JP Pickles threw three touchdown passes and ran for one other — all in the second half — to lead Mercer to a 28-19 come-from-behind win over The Citadel

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