MACON, GA. -- Whitt Newbauer passed for 257 yards and three touchdowns to lead Mercer to a 49-23 Southern Conference victory over Furman in the regular season finale for both teams at Five Star Stadium on Saturday.

The victory earned Mercer (10-2, 7-1 SoCon) the outright SoCon championship a year after Furman (3-8, 2-5 SoCon) captured the title.

Newbauer completed 18-of-28 passes, including scoring strikes covered 46, 7, and 31 yards for the Bears, who erased a 10-7 first quarter deficit with three touchdowns — two via Newbauer passes — to take a 28-10 second quarter lead.

Furman's Ian Williams broke the run with a 32-yard field goal with nine seconds left on the first half clock to pull the Paladins to within 28-13.

Williams, who booted three field goals in the contest, tied his own school record with a 57-yard effort that opened the second half scoring and cut Mercer's lead to 28-16.  The Bears answered with a 16-yard scoring run by Dwayne McGee and 31-yard Newbauer strike to Adjatay Dabbs, set up by a TJ. Moore interception at the Furman 37.

Furman quarterback Trey Hedden threw for 210 yards and a touchdown, completing 19-of-41 passes with one interception.  His favorite target was Colton Hinton, who matched a career high with nine catches for 109 yards and score on a 30-yard pass from running back Gavin Hall that staked Furman to a 7-0 first quarter lead.

Newbauer and Dabbs gave Mercer a 14-10 lead with a 31-yard scoring play with 42 seconds to go in the first quarter, and 20 seconds later the Bears struck again when safety Tommy Bliss collected a Hedden fumble out of the air and returned it 35 yards for a 21-10 edge following the PAT.

Mercer finished the contest with 503-322 edge in total offense, rushing for 213 and passing for 290.

Paladin linebacker Evan DiMaggio, playing in his final game, was credited with a game high 18 tackles, including 2.5 for loss.