MACON, Ga. (AP) JP Pickles threw three touchdown passes and ran for one other - all in the second half - to lead Mercer Bears to a 28-19 come-from-behind win over The Citadel Bulldogs on Saturday.

Mercer, ranked No. 16 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25, has won five consecutive games.

The Citadel built a 10-0 halftime lead after a 40-yard run by Sebastien Boyle and a 37-yard field goal from Evan Kiely.

Pickles took over in the third quarter, with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Devon Caldwell and an 80-yard touchdown bomb to Brayden Smith followed by a 2-yard scoring run that made it 21-10 heading to the fourth quarter.

After a field goal by The Citadel, Pickles' 24-yard TD pass to Trayvion Solomon made it 28-13 with 7 1/2 minutes left.

Pickles completed 17 of 20 passes for 234 yards and led the Bears (7-2, 4-1 Southern Conference) with 56 yards on the ground. His leading receiver was Smith, who caught five passes for 113 yards.

Nick Billoups was 12-for-17 passing for 143 yards for the Bulldogs (2-7, 0-5).

Mercer has won the past seven games in the series that was first played in 1906. Mercer leads 12-11-1.

Mercer: at Chattanooga next Saturday.

The Citadel: vs. Furman next Saturday.

---

Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here. Visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full college football coverage here.

Copyright 2026 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.