Mercer's Zach Jackson remembers big play last year against VMI
There were so many close calls for the Mercer Bears in 2014, moments when they came up just a bit short in their first Southern Conference season.
But there was one conference game when the Bears made the big play they needed to seal a win. That came at the end of a 27-24 decision over VMI, Mercer's lone conference win.
Safety Zach Jackson looks back fondly when he thinks back about his interception in the closing minute to shut the door on the Keydets. The two teams meet for the second time Saturday at Five Star Stadium.
"With VMI coming up next on the schedule, that play certainly comes up," Jackson said. "But this is a totally different year, and they're a lot better team, so it's a different challenge for us. But we think we're up to the challenge.
"We had the lead, and they were coming back in the fourth quarter, and I just thought, 'They can't come back on us now,' and I just had to make a play. It felt great to make that play."
Mercer head coach Bobby Lamb certainly was pleased to see Jackson make that pivotal play. It came in the Bears' first Southern Conference road game and their second conference game overall.
Mercer finished 1-6 in the conference, suffering four losses by single digits: five to Furman, three to Samford, seven to Chattanooga and two to The Citadel.
"It was a big moment for all of us," Lamb said of Jackson's play. "We came out in the second half after we were down at halftime by a point, and we really dominated the third quarter. We had almost 200 yards of offense in the third quarter, and I thought we were about to put it away. They made a big comeback, and we couldn't get the first down we needed and turned it over to them, and they drove down the field.
"But Zach made a great interception on the sideline with less than a minute left to preserve our only Southern Conference win."
This story was originally published October 22, 2015 at 7:13 PM with the headline "Mercer's Zach Jackson remembers big play last year against VMI ."