2017 The Mercer Game

Homecoming features the Mercer Bears.  I think I read that Mercer restarted their football program in 2013.  I haven't seen a line but I assume Auburn is a big favorite.  I am not off the Gus Bus yet, but I do have the windows down and I am threatening to jump.  Mercer may not prove anything today, but Missouri coming next week will.  There must be a huge improvement in the offense.  At this point I do not see it coming.

FIRST QUARTER

First two Auburn possessions there's a drive which ends at the Mercer 24 when Kyle Davis fumbles after a first down completion.  The second possession ends with a punt after one first down.
Mercer goes three and out on their first possession.
On their second possession Mercer reaches midfield.
From there their punt goes out of bounds at the AU 15.
So far the offense hasn't produced.  On the last possession Eli Stove dropped a first pass leading to a punt.  On the first possession Kyle Davis fumbled.  It looks like our receivers still aren't getting any separation.  Pettway doesn't seem to have much spark.  If it were me I'd have another running back in there.
Third try and finally we see a moving offense.  Pettway finally comes alive with a 23 yard run and scores a little later with a bull rush from the four.  Hastings has a good reception in that drive.  10 plays 85 yards.

Auburn 7  Mercer 0

The quarter ends with the Bears on their 42.  Auburn is playing a lot of people on defense.

SECOND QUARTER

Mercer is punting from the AU 47.
The Tigers begin from their 16.
We saw some offensive life in the last possession. Stidham has great protection and plenty of time to find an open receiver.  He is still a little tentative about letting the ball go.
This we are punting from there on 4th and one.  Stidham is still holding the ball so long.  Either our receivers are getting one or he has trouble letting the ball go or it's a combination of both.  Stidham has plenty of time to throw but he will not have this kind of time in conference play.
Mercer punts from midfield out of bounds at the four.
Auburn still having some trouble on offense but leading 7 to 0.
There's a first down as Darius James goes down on the field.  Casey Dunn will take his place.
Darius James is carted off the field.
On a third and four first down completion Eli Stove gives up the ball and Mercer recovers on the Auburn 27.  The Bears end up with a chip shot field goal.  That's two fumbles after good throws by our wide receivers.  You just cannot have that.

Auburn 7  Mercer 3

Auburn moves smartly into Bear territory after a long completion to Hastings.
First down to the 12.
FROM THE 7 PITTWAY FUMBES THE BALL AWAY!  Amazing.
That's three turnovers.  You can't beat anybody like this.
The offense cannot hold on to the ball.
How sad.  The offense moves the ball but who would think we would lose three fumbles against a team who we are supposed to beat.  We have 250 yard of total offense but three turnovers.
AU begins at the Auburn 44 with 1:27 to go.
First down to the 18 abetted by a late hit on Pettway after a pass completion to him.
First down in the Red Zone.  What happens this time?
The drive ends at the 12.
The drive ends as it frequently does with a FG attempt.  The kick is good.

Auburn 10  Mercer 3

Stidham has thrown for 196 yards so far but 3 turnovers has stifled the offense.  The lack of execution on offense today is from ball security.  279 yards of total offense but three turnovers limits us to 10 points.  The half ends mercifully.

THIRD QUARTER

At the half on the radio Coach Malzahn says that the turnovers are a "joke."  Indeed.
Receiving to start the half the Bears go three and out.
BUT on the punt Ryan Davis fumbles the ball away.  That's FOUR Auburn lost fumbles.  Unbelievable.  Three are by receivers.  You see a lack of concentration and execution.  This is inexcusable.  The joke gets uglier.
Mercer moves to a 41 FG attempt but they fake it and our defense stops them.  AU takes over at our 22.
The Tigers move to a first down to the Mercer 32.
There is a pass to Ryan Davis to the 16.  He fumbles but the ball squirts out of bounds.
From the Wildcat Pettway bounces to the outside and runs it in from the 9.  He is not full speed but Pettway got to the outside on that play.

Auburn 17  Mercer 3

Mercer goes three and out.
AU begins on their 37.
The Tigers move the ball but there is an interception by Mercer at the 17.  Stan White says our receiver, Craig-Myers,  doesn't fight for the ball.  The defender wanted the ball more.  That's FIVE turnovers now.  Four of them are on wide receivers even though the last one is technically an interception.
Mercer moves to the AU 41 helped with a roughing the passer penalty.
Mercer moves to the Auburn 18.  Poor pass defense on this sequence of plays.
The quarter ends with Mercer on our 11 with a third and three.

FOUR QUARTER

I've been used to Auburn slopping around on Homecoming over the years but this year is especially disappointing given the struggles of the offense.  There is no way we could have expected in a game like this five turnovers Mercer 0 turnovers.
First and goal at the 6.
2nd and goal from the 6.
3rd and goal from the 6.
Touchdown on a slant pass over the middle.  Oh, my.

Auburn 17  Mercer 10

Disappointing, just disappointing, but when you have FIVE turnovers this is what can happen.
From the 28 Auburn moves the the Auburn 41.
I am wondering why Pettway stays in the game given that he is obviously not himself.
Malzahn seems to always play only one running back.
The offense moves the ball but there is a holding call.
First and 20 at the Mercer 42.
There is pass over the middle to Kyle Davis to inside the five.
THEN there is 15 unsportsmanlike on Auburn and back we go.  The mistakes by the offense are astounding.
We move to third and goal from the 17.
Stidham runs to the 9.  Mercer declines a holding call.
The offense shoots itself in the foot again from inside the 5 yard line.
Just when you think it couldn't get any worse Carlson misses the 26 yard FG attempt.  I cannot believe what I am seeing.
8:50 to go and the game is in doubt.
Mercer moves to third and 13 from their 17.
4th and 13 from the 17.
Thanks goodness our defense holds strong.
Auburn sets up at the Bear 41.  What will happen now?
I just hope we don't turn the ball over again.
7:50 to go.
15 more yards are tacked on after a targeting ruling against Mercer.
Auburn starts at the Mercer 26.
Pettway is the only running back to carry the ball today.  I don't understand this.
First down to the 15.
Pettway, who else, to the 12.
He limps on.
Pettway to the 7.
Pettway to the four in the wildcat.
What will go wrong this time?
FINALLY Pettway prances into the end zone from the four.

Auburn 24  Mercer 10

Mercer drives to inside the Auburn 25 but our defense holds on 4th down.
It was ugly with 5 turnovers but we win.  The offense moved the ball effective but the FIVE turnovers made it ugly.
Purdue beat Missouri 35 to 3.  What will happen next week in Columbia???