Mercer won its 50th football game inside Five Star Stadium on Saturday after beating the University of Rhode Island, 17-10, in the second round of the FCS Playoffs. With the win, they advanced to the furthest stage of the playoffs to which the program has been, the quarterfinals. The Bears, now 11-2, have also recorded the most wins in a season since the program was reinstated in 2013.
The game was not pretty, though. It was a defensive battle with seven sacks, an interception and 18 total punts between the two teams. In the end, too, the game was decided by just two plays that both fell Mercer’s way. Rhode Island, who allowed just five yards on Mercer’s second drive of the game, thought that they had opened up the scoring midway through the first quarter on an 87-yard punt returned for a touchdown. However, after review, it was determined that the Rams’ returner had fair-caught the ball, putting Rhode Island back on their own 14-yard line.
On the very next play, Myles Redding recorded his seventh interception of the season, returning the ball 25 yards for a Bears touchdown. Two plays. That proved to be the difference between moving ahead in the playoffs and having to regroup for next year’s season.
The team was led by quarterback Whitt Newbauer ‘28, who went 10-for-20 and 57 yards and a touchdown. It was his fewest passing yardage total as a starter and is tied for second-lowest completion percentage since becoming QB1. Running back Dwayne McGee ‘25 led the team in rushing yards with 21 carries for 114 yards while wide receiver Adjatay Dabbs ‘28 led the team in receiving yards with five catches for 23 yards. The Bears’ offense covered 242 yards during this victory and had possession of the ball for over 33 minutes of the game.
As the Rams remained scoreless in the first quarter, the Bears remained scoreless in the second quarter as the Rams would end the first half off of a 12 play, 65 yard drive that resulted in a 17-yard field goal as time expired.
The Bears led the game, 7-3, to start the second half of the game, and the Rams defense held up as the Bears offense remained scoreless for yet another quarter. Rhode Island scored off of a 56-yard touchdown pass, putting the Rams ahead, 10-7.
With their season on the line, the offense went on a seven play, 69-yard drive to the end zone. On the fifth play of the drive, McGee ripped off a 33-yard run to set Mercer up at Rhode Island’s 10-yard line. A quarterback keeper gave the Bears the ball at the 2-yard line, but McGee was tackled for a two yard loss on the next play. With four yards to go, Dabbs hauled in his third touchdown reception in two games to reclaim the lead.
Mercer’s defense forced two more three-and-outs to give the ball back to the Bears with 10:15 left in the game. Following a 17-yard reception from Sam Albee ‘27, Mercer found itself at the Rhode Island 6-yard line. Two straight rushes for losses of two and three yards put the Bears behind the sticks, and the team settled for a 24-yard field goal from kicker Reice Griffith ‘27.
Rhode Island’s ensuing drive threatened to score, but they were ultimately stopped on a fourth and 2 play at Mercer’s 32-yard line, giving the Bears the ball with a little less than three minutes to play. Five rushing plays and three kneels from Mercer ended the game, sending Rhode Island home and booking the Bears’ place in the quarterfinals.
The Bears are set to travel to Fargo, N.D. to face off against the Bison of North Dakota State University in the quarterfinals. The game will be on Dec. 14 at 3:30 p.m., and both teams are coming in with a record of 11-2 on the season. This will be Mercer’s first game against the Bison, who are perennial favorites for the FCS crown.
