Mercer football beats Western Carolina, clinches Southern Conference title, FCS playoff berth

Mercer beat Western Carolina 49-47 on Saturday to clinch the Southern Conference title for the second straight season and earn an FCS playoff berth for the third straight year.

Western Carolina's Marcus Trout missed a 33-yard field goal try on the game's final play. Mercer improved to 8-1 overall and 7-0 in the conference with its eighth straight win. The Bears host Chattanooga next week.

Mercer quarterback Braden Atkinson completed 23-of-39 passes for 443 yards and three touchdowns, while CJ Miller rushed for 96 yards and three touchdowns. Adjatay Dabbs had four catches for 147 yards and one touchdown, and Kendall Harris had six catches for 73 yards and two touchdowns.

Mercer trailed 21-18 at the half but outscored Western Carolina 21-6 in the third quarter and led by 12 twice in the fourth quarter. But the Catamounts continued to fight back and had a chance to win their first Southern Conference title with the short field goal try.