Mercer defeats Gardner-Webb 45-14 behind as Payton, Harper each score 3 TDs
Fred Payton threw for 187 yards and three touchdowns, while Devron Harper scored three times, leading No. 16 Mercer to a 45-14 victory over Gardner-Webb Saturday night at Spangler Stadium.
The Bears (3-1, 1-0) found the end zone on each of their first three drives to jump out to a 21-0 advantage.
Payton completed 15 of 23 attempts, connecting with Harper twice for scores. Harper, who hauled in eight catches for 109 yards, added a 66-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage of the game, that started the scoring for Mercer.
The Bears posted another strong defensive effort with three interceptions and limited the Bulldogs (1-3) only 47 rushing yards on 29 carries.
Isaac Dowling and TJ Moore each posted seven total tackles with five solo stops to pace the defense. Lance Wise tallied six stops (three solo tackles) and an interception. Cam Sims had two tackles and a pick-six, while Juwan Johnson had one stop and an interception.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Payton took the first snap of the game and handed it off to Harper, who raced around the left side and down the sideline for a 66-yard touchdown run. It marked the longest rush of the season for the Bears.
On the ensuing drive, Payton connected with Harper for a 27-yard touchdown pass to double the Mercer lead.
The Bears then took the next drive 84 yards on eight plays before Payton found Drake Starks wide open in the end zone for a 15-yard score.
The Bulldogs scored their first points of the contest after tying together an 8-play, 80-yard drive that was capped by a one-yard run into the end zone by Jalin Graham.
Gardner-Webb’s next drive was intercepted by Sims, who picked off Matthew Caldwell’s pass and returned it 67 yards for a touchdown, pushing Mercer’s lead to 28-7 before halftime. It was Sims’ second interception of the season.
Following intermission, the Bulldogs cut the Bears’ lead in half as T.J. Luther caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Bailey Fisher with 9:57 left in the third quarter.
Harper responded on the following possession with a 30-yard score on a pass from Payton on fourth down, to stretch the advantage to 35-14. Devin Folser added a 32-yard field goal with 14:53 left in the game to make it 38-7.
The Bears found the end zone one more time as Austin Douglas took the handoff from Payton for a one-yard score.
UP NEXT
Mercer will return to Southern Conference action next Saturday against Wofford in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Gibbs Stadium.
