Southern Conference champions Mercer will face the University of Rhode Island Rams in the second round of the Football Championship Series playoffs on Saturday. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. in Five Star Stadium. Here are three things to know before you go.
Mercer outranks the Rams in polls
The Bears rank No. 8 and No. 9 in the Stats Perform Top 25 and the American Football Coaches Association FCS Coaches Poll, respectively, with the Rams trailing at No. 10 and No. 12. Mercer is coming into Saturday’s game rested after a bye week during the first round of playoffs, while Rhode Island eked out a 21-17 victory over Central Connecticut State. Rams coach Jim Fleming described the game in The Providence Journal as “one of our ugliest wins but still representative of what kind of team this is in terms of staying in it.”
Pregame festivities continue on Black Field
All the pregame fun you’ve come to expect at a Mercer football game continues Saturday on Black Field. Gates open at 10 a.m., followed by the Fall Line Beer Garden and Dr Pepper Fansville with inflatables at 11 a.m. Catch the football team, cheerleaders, marching band and, of course, Toby and Tot as they make their way to Five Star Stadium during the Bear Walk at 11:30 a.m. The Ford Concert Series kicks off at 11:45 a.m. with music from Ashes, a psychedelic, hard rock band from Macon. Gates open at Five Star Stadium at 1 p.m.
Bears rack up SoCon awards
Mercer had a near sweep of major post-season awards with the release of the 2024 Coaches All-SoCon Football Team and specialty honors. Dwayne McGee and Brayden Manley were named offensive and defensive player of the year, respectively, and Andrew Zock was honored as freshman of the year. Football head coach Mike Jacobs, who is in his first year at Mercer, was celebrated as the league’s coach of the year. In addition, the Bears had a league-best 13 student-athletes named to the All-SoCon team and had four players named to the SoCon All-Freshman teams.
Mercer vs. Rhode Island
When: 2 p.m. Dec. 7
Where: Five Star Stadium
Tickets: $20-$25, buy online at mercerbears.tixr.com
On TV: ESPN+
On Radio: Mercer Sports Network — 100.9 The Creek FM or sportsmic.com
Feature photo: The Mercer Bears prepare to enter the field before the Nov. 23, 2004, game against Furman at Five Star Stadium in Macon. Photo by Christopher Ian Smith
