Mercer Bears vs Samford Bulldogs

College Football

Mercer

6-2

31-21

Final

Samford

1-6

Seibert Stadium

Drive chart

Drives

End of Game
Touchdown
Punt
Punt
Punt
Punt

Team	1	2	3	4	T
MER	21	7	0	3	31
SAM	8	3	3	7	21

Who won: Mercer 31-21

The Mercer Bears beat the Samford Bulldogs 31-21 on Saturday, October 17, 2026 at Seibert Stadium. The Mercer outscored the Samford 21-8 in the 1st quarter. JP Pickles led the Mercer in passing yards (16/22, 108 YDS). Charlie Gilliam led the Samford in passing yards (14/23, 123 YDS, 1 INT).

Player of the game

JP Pickles

MER · 16/22, 108 YDS, 3 RUSH TD

8.7

Win probability

100%MER final

MERSAM

Tap or hover the line to see the play. Dots mark the biggest swings.

Play by play

Q4 0:00MER
End of game
End of 4th quarter.
Q4 0:24
Stuffed for a loss of 2
Kneel down by #19 J.Pickles at SAM48 for loss of 2 yards
J. Pickles · 17 CAR, 86 YDS · 1st & 10 · 1st & 10 at SAM 46
Q4 0:24
Kickoff, touchback
#26 J.Garner onside kickoff 11 yards to the SAM46, End Of Play
J. Garner
TOUCHDOWNQ4 0:25
Touchdown! 10 yd run
C. Cleland · 4 CAR, 12 YDS
No Huddle-Shotgun #10 C.Cleland rush left for 10 yards gain to the MER00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 00:25, 1ST DOWN #36 T.Ippolito kick attempt good (H: #59 W.Thorley, LS: #53 K.McKeown)
MER 31 - 21 SAM
Q4 1:06
FLAG
Incomplete to P. Bird
No Huddle-Shotgun #10 C.Cleland pass incomplete short right to #4 P.Bird thrown to MER08 broken up by #13 M.Polke, 1ST DOWN, PENALTY MER Pass Interference (#21 S.Jackson) 5 yards from MER15 to MER10, 1ST DOWN
C. Cleland · 4/8, 74 YDS · 3rd & 7 · 3rd & 7 at MER 15
Q4 1:06
FLAG
13 yd completion to E. Russell
Shotgun #10 C.Cleland pass complete short left to #38 E.Russell caught at MER28, for 13 yards to the MER15 (#19 A.Askew) PENALTY MER Offside declined
C. Cleland · 4/8, 74 YDS · 2nd & 20 · 2nd & 20 at MER 28
Q4 1:06
Incomplete to M. Henderson
Shotgun #10 C.Cleland pass incomplete deep left to #3 M.Henderson thrown to MER03
C. Cleland · 4/8, 74 YDS · 1st & 20 · 1st & 20 at MER 28
Q4 1:06SAM
FLAG
Penalty
Shotgun #10 C.Cleland rush right for 2 yards gain to the MER16 (#21 S.Jackson), out of bounds PENALTY SAM Holding (#54 B.Darnell) 10 yards from MER18 to MER28. NO PLAY
1st & 10 at MER 18
Q4 1:06
FLAG
5 yd run
Shotgun #10 C.Cleland rush middle for 5 yards gain to the MER28 (#55 E.Johnson-Kelley; #33 A.Butts Jr.) PENALTY MER Holding (#25 E.McDowell) 10 yards from MER28 to MER18, 1ST DOWN
C. Cleland · 4 CAR, 12 YDS · 4th & 8 · 4th & 8 at MER 33
Q4 1:06SAM
Timeout
Timeout Samford, clock 01:06
Q4 1:20
1 yd run
Shotgun #10 C.Cleland rush left for 1 yard gain to the MER33 (#16 M.Williams)
C. Cleland · 4 CAR, 12 YDS · 3rd & 9 · 3rd & 9 at MER 34
Q4 1:20
FLAG
Flag: penalty
No Huddle-Shotgun #10 C.Cleland pass incomplete short left to #9 L.Young thrown to MER32 PENALTY MER Offside (#34 M.Bradley) 5 yards from MER39 to MER34. NO PLAY
C. Cleland · 4/8, 74 YDS · 3rd & 14 · 3rd & 14 at MER 39
Q4 1:58
Incomplete to B. Martin
No Huddle-Shotgun #10 C.Cleland pass incomplete deep right to #84 B.Martin thrown to MER15 broken up by #21 S.Jackson
C. Cleland · 4/8, 74 YDS · 2nd & 14 · 2nd & 14 at MER 39
Q4 1:58
Sacked for a loss of 4
No Huddle-Shotgun #10 C.Cleland sacked for loss of 4 yards to the MER39 (#11 D.Marcelus)
C. Cleland · 4/8, 74 YDS · 1st & 10 · 1st & 10 at MER 35
Q4 1:58
15 yd completion to L. Young
No Huddle-Shotgun #10 C.Cleland pass complete short left to #9 L.Young caught at MER35, for 15 yards to the MER35 QB hurried by #90 A.Holewski, out of bounds at MER35, 1ST DOWN
C. Cleland · 4/8, 74 YDS · 1st & 10 · 1st & 10 at 50
Q4 1:58SAM
Timeout
Timeout Samford, clock 01:58
Q4 2:08
38 yd completion to M. Henderson
No Huddle-Shotgun #10 C.Cleland pass complete short middle to #3 M.Henderson caught at SAM25, for 38 yards to the SAM50 (#21 S.Jackson), 1ST DOWN
C. Cleland · 4/8, 74 YDS · 1st & 10 · 1st & 10 at SAM 12
Q4 2:08MER
Punt
#96 S.Seymour punt 37 yards to the SAM12
4th & 10 at SAM 49
Q4 5:14
8 yd completion to Z. Palode-Gary
Shotgun #19 J.Pickles pass complete short left to #7 Z.Palode-Gary caught at MER43, for 8 yards to the SAM49 (#2 K.Dunlap)
J. Pickles · 16/22, 108 YDS · 3rd & 18 · 3rd & 18 at MER 43
Q4 5:14
2 yd run
Shotgun #19 J.Pickles rush middle for 2 yards gain to the MER43 (#97 J.Bussey; #30 N.Holton)
J. Pickles · 17 CAR, 86 YDS · 2nd & 20 · 2nd & 20 at MER 41
Q4 5:14
1 yd completion to S. Albee
Shotgun #19 J.Pickles pass complete short left to #18 S.Albee caught at MER41, for 1 yard loss to the MER41, End Of Play
J. Pickles · 16/22, 108 YDS · 1st & 19 · 1st & 19 at MER 42
Q4 5:14
FLAG
1 yd run
Shotgun #7 Z.Palode-Gary rush right for 17 yards gain (1) to the SAM32, out of bounds at SAM32 PENALTY MER Holding (#58 J.Wright) 10 yards from SAM48 to MER42
Z. Palode-Gary · 7 CAR, 11 YDS · 1st & 10 · 1st & 10 at SAM 49
Q4 5:14
12 yd run
Shotgun #19 J.Pickles rush middle for 12 yards gain to the SAM49 (#14 M.Steve), 1ST DOWN
J. Pickles · 17 CAR, 86 YDS · 1st & 10 · 1st & 10 at MER 39
Q4 5:14SAM
Punt
#59 W.Thorley punt 39 yards to the MER39 fair catch by #9 B.Smith at MER39
4th & 3 at SAM 22
Q4 6:10
Incomplete to C. Aukerman
No Huddle-Shotgun #10 C.Cleland pass incomplete deep right to #13 C.Aukerman thrown to SAM45
C. Cleland · 4/8, 74 YDS · 3rd & 3 · 3rd & 3 at SAM 22