LEXINGTON, Va. (Interstat) — Mercer defeated Virginia Military Institute 54-3 on Saturday in an NCAA Football Championship Division game at Foster Stadium. The Bears improved to 4-2 overall, while the Keydets fell to 0-6. Mercer was the visiting team, and VMI was the home team. The Bears scored 54 points, and the Keydets scored 3. Mercer controlled the game from the opening quarter and never allowed VMI to establish an offensive rhythm. The Bears scored in every quarter, generated big plays through the air and on the ground, and limited the Keydets to a single field goal. The win gave Mercer its fourth victory of the season and kept VMI searching for its first.

Mercer scored 17 points in the first quarter, 10 in the second, 17 in the third and 10 in the fourth. VMI’s only points came on Jack Joyce’s 49-yard field goal in the first quarter. Simon Zeidan opened the scoring with a 39-yard field goal for Mercer. Joyce answered for the Keydets. Zeidan added a 36-yard field goal in the second quarter. Later in the second, Z. Palode-Gary broke through the middle for a 64-yard touchdown run. Jaylen King then connected with K. Calixte on a 40-yard touchdown pass to help Mercer pull away before halftime. The Bears kept adding to the lead after the break and finished with 54 points.

Jaylen King was Mercer’s top star. The quarterback from Folkston, Ga., who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 200 pounds, completed 14 of 23 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown. He also carried five times for 25 yards and scored once. King managed the offense efficiently and helped the Bears balance their passing attack with enough quarterback running to keep VMI off balance. His ability to extend drives and find open receivers kept Mercer in control throughout the afternoon.

JP Pickles also made an impact for Mercer. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound quarterback completed 3 of 4 passes for 34 yards and a touchdown, and he rushed six times for 66 yards and another score. Adrian Parker, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound quarterback, completed 1 of 3 passes for 20 yards and ran once for 4 yards and a touchdown. Kaden Hanson, a 6-foot-2, 250-pound tight end, caught two passes for 43 yards and a touchdown. Sam Martin Jr., a 5-foot-11, 180-pound safety, returned a kickoff 68 yards and finished with five tackles. Marquis Williams recorded five tackles and a quarterback hit. Brandon Gunn added five tackles. Ean Johnson-Kelley, a 6-foot-1, 270-pound defensive lineman, had four tackles and half a sack, while Antonio Butts Jr., a 6-foot-1, 215-pound linebacker, contributed four tackles. The Bears’ defense consistently pressured VMI and did not allow a touchdown.

VMI’s offense struggled throughout. Ian Reynolds, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound quarterback, completed 3 of 10 passes for 33 yards. Cade Cox, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound quarterback, caught two passes for 20 yards. Brooks Martin had one reception for 9 yards. Traveion Slaughter, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound receiver, carried six times for 3 yards and caught one pass for 12 yards. Cole Varner had one run for 16 yards. Trevin Simon ran four times for 7 yards. Zander Lewis, a 5-foot-11, 197-pound running back, and Kam Johnson, a 5-foot-9, 215-pound running back, each had one carry for 1 yard. Ben Shrewsbury, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound kicker, punted nine times for 364 yards, while William Lees added a 37-yard punt. The Keydets moved the ball only occasionally and could not reach the end zone.

The Keydets’ defense saw plenty of action. Nic Land, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound safety, led the way with 13 tackles. Isaiah Grevious, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound safety, Robert Powell, a 5-foot-8, 162-pound cornerback, and Ethan Haston, a 6-foot, 180-pound defensive back, each made seven tackles. EJ Wilborne, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound defensive back, added six tackles. Steven Riveros, a 5-foot-11, 210-pound linebacker, finished with five tackles. Keegan Guyton had four tackles. Camden Clinton, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker, Henry Berling, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker, Erick Roman, a 6-foot, 230-pound linebacker, and Jacob Moore each recorded three tackles. Jacob Moore added a sack. Ellis Daniels, a 6-foot-3, 293-pound defensive lineman, and Rod Tasco, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound linebacker, each registered a quarterback hit. Terry Dorsey, a 6-foot, 200-pound safety, intercepted a pass. Elijah Brooks, a 6-foot-3, 305-pound defensive lineman, Quinn Kennedy, Louis Parker, a 6-foot-1, 194-pound safety, Carson Gue, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound defensive lineman, Baylor Necessary, a 6-foot-3, 223-pound linebacker, Ashton Dixon, Phoenix Ward, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound defensive lineman, Ryan McCarthy, a 6-foot-3, 254-pound defensive lineman, Ayden Babich, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound safety, Landon Snyder, a 6-foot-1, 243-pound linebacker, and Camron Watkins, a 6-foot-2, 227-pound linebacker, each made one tackle. David Czapp, Nathan Jackson, Matthias Corbin, a 6-foot-3, 264-pound defensive lineman, and Rod Tasco each added two tackles. Jack Joyce, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound kicker, who made the Keydets’ field goal, also recorded one tackle.

Mercer entered the game after a 34-17 win at Abilene Christian. Earlier this season, the Bears beat Texas A&M-Commerce 23-15 and Presbyterian 62-3, while losing to Furman 20-13 and at Georgia Tech 44-11. VMI had lost at Idaho State 38-10, at Virginia Tech 73-3, to Bucknell 14-3, at Davidson 27-24 and at Samford 45-7. The Keydets remained winless on the season.

Mercer is scheduled to host Western Carolina next, then visit Samford. The Bears also have upcoming games against Citadel, Chattanooga, Tennessee Tech and East Tennessee State. VMI is set to visit Wofford, then host East Tennessee State. The Keydets also have future matchups with Chattanooga, Tennessee Tech, Citadel and Furman. Both teams will continue NCAA Football Championship Division play.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Mercer 57, Virginia Military Institute 23. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Mercer with a 97.5 percent probability to win. Virginia Military Institute had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -35.5. The total score of 57 went under the over/under line of 50.5.