, and from there, Brayden Smith ‘27 took over. His 49-yard punt return for a touchdown is his second of the season as he leads the Southern Conference in scores off of punt returns. The touchdown gave the Bears a 10-0 lead before their defense claimed a touchdown of their own. Linebacker Isaac Dowling ‘25 got to the Tigers’ quarterback for a strip sack that was recovered by defensive lineman Brayden Dudley ‘27 in the end zone.
Over the course of about six minutes in the second quarter, the ball changed hands three times by way of two interceptions and a fumble. Mercer’s Horne was the first to turn over the ball after a strip sack, followed by a TJ Moore ‘25 interception (one of three for him in the game), then another Mercer turnover after Horne was picked off in Mercer’s own half. A seven-play drive went 32 yards as the Tigers made their way into the end zone for their only points of the game.
Horne’s day was done after the Bears’ first drive of the second half gained just five yards in three plays. Following another Moore interception, Newbauer led the offense down the field on a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive that ended with a 21-yard field goal.
During the fourth quarter, the Bears’ offense would find the end zone for the first time. The first score came after an eight-play, 80-yard drive by Newbauer that ended in a one-yard touchdown by running back Dwayne McGee ‘25. McGee recorded 115 rushing yards in the game, his highest total of the season.
The second score came after a 64-yard punt return by Smith, setting up the offense with a short field. Newbauer connected with wide receiver Parker Wroble ‘25 for a 32-yard pass on a fourth-down play that set up Newbauer’s touchdown run.
The Bears are on the road this Saturday, Oct. 19 to take on SoCon opponent Samford University, who are 2-3 on the season and 1-1 in the conference. The Bears have a slight historical disadvantage against the Bulldogs, going 14-15-1 in 30 matchups since 1908.
