The Mercer Bears will face the South Dakota Coyotes at home on Saturday, Dec. 6, in the second round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. Kickoff is at noon at Five Star Stadium. Here are three things to know before you go.
Mercer’s coming off a bye week
A reporter interviews Mercer football head coach Mike Jacobs following the Bears’ Homecoming win on Nov. 15, which clinched their second consecutive outright Southern Conference championship. Photo by Jessica Gratigny
The Bears are coming into the game fresh this week after a bye week during the first round of the playoffs. They used the time to home in on the basics — running, blocking and tackling, football head coach Mike Jacobs said during a news conference. Meanwhile, the Coyotes eliminated the Drake Bulldogs from the playoffs with a 38-17 win.
“They’re a tremendous football team,” Jacobs said of South Dakota. “They beat three ranked teams to close out the season. They beat a strong Drake team who was a conference champion in the first round of the playoffs. … We need to play really good, solid football — the best we’ve played all year in all three phases — to be competitive against a really good team.”
Jacobs, the Southern Conference Coach of the Year, has been named one of 15 finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award, which is presented annually to the national coach of the year in the FCS.
Tailgating returns to Black Field
Toby and Tot lead the Bear Walk before the Homecoming football game on Nov. 15. Photo by Jessica Gratigny
Pre-game festivities start at 9 a.m. on Black Field. At 9:30 a.m., join us for the Bear Walk as the football team, band and cheerleaders make their way to Five Star Stadium. Leading up to the game, fans can enjoy the Fall Line beer garden, including $20 bottomless Bearmosas.
In addition, Campus Life and Mercer Athletics will host a tailgate with free T-shirts, tickets, pom-poms and breakfast food for students. At 10:30 a.m., the student organization with the best tailgate will be awarded a Turtlebox Original speaker. Students will receive physical tickets for this game, and those who can’t make it to Black Field can get their ticket outside the visitor gate starting at 11:30 a.m. Students who check in at the game will be entered to win a Turtlebox Ranger speaker.
These are some players to watch
Quarterback Braden Atkinson runs the ball during Mercer’s Homecoming football game against Chattanooga on Nov. 15 in Five Star Stadium. Photo by Larry Sullivan
Two Mercer players recently were named finalists for national awards, so keep an eye out for them on the gridiron this week.
Quarterback Braden Atkinson, who was named the SoCon Freshman of the Year, is the winner of the Jerry Rice Award. This accolade honors the national freshman player of the year in the FCS. He is also among the top 5 finalists for the Walter Payton Award, which is presented to the national offensive player of the year in the FCS.
Meanwhile, defensive end Andrew Zock, who was named the SoCon Defensive Player of the Year, is one of three finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is awarded to the national defensive player of the year in the FCS.
Mercer vs. South Dakota
When: Noon Dec. 6
Where: Five Star Stadium
Tickets: $34.39, buy online at mercerbears.tixr.com
TV: ESPN+
Radio: Mercer Sports Network — 100.9 The Creek FM or sportsmic.com
Feature photo by Jessica Gratigny
