The Lions of East Texas A&M University opened their season on a challenging note, falling behind the Mercer Bears 23‑0 at halftime.
A spark arrived in the third quarter when Micah Simpson hauled in a 48‑yard strike from quarterback Eric Rodriguez, ending the shutout and pulling the visitors within striking distance.
Quay Middlebrooks added a one‑yard rushing score, and Rodriguez connected on a two‑point conversion to bring the margin to a single possession.
A Late Surge Falls Just Short
Mercer’s defense tightened in the second half, with Cameron Goggins snatching an interception and Simon Zeidan delivering three field goals from distances of 55, 21 and 33 yards.
Jackson Kostamayer capped the Bears’ scoring with a 12‑yard touchdown catch from Jaylen King, while Orion Kupu led the defense with eight tackles.
Despite the effort, a fourth‑and‑goal from the 5‑yard line slipped away in the final minute, and the Lions could not convert, sealing a 23‑15 loss.
Eric Rodriguez completed 15 of 31 passes for a touchdown but threw three interceptions, while Jaylen King contributed 177 yards and a score for Mercer.
Micah Simpson accumulated 165 yards on nine targets, including the 48‑yard touchdown, and EJ Oakmon rushed for 87 yards on the ground.
The contest marked the first meeting between the two programs and offered a glimpse of the competitive spirit that will define their upcoming schedules.