Paladins and Cats Face Off at Homecoming
Furman Football
Furman Paladins Football (2-4, 1-1 SoCon) comes into today’s match up needing a win to stay in the playoff hunt, but with several key injuries and this at the backup position at many spots. Coach Clay Hendrix in his press conference spoke earlier in the week about trying to plug in holes with players that was red shirts if needed. due to the injuries. Western Carolina Catamounts (3-3, 2-0 SoCon) bring in a 2-game win streak in the SoCon and look to stay in the top spot with Mercer in the conference.
Western starts off with the ball on the 25-yard line and four plays later they are in the endzone and its 7-0 Western Carolina with only 1 minute off the clock. Furman defense has to find a way to stop this passing offense of the Catamounts.
Furman gets the ball at the 35-yard line and starts its opening drive in hopes of getting points. The Paladins are able to get a first down and move the chains to the 47-yard line. Gavin Hall gets the ball and gets a huge gain and a first down. Furman is unable to get the ball for a first down and punts away, and WCU will get it at the 20-yard line after the punt goes out the end zone. Western Carolina marches down the field but fumbles the ball at the 15-yard line of Furman, and its Furman ball
Furman takes over and is unable to get a first down and punts away and once again the ball is muffed and recovers the ball at the 38-yard line by #29 of Furman. the long snapper. Furman is still not able to get points as they miss a 40+ field goal and its Catamounts football at the 29-yard line. Furman is able to hold the Catamounts and its a punt down to the 25-yard line of Furman as they take over. Furman is unable also to move the ball and they will punt away as we start the second quarter,
Furman is able to get the stop and force Western to kick and after a great bounce back Furman will take over at the 21-yard line. Furman in the first quarter had 37 yards of total offense, 26 yards rushing and 11 yards passing. They also only held the ball 8 minutes in the first, which is not like a Clay Hendrix coached team. The youth having to play has really caused Furman to change its thinking in play calling. The Furman offense is still not able to get a huge play and is bogged down once again and has to punt away to the WCU 19-yard line.
WCU takes over and Furman’s defense has them in a third and long, and the fans are getting into this game. The Catamounts are able to get some yards back but will have to kick away. Furman looks to have roughed the kicker, and its first down for Western Carolina on the 38-yard line. The next play Western throws a long 62-yard touchdown pass and we have a 14-0 ballgame with Western leading Furman with 9:25 left in the first half.
Furman gets the kickoff and runs it back for a 96-yard line for a touchdown and the fans are going crazy in the stands, but the extra point is missed so it is 14-6 with 9:12 left in the 2nd quarter. Western takes over at the 25-yard line as Furman is showing signs of life after that score. Western is able to get two quick passes and is now in Furman territory at the 48-yard line. Furman is able to hold them there, as we have a player injury break.
Furman will take over at the 10-yard line with 7 minutes left in the half to get points again, they do get a first down. They once again are held in check and will have to punt away to the Catamounts as QB Trey Hedden has just had a tough day. Furman kicks away to the Catamount 25-yard line a WCU takes over. A huge pass play down the middle and Western takes over at the Furman 38-yard line. Western throws a touchdown but a flag is thrown against them, and they will be 2nd and a mile at their 47-yard line. They get a huge play and get a first down at the 14-yard line, and Furman holds, and they bring on the field goal team, but it is missed, and Furman will have 3 minutes to get a score before halftime.
Furman takes the ball and only is able to take it to the 28-yard line as its fourth down and three with two minutes left in the half. The punt is kicked all the way down to the 19 yard-line and Western Carolina will take over and will try to get a big play again on Furman. Furman holds WCU but a roughing the passer gives the Catamounts the first down with 51 seconds left and they get the ball up to the 49-yard line. Western gets yet another long pass to the 31-yard line. First down to the Furman 9 yard and 10 seconds left on the clock, Catamounts throw a pass in the endzone but its out of bounds, so in comes the field goal unit and its good and the score is 17-6 with two seconds left in the half.
Western comes out and stops Furman right out the gate and goes right down the field and scores a touchdown and the score is 24-6 here in the third quarter. Western Carolina gets the ball back and runs right down the field and gets yet another score and its 31-6 Catamounts over Furman with 4:31 left in the 3rd quarter.
Furman starts right down the field and gets several big plays but when #1 Colton Hinton catches a huge 4th down pass its now first and goal at the 2-yard line. Furman Paladins get a touchdown and now its 13-31 Furman down to the Western Carolina Catamounts. there is 6 seconds left in the third as the fans get rowdy again.
Its the end of the third quarter and the Catamounts have the ball at their 38-yard line as we start the fourth. Furman allows Western to go right down the field and score another touchdown and it is now 38-13 Western over Furman with 13:17 still left in the game. Furman throws a long pass and its complete to #1 and its first down. Trey Hedden throws another pass to #1 and they have first and goal at the 4-yard line. Furman is not able to score on 4 plays from the 1, and Western takes over from the 1-yard line.
Furman is just not able to stop Western today as they march down the field and with a long run, they score touchdown and its 45-13 Catamounts. Furman will get the ball back with just over 5 minutes left in the game. Furman gets the ball rolling again with a huge pass play and we are at the 42-yard line of Western. Furman is able to score, and we now have a 45-20 ball game with under three minutes.
Furman gives up a late touchdown and loses 52-20.
