Mercer Edges Citadel 28-19 in Macon
Mercer's JP Pickles threw for 234 yards and three touchdowns as the Bears rallied past The Citadel at Five Star Stadium.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Football
Mercer defeated The Citadel 28-19 on October 31, 2026, at Five Star Stadium in Macon, Georgia. The Bears scored 21 unanswered third-quarter points after The Citadel had led 10-0.
Why it matters
The win moves Mercer to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in the Southern Conference, while The Citadel falls to 2-7 and 0-5 in league play. The result leaves The Citadel winless in conference games so far this season.
Pickles completed 234 passing yards with three touchdowns, and Mercer scored 21 unanswered points in the third quarter. The game drew 5,338 fans to Five Star Stadium.
The players
JP Pickles
Mercer's quarterback, who threw for 234 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for a score in the win.
The Citadel
The Military College of South Carolina's athletic program, which competes in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision.
The details
The Citadel led 10-0 on Sebastien Boyle's 40-yard touchdown run and Evan Keily's 37-yard field goal before Mercer took over. Nick Billoups scored an 18-yard touchdown run for The Citadel with 2:24 left, but the Bulldogs' extra-point attempt was blocked.
Timeline
October 31, 2026: Mercer defeats The Citadel 28-19 at Five Star Stadium.
November 7, 2026: The Citadel hosts Furman at Johnson Hagood Stadium at 2 p.m.
Season Trajectory
Mercer's win keeps it in contention within the Southern Conference, while The Citadel's winless league record leaves little margin for error in its remaining games. The result shifts the conference picture by widening the gap between the two programs.
Mercer's 4-1 Southern Conference record keeps it firmly in the league race heading into the second half of the schedule. The Citadel's next home game against Furman will determine whether the Bulldogs can avoid an 0-6 start in conference play.
The takeaway
Mercer's comeback shows how a third-quarter surge can flip a close game, while The Citadel's blocked extra point and missed field goals in the first half proved costly. Fans tracking the Southern Conference should watch how these two programs fare in the coming weeks.
What happens next
The Citadel hosts Furman at Johnson Hagood Stadium on November 7, 2026, at 2 p.m.
Further reading
Find more on Macon football coverage.
