Mercer Bears Football
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By: AP
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — JP Pickles threw two touchdown passes to Brayden Smith, the second one for the lead in overtime, and Mercer held on to defeat Chattanooga 14-7 on Saturday.
BEARS WIN IN OVERTIME‼️🐻#ATTACK pic.twitter.com/BQI6Fsd6j4
— Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) November 7, 2026
Mercer, the 14th-ranked team in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25, had the ball first in overtime and on the fifth play Pickles found Smith in the end zone for a 7-yard score.
FUMBLE‼️
BEARS WIN!!!!!#ATTACK pic.twitter.com/xwknT7amUr
— Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) November 7, 2026
On Chattanooga’s OT possession, Mercer’s Mike Polke recovered a fumble by Battle Alberson to end the game.
TOUCHDOWN BEARS‼️
What a throw from @JPPickles19 and @BraydensmithMU gets the feet in for the TD! 😮💨
OT
Mercer 14, Chattanooga 7#ATTACK pic.twitter.com/f8sxp1TjPr— Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) November 7, 2026
The Mocs, ranked No. 25 by Stats Perform, scored first on Alberson’s 4-yard run but finished the first half with only 117 yards on offense and three first downs. Journey Wyche’s 50-yard run that set up the touchdown accounted for all but 67 yards of the Mocs’ first-half output.
Still tied at seven with one quarter to play.#ATTACK pic.twitter.com/teT3onOp6E
— Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) November 7, 2026
It was 7-7 at halftime, Mercer’s score coming on a 3-yard pass from Pickles to Smith.
INTERCEPTION‼️@evinmcdowell_ with great coverage and he gets the pick! 🫡#ATTACK pic.twitter.com/NqE2CCJk1i
— Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) November 7, 2026
Mercer’s Simon Zeidan missed three field goals in regulation, the last coming from 42 yards out on the last play of the fourth quarter.
TOUCHDOWN BEARS‼️@Braydensmithmu hauls in a pass at the 8-yard line and dives into paydirt.
2Q | 6:55 Mercer 7, Chattanooga 7 #ATTACK pic.twitter.com/0mm6GX2E5T
— Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) November 7, 2026
Pickles completed 13 of 22 passes for 110 yards and added 73 yards rushing. Zahmari Palode-Gary led the Bears with 96 yards on the ground.
Tied at 7 and we are headed to OT… Tune in to catch the remainder of the game on Nexstar or ESPN+📺 #GoMocs pic.twitter.com/j6GHjVHEPD
— Chattanooga Football (@GoMocsFB) November 7, 2026
Mercer (8-2, 5-1 Southern Conference) outgained Chattanooga (6-4, 5-2) in total yards, 340-264. Wyche had 106 yards rushing for the Mocs.
MOCS STRIKE FIRST! 😤
▶️ @ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/OAHwt0KKSd
— Chattanooga Football (@GoMocsFB) November 7, 2026
The Bears have won nine of their last 11 road games, including nine in a row against FCS opponents.
Up next
Chattanooga: at Furman next Saturday.
Mercer: at Tennessee Tech next Saturday.
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