Home US News Georgia Newbauer and Dabbs lead Mercer to secure first outright Southern Conference championship, defeating Furman 49-23

Newbauer and Dabbs lead Mercer to secure first outright Southern Conference championship, defeating Furman 49-23

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Macon, Georgia – In an impressive display on Saturday, Whitt Newbauer led the Mercer Bears to a dominant 49-23 victory over Furman, clinching the Southern Conference title outright.

The Bears, now boasting a season record of 10-2 and 7-1 in conference play, opened the game with a flurry of offense, scoring 21 points in the first quarter. By the halftime break, Mercer had established a commanding 28-10 lead. This was achieved through a combination of standout plays, including a 3-yard touchdown run by CJ Miller, two touchdown passes from Newbauer—one connecting for 46 yards with Adjatay Dabbs and another for 7 yards to Sawyer Burt—and a 35-yard fumble return touchdown by Tommy Bliss.

Newbauer completed 18 of his 28 passes for a total of 257 yards, contributing three touchdowns to his team’s score despite throwing one interception. Dabbs was a key target, racking up 181 yards on eight receptions. Dwayne McGee also made a significant impact on the ground, adding 74 rushing yards as part of an offense that amassed a total of 503 yards.

For the Paladins, who now stand at 3-8 overall and 2-5 in the Southern Conference, Trey Hedden went 19-of-41 in passing, totaling 210 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Colton Hinton was a notable receiver for Furman, achieving 109 yards on nine catches with a touchdown of his own. Additionally, Ian Williams equaled a school record with a remarkable 57-yard field goal, contributing to the Paladins’ efforts in the game.