Mercer 45, Reinhardt 42
MACON, Ga. – For the second-straight year the Mercer University football team had its season opener decided in the final seconds, escaping with a 45-42 victory over Reinhardt in front of 10,025 fans at Mercer University Stadium on Thursday night.
The Bears once again used a long, decisive drive to seal the victory, covering 89 yards on just six plays in the closing minutes of the game. Alex Lakes capped off the drive with his second rushing touchdown of the night, a six-yard score with 2:51 remaining.
Reinhardt nearly stole the show though, driving inside Mercer's 25-yard line in the closing seconds. However, one of the Eagles' two missed field goals on the night decided the contest, as the 43-yard attempt went wide right to help the Bears win a game that featured 10 lead changes.
Lakes ran for a game-high 110 yards in his Mercer debut, helping the Bears compile 492 yards of total offense in the contest. John Russ had a strong showing as well, finishing 16-of-22 for 246 yards and three scores through the air to go along with 51 yards rushing.
After trading scores in the first quarter, both offenses opened up in the second stanza. The two teams combined for 31 points in the period, as all five completed drives resulted in scores. Mercer took advantage of the last opportunity of the half with Russ hitting JT Palmer on a 10-yard slant for a touchdown to hand the Bears a three-point halftime edge, 24-21.
Reinhardt wasted no time erasing the deficit, scoring just 15 seconds into the second half thanks in large part to a 92-yard kick-off return by LJ Stegall. The two teams continued to play evenly over the rest of the half, until the Eagles grabbed a 42-38 lead on Niagel Curtis' 21-yard score at the start of the fourth quarter. The lead would hold until Mercer's game-winning drive late in the contest.
Mercer's receiving corp combined for nearly 250 yards receiving and three touchdowns, as Russ hit eight different targets on the evening. Freshmen Chandler Curtis, who also had a 91-yard kick-off return for a touchdown, and Avery Ward each hauled in scores in their collegiate debut.
Macon native Tyler Ward was all over the field, picking up where he left off with a game-high 14 tackles. Devin Davidson added seven tackles and a forced fumble, while defensive back Jeremy James tallied four tackles and a pair of pass break-ups.
Central Michigan 20, Chattanooga 16
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. --- Central Michigan (1-0) held off the 14th-ranked Chattanooga Mocs (0-1) 20-16 in Kelly/Shorts Stadium in the 2014 season opener. The two squads combined for a mere 579 yards on the night.
It was a great start from the FCS visitors. The Mocs jumped out to a 16-0 lead on a combined effort by Jacob Huesman and Tommy Hudson. Huesman rolled right and appeared to be running on the play when he swung a pass out to Hudson on the sideline. The senior captain wideout eluded initial tacklers and sped down the markers out-distancing the secondary for the 70-yard score.
The game turned after intermission. The Chippewas had a physical offensive coming out of the locker room. They methodically drove the ball 74 yards in 12 plays with Thomas Rawls powering in from six to cut the lead to 16-13 after the missed PAT. Rawls carried six times for 47 yards before getting the score to key the drive.
CMU defensive end Blake Serpa made a heady play on the Mocs ensuing possession. He was able to snag a Huesman offering while rushing from the right end to give the Chippewas the ball on the Chattanooga 20. Derrick Lott stuffed Saylor Lavallii for a one-yard loss and then a false start by CMU made it second-and-16 at the 26.
Quarterback Cooper Rush matched Serpa’s effort for the play of the night. He found Courtney Williams in the front right quarter of the end zone for the 20-16 lead. From there, neither defense gave an inch.
CMU mounted the lone drive of the fourth quarter that approached the goal line. After taking over on the Mocs’ 32, Rawls led the Chippewas to the two-yard line. A penalty followed by a Zach Rayl five-yard tackle for loss on Rush dropped the home squad back. Ron Coluzzi’s 23-yard chip shot field goal attempt was blocked by Davis Tull to squash the threat and keep the Mocs within four.
The Chipps defense would not give an inch. Even after a bad snap on a punt put Chattanooga in great shape on its hosts 46, CMU stiffened yet again. After a Huesman three-yard run, Kevin King picked off a pass at the 43 ending that drive. The Mocs were not across midfield again in the game.
Keon Williams led the Mocs with 64 yards on 11 carries. Hudson had two catches, both touchdowns, for 78 yards. Muhasabi Wakeel led a fantastic defensive effort with 17 tackles and a forced fumble. Lott had just four tackles, but three were for loss including a sack, and he recovered the fumble caused by Wakeel.
Rawls ran 25 times for 125 yards with his score. The rest of the CMU ground game accounted for just 27 yards on 21 runs. Rush threw for 173 yards completing 15 of 26 attempts with two scores. He was six-for-seven in the second half for 67 yards, while Rawls got 91 of his 125 ground gains after the break.
Henrique Ribeiro opened the scoring with a 47-yard field goal with 1:29 to go in the first quarter. Huesman found Hudson in the back of the end zone on the Mocs next possession from eight yards out for a 10-0 lead. That was the 13th play of the drive that spanned 94 yards eating up nearly six minutes of clock time.
CMU found the end zone before the half ended to build some momentum. Rush engineered a quick five-play, 75-yard scoring march ending with an 18-yard pass to Jesse Kroll to cut the Mocs’ halftime lead to 16-7.