Mercer outlast Chattanooga and lightning in 35-28 win
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- — Brandon Marshall ran for two touchdowns and Mercer pulled the upset holding off No. 9-ranked Chattanooga 35-28 on Saturday.
Mercer (3-5, 3-2 Southern Conference) now has won back-to-back contests and three of its last four. The Bears never trailed against the Mocs (3-2, 3-1).
Marshall's 2-yard touchdown run with 1:34 left gave the Bears a 35-21 lead. Following the second of two lightning delays that stretched the game's last 6-1/2 minutes a couple hours, Jamoi Mayes returned the kickoff 43 yards to Mercer's 27-yard line to set up Cole Copeland's 21-yard scoring pass to Mayes with 73 seconds left. The Bears recovered the on-side kick attempt and managed to kill the clock.
Marshall's 11-yard touchdown run capped a five-play, 77-yard drive that put Mercer ahead 28-7 with 2:47 left in the third. The Mocs got back in it when Drayton Arnold threw a 9-yard scoring pass to Tyler Smith just 87 seconds later. Lance Jackson then made it a one-score game for the Mocs when he crashed in from a yard out with 10 minutes remaining.
Jackson ran for 135 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns.
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Game Information
2024 Southern Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Mercer | 5-1 | 8-1 |
| Western Carolina | 4-1 | 5-4 |
| Chattanooga | 4-2 | 5-4 |
| East Tennessee State | 3-2 | 5-4 |
| Samford | 2-3 | 3-5 |
| The Citadel | 2-4 | 4-5 |
| Wofford | 2-4 | 4-5 |
| Furman | 1-3 | 2-6 |
| VMI | 1-4 | 1-8 |
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