MACON, Ga. – The Wofford College football team defeated Mercer 41-7 on Saturday afternoon at Five Star Stadium. The Terriers scored on their first four possessions of the game to take a 20-0 lead and added three touchdowns in the second half for the victory.
 
Wofford is 6-3 overall and 5-1 in the Southern Conference. Mercer is 4-6 on the season and 3-4 in league play. The Terriers were led by Joe Newman with 151 passing yards, while Ryan Lovelace had 76 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Blake Morgan added 74 rushing yards. Tyray Devezin had 104 rushing yards to lead the Bears.
 
"It took a little while for us to get our feet underneath us," said Wofford head coach Josh Conklin. "We were executing, just not finishing and I thought we would eventually finish as the game went on with the opportunities we had. We continued to take another step, despite some of the penalties. It should be a good game next weekend. I think everyone understands the magnitude of the game at our place. We want to enjoy this one and then get ready for the next one."
 
The Bears had the ball first and went three-and-out. Wofford had three first downs before Luke Carter hit a 34-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead at 8:58 in the first quarter. Mercer went three-and-out and punted. With the ball back, the Terriers had four first downs, including passes to D'mauriae VanCleave and Jason Hill. On the first play of the second quarter, Luke Carter hit a 35-yard field goal to give the Terriers a 6-0 advantage.
 
Mercer had a pair of first downs on their next possession before Kaelan Riley fumbled and Austin Lufkin recovered for the Terriers at the 46-yard line. On the second play, D'mauriae VanCleave went down the near sideline for the touchdown. After the PAT, the Terriers took a 13-0 lead with 12:20 on the clock. The Bears went three-and-out and punted. Wofford had a first down run by Nathan Walker and then Ryan Lovelace went 41-yards for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 20-0 at 8:24 in the second quarter. Mercer had three first downs to move into the red zone. They converted a fourth-and-one for first-and-goal. On third down, a two-yard pass to Chase Westfall made it a 20-7 score with 2:27 left in the first half. Wofford had two first downs before having to punt with 55 seconds on the clock.
 
Wofford was backed up by penalties after the second half kickoff before a 22-yard run by Blake Morgan for a first down. After a first down run by D'mauriae VanCleave, Blake Morgan added a 23-yard first down run. Ryan Lovelace capped the nine-play drive with an eight-yard touchdown run for a 27-7 lead with 9:00 on the clock. Mercer had a long kickoff return and penalty to start at the 45-yard line. After a rushing first down and a first down on a personal foul, a 37-yard field goal attempt was wide left at 6:34 in the third quarter. Joe Newman found T.J. Luther for a 47-yard pass to flip the field and a first down run by Nathan Walker moved the ball inside the 20. After a penalty, Joe Newman threaded the needle between two defenders to Jason Hill for a 23-yard touchdown. Wofford had a 34-7 lead with 2:04 on the clock in the third quarter. The Bears had one first down, then on third-and-long a sack by Joe Beckett forced a punt to begin the fourth quarter.
 
Miller Mosley took over at quarterback and gained one first down before punting. Mercer started at the eight-yard line and a sack by Michael Mason on third down forced a punt. Wofford took over at the 34-yard line. Nathan Walker and Miller Mosley had first down runs, with Jacquez Allen capping the drive with a six-yard touchdown run as Wofford took a 41-7 lead at the 9:28 mark of the fourth quarter. Mercer had one first down before another Michael Mason sack on third down forced a punt. Quarterback Peyton Derrick had three rushing first downs and Andy Riazzi had a run to move inside the 20. Derrick added a first down to give the Terriers first-and-goal. Wofford took a knee three times to end the game.
 
Wofford had 558 total yards, with 394 rushing yards. Mercer had 144 total yards, 89 of which were rushing. Wofford had 16 first downs, while Mercer had 11. Wofford was 7-of-12 on third down and Mercer was 3-of-11 on third down. Wofford was called for ten penalties to five for the Bears. Wofford had a 37:56 to 22:04 time of possession advantage.
 
Wofford vs. Mercer Post-Game Notes
The series is tied at 6-6, with Wofford winning all six games with both teams in the Southern Conference.
 
Luke Carter had two field goals and moved to second in all-time field goals made at 31. He is also now second all-time in kicking points with 224.
 
Michel Mason led the team with eight tackles and he also had two sacks.
 
The fumble recovery by Austin Lufkin was the first of his career. It was the second fumble recovery of the season for the Terriers.
 
The defense allowed just 144 yards on the game, the fewest allowed this season.
 
Game captains were Joe Newman, Justus Basinger, Mason Alstatt, Jireh Wilson and Blake Morgan.    
 
Attendance was 10,729 at Five Star Stadium.
 
The Terriers will return home on November 16 against Furman for the final regular season game. The contest will mark senior day, military appreciation day and the 130^th anniversary of the first meeting between the teams in 1889.