2018 Mercer Football
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2018 MERCER FOOTBALL MercerBears.com l Twitter: @MercerFootball l Facebook: /MercerFootball l Instagram: @MercerFootball THE GAME MERCER BEARS (2-1, 1-0 SoCon) ► Mercer is seeking consecutive wins against Head Coach: Bobby Lamb (Furman, 1987) The Citadel for the first time since 1927-28. Career Record: 101-66 (15th Season), Record at Mercer: 34-26 (Sixth Season), Record vs. The Citadel: 7-6 ► Mercer has won three straight road games against nationally-ranked FCS opponents, Sept. 22, 2018 l 4 p.m. ET l Macon, Ga. l Five Star Stadium (10,200) dating back to its 24-14 win at #17 The Citadel on Oct. 7, 2017. (#25 WCU, #9 Samford). (0-2, 0-2 SoCon) ► Prior to defeating The Citadel last season, THE CITADEL BULLDOGS Mercer had lost three straight games to the Head Coach: Brent Thompson (Norwich, 1998) Bulldogs by a combined five points. Career Record: 15-10 (3rd Season), Record at The Citadel: 15-10 (3rd Season), Record vs. Mercer: 1-1 ► The Bears are 23-9 at Five Star Stadium. TV: ESPN+ ► Tee Mitchell has rushed for 100-plus yards in each of the last two games. He needs 394 Talent: Frank Malloy (Play-by-Play) v Jason Patterson (Analyst) v Kristin Banks (Sideline) rushing yards to become the program's career Radio: Mercer Sports Network (100.9 The Creek FM & SportsMic) leader. Talent: Rick Cameron (Play-by-Play) v Roger Jackson (Analyst) v Charles Davis (Sideline) ► Robert Riddle is coming off a three- Live Stats: MercerBears.com touchdown, 316-yard passing effort in Mercer's Twitter: @MercerFootball road win at #9 Samford last week. Series History: The Citadel leads, 9-5-1 ► Mercer won its SoCon-opening game for the Macon: The Citadel leads, 3-0 first time since joining the league in 2014. Charleston: The Citadel leads, 4-3 Neutral Sites: Tied, 2-2-1 THE CAPTAINS First Meeting: The Citadel, 10-0 (Nov. 10, 1906 in Charleston, S.C.) Mercer Last Meeting: Mercer, 24-14 (Oct. 17, 2017 in Charleston, S.C.) LeMarkus Bailey (Sr.), Isaiah Buehler (Sr.) Streak: Mercer, 1 Sam Walker (Sr.), Eric Jackson (Jr.) MERCER BEARS UP NEXT Ranking RV (Coaches) / RV (STATS) Last Game Sept. 15 at #9 Samford W, 30-24, in Birmingham, Ala. MERCER AT VMI Head Coach Bobby Lamb SATURDAY, SEPT. 29 THE CITADEL BULLDOGS Mercer will travel to Lexington, Va. to face VMI in its third straight Southern Conference contest on Saturday, Sept. 29. The Bears are 3-1 all- time against the Keydets, including two straight wins, with all four games being played since Mercer joined the SoCon in 2014. Both of Mercer's Ranking -- (Coaches) / -- (STATS) past trips to Lexington have ended in hard-fought victories; the Bears won, 27-24, in 2014 to earn their first-ever SoCon win before defeating Last Game Sept. 8 vs. Chattanooga the Keydets, 33-30, in overtime in 2016. Mercer defeated VMI handily last season at home, 49-14, on Sept. 30. L, 29-28 (OT), in Charleston, S.C. Head Coach Brent Thompson 2018 SCHEDULE / RESULTS All times ET MERCER COACHING STAFF Sept. 1 at MEMPHIS ESPN3 33,697 L 66-14 Memphis, Tenn. / Liberty Bowl (58,325) / Robert Riddle tosses two TDs; Tigers total 752 yards of offense On the Field Sept. 8 JACKSONVILLE ESPN3 10,200 W 45-3 Bobby Lamb Head Coach Macon, Ga. / Five Star Stadium (10,200) / Mercer rushes for 274 yards and four touchdowns Kenny Baker Defensive Line Carter Barfield Running Backs Sept. 15 at #9 SAMFORD * ESPN+ 8,717 W 30-24 Grant Cain Asst. HC/Inside LBs/Special Teams Birmingham, Ala. / Seibert Stadium (6,700) / Riddle totals three TDs; Mercer's first win vs. Samford since 1932 La'Donte Harris Wide Receivers Sept. 22 THE CITADEL * ESPN+ 4 p.m. (ET) Mike Kolakowski Defensive Coordinator/Outside LBs Macon, Ga. / Five Star Stadium (10,200) / Family Weekend / The Citadel leads series, 9-5-1 Darius Safford Cornerbacks Sept. 29 at VMI * ESPN3 1:30 p.m. (ET) Casey Vogt Running Game Coord./Offensive Line Lexington, Va. / Alumni Memorial Stadium (10,000) / Mercer leads series, 3-1 Oct. 13 at YALE ESPN+ 1 p.m. (ET) In the Press Box New Haven, Conn. / Yale Bowl (61,446) / First meeting Mitch Doolittle Safeties Oct. 20 WESTERN CAROLINA * ESPN+ 4 p.m. (ET) Will Patterson Tight Ends Macon, Ga. / Five Star Stadium (10,200) / Series tied, 2-2 Joe Pizzo Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Oct. 27 at #11 WOFFORD * ESPN3/CW62 1:30 p.m. (ET) MERCER MEDIA RELATIONS Spartanburg, S.C. / Gibbs Stadium (13,000) / Mercer leads series, 6-4 Gerrit Van Genderen Nov. 3 ETSU * ESPN+ 3 p.m. (ET) Director of Media Relations (Football Contact) Macon, Ga. / Five Star Stadium (10,200) / Mercer leads series, 2-1 O: 478-301-5209 l C: 478-301-5209 l [email protected] Nov. 10 at CHATTANOOGA * ESPN+ 1 p.m. (ET) Chattanooga, Tenn. / Finley Stadium (20,668) / Chattanooga leads series, 19-8-1 David Fox | Assistant Director Nov. 17 #21 FURMAN * ESPN+ 3 p.m. (ET) Will Tharp | Assistant Director Macon, Ga. / Five Star Stadium (10,200) / Furman leads series, 8-6-2 Mary Bess Skinner | Graduate Assistant MERCER FOOTBALL 2018 PAGE 2 QUICK FACTS PRONUNCIATION GUIDE Location ...................................................Macon, Ga. PLAYERS #58 Dorian KITHCART KITH'-cart (not keith) Enrollment ......................................................8,600 #16 LEMARKUS Bailey luh-MARK'-us #60 Conner KRIEGER KREE'-ger Founded ............................................................1833 #52 KaShawn Baker KUH'-shawn # Ryan LaFlamme LAH'-flame Conference..................................................Southern #11 BJ BOHLER BOH'-ler Affiliation .................................NCAA Division I (FCS) #75 Ty MCLEMORE MACK'-luh-moor Colors ..............................Orange (PMS 716C) & Black #41 Isaiah BUEHLER BYOO'-ler #9 Sidney OTIWU oh-TEE'-woo Nickname ......................................................... Bears #72 Tyrese COHEN tie-REESE' #94 XAVIER Perkins ZAY'-vee-er Stadium .......................... Five Star Stadium (10,200) #23 Will CONEWAY KAHN'-uh-way #45 Andrew PETTIT PET'-it Surface .............................................. FieldTurf #32 Brandon CONEY CONE-ee #85 JD PIRRIS PEER'-iss President ...............................William D. Underwood #90 BEHR Cooper BEAR #1 KAELAN Riley KAY'-len Director of Athletics ...................................Jim Cole #34 TYRAY DEVEZIN tie-RAY' deh-VEZ'-in #47 Brandon SHELNUTT SHELL'-nut Website ................................www.MercerBears.com #44 TRAVONTE' Easley truh-VAHN'-tay #62 Matt SHIEL SHEEL' Ticket Office ..................................... (478) 301-5470 #84 DEMOND Ellison duh-MAHND' #91 Austin WYSOR WISE'-er Football Office ................................. (478) 301-2713 #38 Cam FANNON FAN'-in #5 MALIQUE Fleming muh-LEEK' First Year of Football .......................................1892 All-Time Record ...........................156-175-15 (.472) #24 DANIJAH GAMMAGE duh-NEE'-juh GAM'-ege Modern Era Record (2013-Present) .............. 34-26 (.566) #74 Isaiah GOOLSBY eye-ZAY'-uh GOOLZ-bee SoCon Record ........................................ 12-19 (.387) #97 Grant GOUPIL GOO'-pul #82 CAMIEL Grant kuh-MEEL' All-Conference ..........................20 players, 26 times #96 Destin GUILLEN GEE'-in COACHES FCS Playoff Appearances ......................................0 #6 JAMAR Hall juh-MAHR' LA'DONTE Harris luh-DON'-tay SoCon Championships...........................................0 #3 Stephen HOUZAH WHO'-zuh Mike KOLAKOWSKI KOLE'-uh-KOW'-skee #77 Trey IORILLO EYE'-oh-RILL'-oh Joe PIZZO PIZZ'-oh Head Coach ..................Bobby Lamb (Furman, 1987) #8 MARQUISE Irvin mar-KWEES' Collegiate Record .............................. 101-66 (.604) Casey VOGT VAHT Mercer Record ...................................... 34-26 (.566) 2017 Overall/SoCon Record ........................5-6/4-4 Basic Offense ................................................... Pistol COACHING STAFF / SUPPORT STAFF Basic Defense .....................................3-4 (Multiple) Bobby Lamb (Furman, 1987) Head Coach Kenny Baker (Gardner-Webb, 2009) Defensive Line Carter Barfield (Furman, 2006) Running Backs / Co-Recruiting Coordinator Grant Cain (Catawba, 2003) Assistant Head Coach / Inside Linebackers / Specialists Mitch Doolittle (Presbyterian, 2007) Safeties La'Donte Harris (Clemson, 2008) Wide Receivers / Co-Recruiting Coordinator RECORD BREAKDOWN Mike Kolakowski (Ohio Northern, 1979) Defensive Coordinator / Outside Linebackers Will Patterson (Rhodes, 2011) Tight Ends 2018 Streak Under Lamb Joe Pizzo (Mars Hill, 1987) Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Overall 2-1 W2 34-26 Darius Safford (Lafayette, 2013) Cornerbacks Home 1-0 W1 23-9 Road 1-1 W1 11-17 Casey Vogt (Slippery Rock, 2000) Running Game Coordinator / Offensive Line Overtime 0-0 L1 2-2 Davis Dunn (Appalachian State, 2017) Director of Player Personnel Neutral 0-0 L1 0-0 Carl Miller (Eastern Michigan, 2012) Assistant Director of Strength & Conditioning vs. Ranked 1-0 W1 4-9 Dominique Woods (Shorter, 2012) Director of Football Operations SoCon 1-0 W2 12-19 SoCon Home 0-0 L2 6-9 SoCon Road 1-0 W2 6-10 TEAM INFORMATION LETTERWINNERS RETURNING/LOST RETURNING OFFENSIVE STARTERS (7) Offense ........................................................... 24/10 No. Name Pos. Class Defense ............................................................. 24/9 76 Jake Flath OL Jr. Specialty ............................................................. 6/2 8 Marquise Irvin WR Sr. Total ................................................................ 54/21 60 Conner Krieger OL R-So. 28 Tee Mitchell RB Sr. 2018 SOCON STANDINGS (THRU SEPT. 15) STARTERS RETURNING 1 Kaelan Riley QB R-So. Offense ...................................................................7