Macon, Ga. – No. 12 Mercer used a balance offensive attack and created five Catamount turnovers in upending upset-minded Western Carolina 49-6 in Southern Conference action Saturday afternoon at Five Star Stadium.
 
The Bears scored six first-half touchdowns to build a 42-point halftime edge while WCU only managed a pair of 43-yard Richard McCollum field goals in the road defeat. Mercer scored TDs on six of its first eight possessions while WCU's two field goals came on consecutive possessions in the third quarter.
 
Catamount quarterback Carlos Davis finished 9-of-18 for 57 yards and was intercepted three times including on his first passing attempt in the first quarter. Freshman Cole Gonzales completed 8-of-12 for 118 yards with a pick thrown under pressure in the endzone that thwarted a second-half scoring opportunity. Tight end Clayton Bardall matched a career-high with four receptions for a team-best 89 yards receiving while Jalynn Williams caught four passes for 25 yards as seven receivers combined for the 17 completions.
 
The Catamounts were limited to a season-low 249 yards of total offense including lows of 74 yards rushing and 175 through the air.

Mercer quarterback Fred Payton competed 16-of-22 passes for 247 yards and three touchdown passes with Devron Harper scoring twice on a 16-yard rush and a 46-yard reception in amassing a game-high 155 all-purpose yards. Running back Brandon Marshall also scored twice on a nine-yard pass and a 13-yard run, one of three rushing tallies for the Bears who amassed 520 yards of offense.
 
Defensively, freshman Samaurie Dukes led WCU with a career-best nine tackles including four solo stops, with Jacob Harris and Lee Campbell finishing with eight stops. Defensive end Jayelin Davis forced a fumble that was recovered by Marlon Alexander for the Catamounts, but otherwise, WCU was a minus-4 in the turnover battle, losing five against the one takeaway.
 
Western Carolina (3-3, 1-2 SoCon) remains on the road next weekend, traveling to Greenville, S.C., to face the Furman Paladins (4-2, 2-1 SoCon) in Greenville, S.C. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
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