MACON, Ga. — Bethune-Cookman mounted a furious fourth quarter comeback and forced two overtime periods but came up short on the final two-point-conversion as Mercer prevailed 49-48 in an instant classic. The Bears led 28-14 going into the fourth quarter but gave up 21 points while only scoring a touchdown in response to send the first ever Atlantic-Sun Game of the Week into overtime. Both teams fought tooth and nail but it was the Mercer defense that came up big in the end, stopping the Wildcat ball carrier on the one yard line to preserve the victory.

Bethune-Cookman Head Coach Willow Briansdóttir stood in the post game press conference with a blank expression on her face and a wilted pink flower in her hair. She spoke positively of her team’s ability to step up in the fourth quarter and force the Bears to keep playing past regulation.

“I knew they wanted the win, I knew they knew what they had to do, and I trusted them to execute. My coordinators definitely had some choice words for the players, especially on defense, but I trusted my guys, and they pulled through and brought us to overtime. After the quarter, I told them I was proud, but we still had more work to do.”

Briansdóttir held up both thumbs when asked how she felt about her team after the loss.

“I’m still proud of them despite the loss, and I know they’re motivated to make up for this loss and hopefully earn a spot in the playoffs in the coming weeks.”

There was a questionable offsides call in the third quarter that had many fans at home complaining about the refereeing but the Wildcat’s leader didn’t see the need to get into discussing the details.

“[S]loppy play. [My players] cleaning that up and minimizing the stupid penalties is a big part of why we managed to come back in the fourth.”

Willow was very realistic about her team’s current situation when another reporter asked if she thought her team still had a shot to make the FCS Playoffs after today’s result.

“I don’t think it makes much of a difference for us – if we keep losing and Mercer manages to beat us out for a spot in the conference game, we have zero chance of making the playoffs at all. Our only chance is to win out and win the conference game in week 13.”

Mercer’s Head Coach, affectionately known as Uncle Rico, was exhausted but ecstatic about the result when he finally got to the podium. He shook his head when asked how the Bears managed to pull this one out and shrugged his shoulders.

“We really just had things going for us on all sides of the ball today. [Bethune-Cookman’s] guys came out with some stout defense but I think our o-line had the best game of the season so far and allowed us to move the ball on the ground.”

He was flabbergasted when asked what the Bears could’ve done to squelch the Wildcat comeback in the fourth.

“Boy I wish I had a good answer for you there. I think [Bethune-Cookman] has a potent attack and they wore our defense down. That fumble obviously killed us when we could have iced things, but for our [defense] to hold them to what we did in regulation offensively, I’m proud of these guys.”

Uncle Rico wiped tears from his eyes and praised his opponent yet again when talking about the emotions he felt when the final whistle blew and the victory was certain.

“It was a roller coaster. Coming so close in regulation and giving up that touchdown was brutal. But the way our guys responded in OT was amazing. [Quarterback] Pablo made some incredible throws, and then that stop on the conversion attempt was unbelievable. I have so much respect for Coach Willow for going for 2. What a ballsy move. If [middle linebacker] Avon doesn’t grab their guy by the shoelace on the edge there it’s game over.”

He was specifically asked about the second quarter hamstring injury to his cornerback but declined to make any particular comments at the time of the press conference.

“Well you know I’m not going to go into much detail on an injury. All I’ll say is Ricky was a warrior and came through when we needed him at the end there. We’ll take things day by day from here with him.”

Mercer improves to 4-5 on the year, 3-3 in conference and moves on to prepare for the Campbell Fighting Camels in Week 11. Bethune-Cookman falls to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play as they look to rebound against Alabama State.