Mercer Prepares for Critical Playoff Clash Against South Dakota on December 6

The Mercer Bears are set to host the South Dakota Coyotes at Five Star Stadium on Dec. 6 in the second round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. Kickoff is scheduled for noon, promising an intense matchup between two playoff-caliber teams.

Mercer enters the game coming off a bye week, which coach Mike Jacobs described as a valuable period to sharpen basic skills. “We focused on running, blocking, and tackling,” Jacobs said, emphasizing the importance of fundamentals against a strong opponent. South Dakota is riding high after a convincing 38-17 victory over the Drake Bulldogs in the first round.

Coach Jacobs praised South Dakota’s resilience, noting that they “beat three ranked teams to close out the season.” He added, “To compete, we need to play our best football in all three phases.” Jacobs, recently named Southern Conference Coach of the Year, is also a finalist for the prestigious Eddie Robinson Award, recognizing the national FCS coach of the year.

Game day festivities will begin early with pre-game activities on Black Field starting at 9 a.m. Fans can take part in the Bear Walk at 9:30 a.m., following the team, band, and cheerleaders en route to the stadium. The event will feature a Fall Line beer garden and a student tailgate hosting free food, T-shirts, tickets, and pom-poms. A competition for the best student tailgate will award a Turtlebox Original speaker at 10:30 a.m.

Standout players to watch include Mercer quarterback Braden Atkinson, who recently won the Jerry Rice Award as the national FCS freshman player of the year. Atkinson is also a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, honoring the nation’s top offensive player in the FCS. On defense, Andrew Zock, named SoCon Defensive Player of the Year, is a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award as the nation’s top defensive player.

Tickets for the game are priced at $34.39 and available online at mercerbears.tixr.com. Fans can follow live coverage on ESPN+ or listen via Mercer Sports Network on 100.9 The Creek FM or sportsmic.com. This crucial playoff matchup holds significant implications for both teams as they aim to advance further in the postseason.