Two FCS Top-25 ranked teams will go at it on Saturday between the Mercer Bears and the Wofford Terriers. No. 12 Mercer is off to a blazing start at 4-0, with one win already against a ranked opponent against then No. 14 Chattanooga. The Bears have taken the phrase “Defense Wins Championships” to heart so far this season, by just allowing nine points per game.
Wofford isn’t looking bad either at 2-1 early in the college football season. They also have a win against a ranked opponent in Richmond, who was No. 14 at the time. The Terriers took No. 13 William and Mary down to the wire, losing 28-21 in a heartbreaker.
Mercer Bears on Offense
The Bears might have a top defense, but their offense is no slouch. Dual-threat QB DJ Smith has 11 total touchdowns in 4 games. He’s averaging over 300 total yards of offense as well. Dwayne McGee has also been a nuisance to defenses with 334 rushing yards, boasting a 4.5 yards per carry average. Kelin Parsons has 13 catches on 15 targets for 233 yards and two touchdowns. Center Riley Adcock hasn’t allowed a single pressure in 124 pass-blocking snaps this season. Neither has guard Ian Hoover. So Mercer is pretty stout on offense.
Mercer Bears on Defense
The Bears have been pretty dominant on defense. Especially when it comes to stopping the run, they’re ranked second in the FCS, allowing just 24.5 rushing yards per game. Linebackers Ken Standley and Isaac Dowling lead the way in stopping the run, but the Bears have a bunch of solid run-stoppers on the field. Their pass defense isn’t quite as good, but still respectable. They do have some guys that can get to the quarterback. Andrew Zock has two sacks and 13 total pressures in four games. Standley has also been great as a pass rusher along with being a great run-stopper.
Wofford Terriers on Offense
Wofford may not have impressive offensive stats, but they know how to grind it out. Quarterback Amari Odom has over 700 yards passing in three games, with four touchdowns and zero interceptions. He’s also averaging over ten first downs per game. Ryan Ingram has a rushing touchdown in all three games and is coming off his best performance two weeks ago against William & Mary. Kyle Watkins is the go-to receiver for the Terriers. He’s been targeted 28 times in three games and leads the team with 319 receiving yards. Tackle Quincy Hughes has been exceptional in both pass and run blocking.
Wofford Terriers on Defense.
Wofford isn’t shabby on defense either. The Terriers are very good in the secondary. CB Isaiah Wadsworth has given up just three receptions on ten targets, and a pick to go along with it. Amir Annoor leads the team with two interceptions. The front seven for this defense should be a concern though. Wofford is ranked 75th in rushing defense. They also haven’t gotten a lot of pressure in the pass rush, which shows how talented the secondary really is.
Who Will Win
I have to give Mercer the edge here for how dominant their defense is from top to bottom. Wofford is scrappy and will hang around for a while, but I believe the Bears will make some key stops late in the game and take advantage of the weaker run defense for the Terriers. Score Prediction: Mercer wins this SoCon showdown 24-14.