BOX SCORE

MACON, Ga. -- Big plays and quick scores by host Mercer hurt the Morehead State football team in its season opener Saturday night in week zero. The Bears handed the Eagles a 63-13 defeat at Five Star Stadium.

How it Happened
- Mercer went on top 14-0 after the first quarter on a 43-yard touchdown pass and a 65-yard scoring scamper by Austin Douglas.
- Douglas broke free again early in the second quarter for a 56-yard TD run.
- The Eagles finished off a 30-yard, six play drive after a fumble recovery by Devon Connors with a 10-yard scoring toss from Grady Cramer to Kyle Daly to make it 21-7.
- Two more second-quarter TDs by Mercer pushed their advantage to 35-7 before the Eagles' kicker Nathan Hazlett split the uprights from 33 yards way for his first successful field goal of the 2022 season.
- A 90-yard scoring bomb by Mercer QB Fred Payton moved the score to 42-10 with 36 seconds remaining.
- The Eagles fumbled it back to Mercer but MSU then stopped the Bears at the five-yard line as the clock ticked to halftime. Preston Toner broke through to force the running back to lose the ball and Cooper Krezek scooped it up. He had a free run to the end zone but was tripped up moments after gathering the pigskin.
- Mercer made it 49-10 with 12:10 left in the third quarter on a 29-yard TD pass.
- Hazlett smacked a field through the uprights from 37 yards away as 1:15 was left on the third-quarter clock.
- However, the Bears broke the special teams unit of the Eagles right away and returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a score.
- It was 63-13 after a 15-yard scoring toss from the Bears' backup QB, Daniel Shock.

Game Notes
- Harris finished wth 60 rushing yards on 14 carries.
- Cramer finished with 95 passing yards on 16-of-24 and one interception
- Toner had a workhorse day on defense with 10 total tackles, including 1.5 for losses an the forced fumble. Newcomer Keenan Wolf made seven stops in his first Eagle game.
- Morehead State was 3-for-3 in red zone chances.
- All three QBs on the trip saw action, including Carter Cravens and Colin Parachek.
- The Eagles finished with 278 total yards to the Bears' 625.

Up Next
Morehead State is off next week while most other college teams have their season opener. The Eagles return to action on Sept. 10 at No. 4 Montana State.