Mercer defeats Chattanooga 14-7 in overtime on Pickles' TD pass to Smith

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- , JP Pickles threw two touchdown passes to Brayden Smith , the second one for the lead in overtime, and Mercer held on to defeat Chattanooga 14-7 on Saturday. Mercer, the 14th-ranked team in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25, had the ball first in overtime and on the fifth play Pickles found Smith in the end zone for a 7-yard score. On Chattanooga's OT possession, Mercer's Mike Polke recovered a fumble by Battle Alberson to end the game. The Mocs, ranked No. 25 by Stats Perform, scored first on Alberson's 4-yard run but finished the first half with only 117 yards on offense and three first downs. Journey Wyche 's 50-yard run that set up the touchdown accounted for all but 67 yards of the Mocs' first-half output. It was 7-7 at halftime, Mercer's score coming on a 3-yard pass from Pickles to Smith.