MACON, Ga. – The Wofford College football team needed overtime, but defeated Mercer University 34-33 on Saturday night at Five Star Stadium. The Bears scored ten points in the last four minutes to tie the game. Mercer scored first in overtime but missed the point after. Wofford's Evan Jacks scored a touchdown and the point after was good by David Marvin for the win.
 
The Terriers are 3-2 on the season, while the Bears are 2-2. In the Southern Conference opener for both teams, Wofford moves to 1-0 in league play. Wofford was led by Lorenzo Long with a career-high 187 yards rushing and a touchdown, while Evan Jacks added 112 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The Bears were led by Tee Mitchell with 110 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while John Russ was 23-of-41 passing for two touchdowns and 277 passing yards.
 
"It was a tough game and we knew it would be since they had two weeks to prepare," said head coach Mike Ayers. "We were our own worst enemy during the game. They did some things and we did not respond and adjust as much as we needed to. Offensively we had a good night, but not a great night. Anytime you almost lose a game on a bad pitch that is one of those things that is tough. The best thing was the way the kids hung in there. Scoring and making a kick at the end of the game was not the easiest thing."
 
The Terriers had the ball first and went three-and-out. Mercer gained one first down and then had to punt. Wofford went three-and-out for the second straight possession and the Bears took over near midfield. After two first downs, Boston Bryant forced a fumble that was recovered by Drake Michaelson and returned it to the Mercer 45-yard line. On the next play, a fumbled snap was recovered by Blake Jones at the 50-yard line with 8:24 left in the first quarter.
 
Mercer gained a first down and then were faced with a fourth-and-five. The quarterback was hit for no gain and Wofford took over on downs. After a first down by a personal foul penalty, Brandon Goodson and Lorenzo Long ran for first downs to reach the red-zone. A nine-yard touchdown run up the middle by Nick Colvin gave the Terriers a 7-0 lead with 3:01 remaining in the first quarter.
 
With the ball back, the Bears gained four first downs on twelve plays before kicking a 43-yard field goal to make it a 7-3 game with 12:38 on the clock in the second quarter. Evan Jacks entered the game at quarterback for the Terriers, but a run by Lorenzo Long on fourth-and-one was short and Wofford turned the ball over on downs. With a short field, the Bears drove inside the ten and attempted a 27-yard field goal. The ball hit the left upright and Wofford took over at the 20-yard line with 7:35 left in the second quarter.
 
On the first play of the next drive by the Terriers, Evan Jacks went 60-yards for a first down. Chase Nelson added a first down and Raymond Smith scored from three yards out for a touchdown. The point after attempt was blocked, but Wofford had a 13-3 lead with 5:12 remaining in the first half. Mercer answered with a nine-play, 70-yard drive that was capped by a 13-yard touchdown by Tee Mitchell. With 2:05 left in the first half, the Wofford lead was 13-10. Wofford used a 60-yard run by Lorenzo Long to set up a 27-yard field goal attempt that was blocked to end the first half.
 
To begin the second half, Mercer had the ball and gained one first down before punting. Wofford began at the 11-yard line and drove the length of the field in twelve plays to take a 20-10 lead on a 13-yard touchdown run by Evan Jacks with 7:19 on the clock in the third quarter. Mercer gained two first downs and had fourth-and-one. Steven Cornellier stopped the running back for a loss and Wofford took over on downs.
 
Wofford went three-and-out and punted on the ensuing drive. A sure interception by the Terriers was dropped and Mercer went on to score on a two-yard touchdown run by Tee Mitchell to make it a 20-17 game with 36 seconds left in the third quarter. Wofford wasted little time in responding, as Lorenzo Long went 53-yards up the middle for a touchdown. The Terriers had a 27-17 lead with 14:28 on the clock in the fourth quarter.
 
On the next drive by Mercer, a sack by Brandon Curtis on third down forced a punt. Paul Nelson returned the punt 21 yards to the 35-yard line and a 24-yard run by Chase Nelson moved the ball inside the red-zone. A 28-yard field goal attempt by David Marvin was blocked and the Bears took over at the 20-yard line with 8:01 left in the fourth quarter. After a first down, Mercer converted a fourth-and-one with six minutes on the clock. The Bears had three more first downs before John Russ found Avery Ward for a 17-yard touchdown reception. With 3:27 on the clock in the fourth quarter, the Wofford lead was 27-24.
 
The onside kick was recovered by Nick Colvin and Wofford had the ball at the 49-yard line. The pitch on the first play was fumbled by the Terriers and Mercer recovered the ball. The Bears completed a fourth-and-three and after another first down were at the six-yard line. A 23-yard field goal with three seconds left in the fourth quarter tied the contest at 27-27. The Terriers covered the short kickoff and the game headed to overtime.
 
Wofford won the toss and elected to go on defense. Mercer needed only one play, a 25-yard touchdown pass from John Russ to Avery Ward, to take a 33-27 lead. The extra point was wide right. With the Terriers on offense, Lorenzo Long picked up a first down and then Evan Jacks ran it in from 14-yards out to tie the game at 33-33. The extra point by David Marvin was good and the Terriers took home the 34-33 victory.
 
Wofford had 434 total yards, with 391 on the ground. Mercer had 464 total yards, 277 of which were passing. Mercer had a 31 to 22 advantage in first downs. Wofford was 4-of-10 on third downs and 0-of-1 on fourth down. Mercer was 6-of-16 on third down and 2-of-4 on fourth down. Wofford was called for seven penalties to Mercer's five. Mercer had a 33:07 to 26:53 time of possession advantage.
 
Wofford vs. Mercer Post-Game Notes
 
The Terriers have won their SoCon opener eleven times in the 18 seasons as members of the conference, including the last six straight (Furman 2010, Samford 2011, Western Carolina 2012, The Citadel 2013 and 2014, Mercer in 2015).
 
The game was only the sixth overtime contest in school history. With the win, Wofford is 4-3 in overtime game. The last overtime game was November 10, 2012, a win over Chattanooga.
 
The Terriers defense allowed a 100-yard rusher for the first time in 17 games as Tee Mitchell ran for 110 yards.
 
Lorenzo Long had a career-high 187 yards, 121 of which were in the first half. It was his first 100-yard game this season and the sixth of his career. Evan Jacks added 112 yards rushing, giving the Terriers two 100-yard rushers in a game for the first time since October 25, 2014 against VMI.
 
There were no significant injuries in the contest.
 
Game captains were T.J. Chamberlin, Steven Cornellier, and Daryl Vining.
 
Attendance was 10,489 at Five Star Stadium.
 
Wofford will continue the road swing with a contest at The Citadel on October 10 at 2:00 p.m. The next home game will be October 17 against Western Carolina.