Clark's Big Day Not Enough As Princeton Falls To No. 7 Mercer

Saturday, October 12

Macon, Ga.

3:30 PM

Princeton University

1-3 , 0-1

Mercer

6-0 , 3-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Princeton

Mercer

Ethan Clark ran for 117 yards on 21 carries and a TD against Mercer.

Clark's Big Day Not Enough As Princeton Falls To No. 7 Mercer

October 12, 2024 | Football

Box Score

The Mercer football defense came into Saturday's game against Princeton ranked No. 1 in the FCS in rushing defense, allowing just 29.2 yards per game through five games, all wins. Somebody forgot to tell that to Tiger sophomore Ethan Clark, who sliced up the Bear defense for more than four times that amount, going for 117 yards on 21 impressive carries.

Ah, but there's more to the Mercer defense than stopping the run. There's also a No. 1 ranking in passing efficiency defense, a No. 2 ranking in scoring defense and, most notably Saturday, a No. 6 ranking in forcing turnovers.

Mercer, ranked seventh in the FCS, forced six Tiger turnovers, one of which became a fumble recovery in the end zone and three others which came well into its own territory, leading the Bears to a 34-7 win at Five Star Stadium in the first meeting ever between the teams.

Despite the score, the Princeton defense played extremely well, holding the Mercer offense to just one first-half field goal and one third-quarter field goal while keeping the Bears out of the end zone until the fourth quarter. Still, Mercer picked up backbreaking touchdowns in the first quarter from a pair of Braydens — the first Brayden Smith on a 49-yard punt return and the second Brayden Dudley, who fell on a loose ball in the end zone — and it was 17-0 after one.

Torian Roberts had a second-quarter interception for Princeton, and his return set the Tigers up on the Mercer 33 with 5:55 to go in the half. It took eight plays to get into the end zone, five of which were rushes from Clark, who also punched it in for the final yard, making it a 17-7 game at the break.

Princeton threatened several times in the second half, only to turn the ball over and keep points off the board. Mercer broke the game open in the fourth with a pair of touchdown drives.

Clark came into the game with 12 carries for 37 yards, with a long of seven yards, for his career. The sophomore from Clarkston, Mich., though, became the first player to rush for more than 35 yards against the Bears, let alone 100. He had a long run 36, which was also the longest rush against Mercer this season.

Bell Ringers.@_Mscarano5 ?? @TorianRoberts1 #JUICE ???? pic.twitter.com/TufMXOnk8G
— Princeton Football (@PrincetonFTBL) October 12, 2024

Chase Christopher led Princeton with 11 tackles, and Tahj Owens and Kavon Miller had seven each. Freshman AJ Pigford, who grew up about an hour from Mercer, had four tackles, three for loss, as well as a fumble recovery, after having two tackles for the year prior to the game.

AJ Barber led Princeton with three catches for 51 yards, with a long of 41.

Princeton will return home to play another team of Bears, in this case the Brown Bears, in a Friday night game on Powers Field at Princeton Stadium. Kickoff will be at 7.