By Jim Johnson
SouthernPigskin.com

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Last season, Mercer was either leading or within a score entering the fourth quarter of all seven conference games. The Bears only managed to come away with a win twice.

nLast season, Mercer was either leading or within a score entering the fourth quarter of all seven conference games. The Bears only managed to come away with a win twice. They were the archetypal fledgling program — talented, yet perpetually stealing defeat from the jaws of victory; Lucy pulling the ball away just before Charlie can kick it.

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nThe media and the SoCon coaches picked Mercer fourth and fifth in their respective preseason polls. This, in my estimation, indicates a belief that Bobby Lambxe2x80x99s boys have been better than their record, but the question remains: can they close games?

nTo be fair, this is only the fourth season since Mercer revitalized its football program. The hope in Macon is that this first real senior class — there are 29 fourth and fifth year players — will have the experience to push them over the top.

nxe2x80x9cFor the first time, we have a senior class,xe2x80x9d Lamb stated at SoCon Media Day. xe2x80x9cOur seniors have done a great job leading this summer. We really donxe2x80x99t have to say a lot about (closing games out). They know the deal.xe2x80x9d

nIn a direct reversal from last year, Mercer now has nearly a dozen more seniors on its roster than the next closest SoCon competitor. Granted, a number of those seniors were non-scholarship athletes when they joined the program, but they have been there since the beginning. And while some of them may not be large on-field contributors, therexe2x80x99s something to be said about having a bunch of vets breathing down the younger, more gifted athletes necks.

nEvery major contributor this season will know the hurt of all those close losses.

nxe2x80x9cWe know we need to close games out,xe2x80x9d Lamb reiterated. xe2x80x9cYou know, we did close that Chattanooga game out, which right now is our signature win. Wexe2x80x99ve got to build upon that game; wexe2x80x99ve got to build upon the other games, because, number one, wexe2x80x99ve got to get in that position again, and number two, wexe2x80x99ve got to win the fourth quarter. We harped on it the whole offseason.xe2x80x9d

nIn 2015, Mercer seemed to have a tradition of losing games in the final quarter. Then again, like Lucy said, xe2x80x9cIsnxe2x80x99t it peculiar, Bobby Lamb, how some traditions just slowly fade away,xe2x80x9d or something like that.