Finally, Drew Cronic can have a normal game week as Mercer’s head coach.

          He was hired back two weeks before Christmas in 2019.

          Rather than his debut be normal, around now in 2020, it was in October, and there were only three fall games, one at Five Star Stadium. The Southern Conference season started on Feb. 20.

          Now? A mostly normal summer has led up to a normal start to the season, Mercer hosting Point at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

          The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ (subscription) and 100.9 FM and www.sportsmic.com. More than 2,000 tickets – all costing $4.78 regardless of location - remain.

Mercer’s Central Georgians
6 QB Dylan Fromm, Warner Robins, Fr.
1 DB Brandon Mays, Wilkinson County, So.
17 DB Landon Miller, Rutland, So.
62 LS Zach Lassiter, Bleckley County, So.
68 OL Nate Howard, Mary Persons, Fr.
WR Nate Boehm, Veterans, Fr.

          This is the first meeting between the teams.

          Mercer follows the opener with trips to Alabama and Furman, and isn’t back home until Oct. 2 against Samford and Macon native Chris Hatcher, and several Central Georgia alums.

          The Bears were among the top 50 last year in Football Championship Division play in rushing offense (27th), passing efficiency, scoring offense, passing yards allowed, third down offense, red zone offense, kickoff returns, first down offense, fewest penalties, and time of possession.

          Defensive lineman Solomon Zubairu is a first-team preseason All-Southern Conference pick, while running back Brandon Marshall, defensive lineman Chris Hill, linebacker Isaac Dowling, and defensive back Lance wise are second-team picks.

          Phil Steele Magazine picked those five as well as Yahsyn McKee, Ty James, Fred Davis, and Devon Harper for such honors.

          Dowling and Wise led the defense with 90 and 86 tackles, Dowling with 6.5 sacks and Wise with eight pass breakups

          Head coach Julius Dixon is 17-46 overall, with a 1-10 year as interim head coach at Savannah State in 2010. He took over at point in 2016.including

          Wilkinson County grad Theseus Jackson coaches wideouts at Point, which has three Central Georgians on the roster: 41 RB Corey Chaisson, Houston County, Fr.; 47 DB Brandon Wilcher, Wilkinson County, Fr.; 64 OL Jalen Gay, Baldwin, Fr.

          The NAIA program went 5-7 in 2019, its best season under Dixon, and 1-7 last year, 1-5 in Mid-South play.