Lakes runs for 159 yards as Mercer tops Austin Peay 28-7

Published Sep. 5, 2015 9:11 p.m. ET

foxsports

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Alex Lakes ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns to lead Mercer to a 28-7 victory over Austin Peay in the season opener for both teams Saturday.

Mercer scored 21 unanswered points after halftime.

Tee Mitchell's 42-yard receiving touchdown from John Russ put the Bears up 21-7 with 6:26 remaining. Mitchell finished with 101 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown. Russ passed for 176 yards to nine different receivers.

Trey Taylor passed for 188 yards, Otis Gerron rushed for 41 yards, and Jared Beard caught seven passes for 85 yards and a touchdown for Austin Peay.

Mercer and Austin Peay met for the first time last season, with the Bears jumping out to a 28-0 first-quarter lead en route to a 49-21 victory. Gerron had 196 yards in a losing effort.

The game was delayed 45 minutes prior to the opening kickoff because of lightning.