Mercer's Robert Riddle from McCallie earns SoCon honor

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Mercer football coach Bobby Lamb had a plan to play freshman quarterback Robert Riddle "the entire game" against Samford in what would be the former McCallie School standout's second career start.

Lamb only slightly hedged his bet, saying the coaching staff was going to see how Riddle played in the first half.

Riddle responded with a career performance, and the Bears responded with a statement win, defeating the eighth-ranked Bulldogs 30-24 in Birmingham. Riddle finished with 316 yards and a touchdown passing while adding two scores on the ground in the win, and he was selected Southern Conference offensive player of the week.

He had entered the season as the backup to 2017 SoCon freshman of the year and former Calhoun standout Kaelan Riley but had neared Riley by the end of the preseason and took over the starting duties after the first game, with the two playing about even in a 45-3 win over Jacksonville.

"I thought he played phenomenal for his first time being in the entire game and in a big-time situation," Lamb told reporters at his Monday news conference. "He's very calm under pressure. He made some throws into different windows on the inside, and then our receivers came up with some big-time catches as well to help him. I thought our offensive line protected well, but Riddle just made some really good plays at crucial times."

Lamb also applauded Riley, who was coaching up Riddle the entire game, adding that the 2-1 Bears "are going to need (Riley) down the road as well."

Running back Tee Mitchell echoed Lamb's remarks about Riddle's poise, while adding that the 6-foot-3, 205-pound freshman was "incredible" against Samford.

"He has the arm talent and is a heck of a player," Mitchell said. "Just to see him in his first big game respond the way he did and come out with tough throws and smart decisions was impressive. His control of the game and keeping guys up from a leadership standpoint was encouraging to see as a senior looking at a new freshman quarterback."

First all-league slate

After a week in which schedules were shuffled to combat Hurricane Florence, the SoCon has its first league-only set of games this Saturday.

Furman's game against Colgate was canceled due to the storm, which drilled the North Carolina and South Carolina coasts over the weekend. The Citadel had a scheduled home game against Charleston Southern that has tentatively been rescheduled for Nov. 29, should neither team make the FCS playoffs.

Eighth-ranked Wofford, which is off this week, is the only team that is 2-0 in SoCon play. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, East Tennessee State and Mercer - all with 1-0 league records - have home games, with the 3-0 Mocs hosting 17th-ranked Samford (1-2, 0-1), ETSU (2-1) hosting Furman (0-2) and the 2-1 Bears hosting The Citadel (0-2).

Players of the week

Along with Riddle, Mercer kicker Cole Fisher and ETSU linebacker Jared Folks were named conference players of the week.

Fisher had three field goals and made three extra points in the six-point win over Samford, while Folks had eight tackles, 3.5 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble in the Bucs' 27-24 win at Virginia Military Institute.

Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3.

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