Mercer crushes East Tennessee State 52-0

MACON, Ga. (AP) John Russ threw three touchdown passes and Mercer crushed East Tennessee State 52-0 on Saturday. Russ was 17 of 26 for 269 yards and ran eight

MACON, Ga. (AP) John Russ threw three touchdown passes and Mercer crushed East Tennessee State 52-0 on Saturday.

Russ was 17 of 26 for 269 yards and ran eight times for 94 yards and a score. Tee Mitchell had 16 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown, and Robert Brown caught four passes for 82 yards and two scores.

Mercer (3-3) amassed 563 yards and held East Tennessee State (0-6) to 228.

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Mitchell started the scoring on a 23-yard touchdown jaunt in the first quarter. Russ' 10-yard toss to Marquise Irvin made it 14-0 and the rout was on.

Russ found Brown from 5 yards out, and then later bowled his way in from the 1. Russ hooked up with Brown again on a 10-yard strike and Mercer led 35-0 at the half.

Payton Usher and Tanner Brumby added short second-half touchdown runs.