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Mercer Wins First Playoff Game Since 2013

Tagged under: District 10, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs

| November 5, 2023

Meadville – For the first time in a decade, the Mercer Mustangs are victorious in the postseason.

It was November 8th, 2013, when Mercer defeated Cambridge Springs 35-14 for head coach Jeff Lockard; this victory has been what this team has been working toward all season.

“It’s about these kids, never me,” Lockard said. “I’m just fortunate to drive the ship. We played a complete game tonight. We feel so blessed to be continuing to play football this season. We’re going to embrace our next challenge and face it head-on.”

Like in 2013, the Mustangs’ next postseason opponent will be the Lakeview Sailors, who eliminated them 52-21 a decade ago. However, this current edition of players is more concerned about the present.

On October 13th, Mecer spoiled the perfect season of then-unbeaten Lakeview 28-20. Next weekend, the Mustangs will attempt to knock off the Sailors again.

“We’ll see what happens next week with Lakeview,” said Lockard. “Those Mercer vs. Lakeview games can get crazy. We’ll get ourselves a good week of practice, and we’ll see what happens.”

On September 22nd, Mercer suffered a 16-13 setback at the hands of Cochranton, but on Saturday night at Meadville – Mercer shut down the Cardinals and did just enough offensively to secure the win.

Like their contest back in September, the game was a low-scoring defensive battle that saw the Mercer limit Cochranton to 164 yards of total offense while the Mustnags gained 293, including 270 on the ground.

“We’ve played good defense all year,” Lockard said. “I told the guys we need to play good defense, play the field position game, and grind it out against these guys, and I think we did that tonight. The defense has been the mainstay for this team all year.

It was the Cardinals that threatened to put the first points on the board when they drove 33 yards in ten plays after receiving the opening kickoff.

On 4th-and-2 from the Mustangs 16-yard line, Blake Foulk was stopped a yard short of the first down. Six plays later, Daemyin Mattocks scored on a 66-yard touchdown run.

 

“That sequence was huge, Lockard said. “I think that set the tone. It was about getting back into the flow after that off week. We needed that week off, and sequence helped get our feet back under us.”

Mercer’s best chance at extending their lead before halftime came following a Ben Godfrey interception returned to the Cardinals’ 27-yard line, where Cochranton held Carter Addison for no gain on a 4th-and-1 from their 8-yard line.

The succeeding possession was the best of the night for Cochranton as they picked five first downs, driving to the Mercer 23-yard line – on 4th-and-4, Walker Carroll was sacked for a 5-yard line loss, ending the half.

The Cardinals’ defense continued to play outstanding to begin the second half by making a goal-line stand, stopping Addison at the 1-yard line on 4th-and-goal from the five.

It would end up being the Mustangs defense that put the following points on the board as Colton Davis sacked Carroll in the end zone for a safety with 39 seconds to play in the third quarter. Davis’s 29-yard punt pinned Cochranton at their 6-yard line.

Mercer put the game away in the fourth quarter when Isaiah Long muffed a punt, and the Mustangs recovered at the Cardinals’ 37-yard line.

Carter Addison scored on a 6-yard run six plays later to close the scoring. Addison led Mercer with 141 yards rushing on 17 carries; Mattocks rushed for 88 yards on 14 attempts.

 

Cochranton responded with an 11-play 41-yard drive only to see Mattocks internet a Carroll pass with 1:21 to play at the Mustangs 10-yard line.

“Daemyin is one of those football-smart kids,” said Lockard. “He’s just a football player, and he reads and digests the game well. I’m blessed to have him and Carter, Nic, and all those guys.”

The Cardinals close their season at 5-4. Noah Cummings rushed for 60 yards on 14 carries to lead Cochranton.

“We couldn’t get anything going offensively; our defense played great,” said Cochranton head coach Mik Feleppa. “Too many mistakes tonight. We had a successful season; that is what I told the kids. We were picked to finish last in the region. We had a winning season, but we must figure out how to take that next step.”

Game Highlights:

 

Stats by Ryan Briggs

Mercer 14 Cochranton 0

Score by Quarters

Mercer – 6 0 2 6 – 14
Cochranton – 0 0 0 0 – 0

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

M – Daemyin Mattocks 66 yd run, (rush failed), 4:17 – 6-85

Third Quarter

M – Safety – Colton Davis sacked Walker Carroll in the end zone, 0:39

Fourth Quarter

M – Carter Addison 6 yd run, (rush failed), 4:44 – 6-37

Individual Stats

Rushing: M – Addison 17-141, Mattocks 14-88, Nic Michael 11-34, Alex Lefteris 2-4, Ride Chiappini 1-3, Team 3-0. Totals: 48-270. C – Noah Cummings 14-60, Carroll 12-17, Isaiah Long 6-12, Blake Foulk 8-10. Totals: 40-99.

Receiving: M – Ben Godfrey 1-23. C – Long 2-29, Gabe Carter 1-13, Cummings 1-8, Foulk 1-8, Dawson Carroll 1-7.

Passing: M – Chiappini 1-for-2, 23 yards. C – Carroll 6-for-17, 65 yards, 2 INT, Team 0-for-1.

Interceptions: M – Mattocks, Godfrey.

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