Auburn Tigers overcome mistakes, glide past Mercer Bears

.@Jarrett_Stidham's 86.5% completion percentage today (32-of-37) is the 2nd-best in a single game @SEC history (min. 30 comps).#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/e8Ua3fXGvc

— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) September 16, 2017

Kamryn Pettway scored three touchdowns to help No. 15 Auburn overcome five turnovers in a 24-10 win over FCS opponent Mercer on homecoming Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala.

Auburn lost four fumbles, and sophomore quarterback Jarrett Stidham threw an interception in the second half to keep the score closer than expected.

Auburn moved the ball up and down the field, racking up 515 total yards.

Pettway finished with 128 yards on 34 carries, with touchdown runs of 9, 4 and 4 yards.

Stidham completed 32 of 37 passes for 364 yards but with no touchdowns and the one interception.

Mercer managed just 247 yards of offense, but stayed in the game thanks to the Auburn turnovers and found itself in a seven-point game in the fourth quarter.

Mercer quarterback Kaelan Riley threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Marquise Irvin to cut the Auburn lead to 17-10 early in the fourth quarter.

Auburn marched down the field on its ensuing drive, but was thwarted by penalties, and Daniel Carlson missed a 26-yard field goal attempt, giving the ball back to Mercer with 8:50 to play.

Auburn's defense stiffened, though, and Pettway capped a game-sealing drive with tackle-breaking, 4-yard touchdown run on a direct snap that pushed the lead to 24-10 with 4:50 left.

Auburn went into halftime with just a 10-7 lead. Pettway scored on a 4-yard touchdown run, and Carlson kicked a 29-yard field goal for the Tigers in the first half.

Auburn lost three fumbles in the first half, the first by running back Eli Stone coming deep in its own territory and resulting in a 21-yard field goal by Mercer's Cole Fisher.

Pettway coughed up another fumble at the Mercer 7-yard line to end another Auburn threat.

Auburn was coming off a 14-6 loss at Clemson and was hoping to build some confidence on offense. But it didn't happen. Now, the Tigers head into SEC play, starting next week at Missouri.

Riley completed 20 of 32 passes for 146 yards with a touchdown for Mercer.

NOTES: Auburn senior OT Darius James had to be strapped down on a backboard and carted off the field after suffering an injury in the second quarter. James was taken the hospital for precautionary reasons, but television reports indicated he had movement in all his extremities. ... Mercer was playing its first FBS ranked opponent since reinstating its program in 2013. Mercer also will play at Alabama on Nov. 18. ... Auburn RB Kerryon Johnson sat out his second straight game because of a hamstring injury.