Game Preview: Furman Football hits the road to take on SEC’s South Carolina Gamecocks.
Columbia, S.C.- On October the 16th in the year 1982, the Furman Paladins knocked off the South Carolina Gamecocks 28-23, kicking off a remarkable 4-0 Furman winning streak against FBS opponents from 1982-1985.
41 years later, the #6 FCS ranked Paladins will be looking to throw it back and party like it’s 1982 as they travel to Columbia, South Carolina on Saturday night for the 50th edition of Paladins-Gamecocks.
Coming off a primetime beatdown at the hands of the North Carolina Tar Heels last weekend, the Gamecocks are retreating back to Williams Brice Stadium licking their wounds.
South Carolina Head coach Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks have no time to waste against Furman with a road matchup against #1 Georgia looming around the corner.
South Carolina enters as a heavy favorite for obvious reasons, but the thought of an upset will undoubtedly be paramount in the minds of every Furman player.
Coming off a 35 point mauling of Tennessee Tech in their opener, the 6th ranked Paladins are riding high into Columbia with absolutely nothing to lose.
“We really got one goal for our team, and that’s to go be the best team Saturday,” Furman Head Coach Clay Hendrix told the media including the Furman Joust Podcast earlier in the week. “That’s all we need to do to go beat this team.”
South Carolina’s last loss to an FCS school took place nearly 8 years ago in November of 2015, when a struggling Gamecocks squad fell 23-22 at home to the Citadel. Since 1980, the Gamecocks have lost 3 games to FCS opponents, which included two losses to the Citadel and the aforementioned loss to Furman in 1982.
In turn, Furman has upset 6 FBS opponents since 1980, including Georgia Tech twice, North Carolina State twice, North Carolina once, UCF once, and the aforementioned defeat of South Carolina in 1982. The Paladins most recent FBS victory came in 2015 as Furman defeated UCF 16-15.
While an FCS over FBS upset is statistically unlikely, the fact remains that it is possible. If anyone can do it, why not Furman?
2023 statistics:
Furman Football
PPG: 45.0
Points allowed (per game): 10.0
Rushing Yards (team): 196 yds
Passing yards (team): 190 yds
Rushing leader: RB Dominic Roberto (18 car, 59 yds, 2 TDs)
Passing leader: QB Tyler Huff (15/27, 172 yds)
Receiving leader: WR Kyndel Dean (5 rec, 56 yds)
Tackles leader: S Hugh Ryan (7 solo, 5 ast)
South Carolina Football
PPG: 17.0
Points allowed (per game): 31.0
Rushing yards (team): -2 yds
Passing yards (team): 353 yds
Rushing leader: RB Dakereon Joyner (12 car, 23 yds, 1 TD)
Passing leader: QB Spencer Rattler (30/39, 353 yds)
Receiving leader: WR Xavier Legette (9 rec, 178 yds)
Tackles leader: LB Debo Williams (8 solo, 6 ast)
Television information:
SEC Network+/ESPN +, 6:30 PM CST/7:30 PM EST
Furman vs South Carolina will be televised exclusively by ESPN+ and SEC Network +.
Radio broadcasts can be found on The Fan Upstate and its four main stations: 97.7 FM/1330 AM in Greenville, and 97.1 FM/950 AM in Spartanburg.
Additionally, radio broadcasts can be found on Audacy.com, as well as through furmanpaladins.com.
For more news and coverage of all Furman Paladin athletics, be sure to follow the Furman Joust Podcast on Twitter, or visit our website at furmanjoust.com.
