By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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Wofford defeated Mercer 31-21 in an important SoCon showdown.

1. Wofford took a major step towards the postseason with a 31-21 victory over Mercer. The win moves the Terriers to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in Southern Conference play. A road defeat at Ole Miss aside, Wofford’s two FCS losses have come by a combined total of five points. Though each remaining game will be very important, a November 12th trip to Chattanooga should have major implications.

2. David Howerton made the play of the game early in the third quarter. He blocked a punt and recovered it in the endzone to extend the lead to 21-7 in favor of the Terriers. The special teams score was a huge momentum swing for Wofford and put extra pressure on the Bears with an increased deficit.

3. Standout running back Lorenzo Long had another leading performance, running for 108 tough yards and two touchdowns. Long’s scores set the tone for the Terriers as they were Wofford’s first two touchdowns of the afternoon. His production helped Wofford hold onto the football for more than 36 minutes.

4. The Terriers continue to overwhelm their opponents with a strong rush defense. Wofford has not allowed a 100-yard runner all season and held Mercer to 48 yards on 26 attempts on Saturday. The lone rush of over 13 yards for the Bears came on a run by quarterback John Russ.

5. Mistakes hurt Mercer, as the Bears had 89 penalty yards and threw two interceptions. On the road, it’s difficult to overcome such miscues.