Furman Paladins Football Welcomes Citadel Bulldogs to Paladin Stadium
The Furman Paladins (1-0 Conference, 3-1 Overall) head into today’s game versus the Citadel Bulldogs (0-2 conference, 0-5 Overall) very confident and ready to make the next step towards its bid to win the conference and get a playoff bid. (Game Thread)
The Citadel is able to get the ball moving down the field and is now set with a 3-15 at the Paladin 33 and they get to the 20 and decide to go for it 4-2. The Paladins hold and its Furman football at the 20-yard line and first down Furman. First play for Furman the ball is batted up in the air and the Bulldogs intercept and get the ball right back at the 19-yard line in the Paladin redzone.
Furman is able to intercept the ball in the end zone and its first and ten at the 20 for Furman and the fans are loving the red zone stop by the defense. The Paladins after the first series has decided to just run the ball and are going straight down the field and throw the first pass of the series to the 32 of the Citadel. The Paladins get to the 25 and go for a field goal and its blocked but a flag on the play makes it first down Furman at the 15-yard line.
The Paladins get the ball rolling as they go back to running Dominic Roberto and Huff throws for the endzone, but the ball is tipped and incomplete. Huff hits #10 for the passing touchdown for 14 yards and Furman is now 7-0 over the Bulldogs with 6 seconds left in the first quarter. The half ends with Citadel losing 3 yards and we head to the second quarter 7-0 Paladins and Citadel on the 22-yard line.
Furman gets the Bulldogs to turn the ball over by punting the ball and takes over at the 39-yard line. Furman begins its march down the field with a heavy dose of run and then a sprinkle of pass the Paladins are in the red zone and the Bulldogs are able to stop the Paladins on 4-2 and take over on the 18-yard line. The first play #1 Blackshire gets a interception and takes the ball down to the 20-yard line and its first time Furman with 8:07 left in the first half.
The Paladins are not able to move the ball after a huge 20-yard loss and go to kick a 43-yard field goal and miss and it’s still 7-0 with 6:08 left in the half. The Bulldogs get the ball and after a penalty sets them back find themselves to 3rd and 20 and a tipped ball is sent backwards and its fourth down and it’s the Paladins getting the ball back, Furman gets the ball at its 45-yard line.
Furman gets the ball and Huff races down to the 1-yard line with a 1:40 left to get the score and its time out on the field and the Paladins want to get this score now and not wait for another play.
Furman now is set up to get this score and head into halftime up two touchdowns as #7 stumbles into the end zone and its 14-0 Furman in the lead with 1:21 left. Citadel takes the ball down to the Furman 15 and its 3rd and 3 and Furman holds them to 4th down and the field goal unit comes out and it’s a fake and its first down on the 2-yard line with 22 seconds left. Furman is holding them to a 3rd and the Paladins bust a play back to the 25-yard line and cause a fumble and #43 recovered and the Paladins have 2 seconds to take a knee and its 14-0 at the half with Furman ahead.
Halftime stats are brought to you by Arden’s Burger and Grill in Central, SC the Paladins 12 First Downs, 22-79 Rushing, 83 passing, 10-13-1 Pass Cmp-att-int, 35-162 total offense, 1-4 punt/yards, 2-2 int yards, 4-/30 penalty yards, 16:29 time of possession, 3-6 3rd downs, 0-1 4th downs and 2-4 in the red zone this half.
Furman comes out and takes the ball right down the field to first and goal to the 5-yard line. Furman #8 Dominic Roberto takes the ball into the end zone and its 21-0 Paladins come out with a physical presence and score fast to show Citadel they are ready to take complete control.
The Furman now takes over at the 8-yard line first and ten with 10:09 up 21-0 to the Bulldogs who are quickly making mistakes after the half. Tyler Huff takes the ball and rushes to the 47-yard line. Furman gets the ball down to the 14-yard line after a pass by Huff, and its first down. Furman takes it to the 6 yard line as #88 Nick Cannon gets the touchdown as it’s 28-0 the Paladins in the lead with under 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.
The Citadel starts its march down the field needing to score a touchdown to get back in this game fast. Bulldogs get a huge pass down to the Furman 8-yard line and its first down in the red zone. The Bulldogs are able to score and Furman gives up its first score of the day yet miss the extra point and its 28-6 Furman over Citadel with 1:12 left in the third. We head to the 4th quarter with the Paladins in the lead 28-6, 3rd and 2 at the 41-yard line.
Furman gets the ball and goes for the homerun throw and just comes up short, its second and ten and on the 45. Huff throws and bad pass and then on the following play fumbles the ball and Furman will punt the ball and the Bulldogs will take over at the 20-yard line with 13:11 left in the game. The Bulldogs get the ball and throw a great pass to the TD and its first down at 50-yard line. After a huge play to get to the Furman 12 its 4th down they get two interference calls but then loose a yard as Furman tries to hold here at the goal line. it is 4th down and on the 1-yard line, they score and will go for two points and get it and we are at 28-14.
Furman gets the ball and its time to get another score while running down the clock. They are able to get one first down but have to punt the ball away, Citadel then gets the ball at the 20 and throws a huge pass to the 45-yard line. The are held and have to give the ball back after a failed 4th down play and Furman takes the ball back with 2:52 left on the clock. With a first down that will do it for today, Furman wins 28-14.
