Mercer defense holds strong for 17-7 victory over North Alabama despite lightning delay

Mercer relied on a consistent rushing attack and dominant defense to defeat North Alabama 17-7 in its season opener Saturday afternoon.

The contest, dubbed the FCS Kickoff Classic and played in the Crampton Bowl in Montgomery, began with a nine-play, 49-yard touchdown drive by the Bears capped off with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Carter Peevy to Ty James.

But it would be the defenses who would rule the day. Mercer forced a punt, but then fumbled the punt return. The Lions couldn’t make the Bears pay, though, with Sam Contorno missing a 39-yard field goal.

North Alabama tied the game toward the end of the first quarter when T.J. Smith punched it in from 3-yards out. Mercer ran 25 plays in the second quarter, but could only manage a 24-yard Reice Griffith field goal, going into halftime with a slim 10-7 lead.

The game was disrupted by a lightning delay in the second half, and it was a grinding affair when the game resumed.

The Lions drove 74 yards on 16 plays, but the Bears once again did not break, and a 25-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Jordan Swain. The Bears’ own 82-yard drive ended in a fumble on the Lions’ 1-yard line by Al Wooten II.

Mercer scored the final points of the game with almost 12 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when Micah Bell bounced outside and rumbled into the end zone on a 3-yard touchdown run.

The Bears’ defense held again, getting a three-and-out on North Alabama’s next possession and then forcing a turnover on downs on the Lions’ last possession of the game. Mercer finished the game with an 11-play drive that ate up the final five and a half minutes or so of the clock.

Bell finished with 73 yards on 20 carries to pace the Bears, along with 50 yards by Wooten and 31 from Peevy, who was an efficient 12-17 passing for 115 yards.

Senior Isaac Dowling was named FCS Kickoff Classic Most Valuable Player after recording a team-best 10 tackles and half of a sack.

The Bears travel all the way to Oxford, Mississippi next Saturday to take on the SEC’s Ole Miss. Kickoff is at 2 p.m.

This story was originally published August 26, 2023 at 8:49 PM.