Paladins Face Bulldogs in Charleston
#image_title
The Furman Paladins (1-3, 0-0 SoCon) come into today’s game against the Citadel Bulldogs (2-3, 0-2 SoCon) hoping to get its first Southern Conference win after the game last week with Samford was canceled due to Hurricane Helene aftermath.
Furman will defer the kickoff, and we are ready to get this game going between Furman and the Citadel. Great fan presence here at Sansom Field.
The Citadel gets on the board first on its first drive makes the score 3-0. and then they are able to hold Furman on its opening drive and get the ball back at the 28-yard line. Furman was able to get a first down before finally getting stopped on third down when Trey Hedden threw a incomplete pass.
The Citadel hits a huge play and gets the touchdown, and they take a 10-0 lead over the Paladins and Furman is going to have to get a hold on defense and stop the Bulldogs if they plan to stay in this game.
Furman gets its second chance on the ball, quickly is moving down the field. The Citadel gets a huge stop, and Furman is forced to punt yet again. The Paladins was moving the ball well, yet Citadel gets 2 great stops to make Furman have to give up the ball. The Citadel gets the ball and starts it is able to make its way down the field, Furman gets the stop but gives up a personal foul and Citadel stays alive on its drive. Furman is able to keep them out of the end zone, but the Citadel does a fake field goal, and they are stopped, and Furman takes over.
The Citadel gets a huge stop on third down with a QB sack on Trey Hedden and will get the back at the 45-yard line of the Bulldogs. Furman has looked out of sorts on offense, and the Citadel is taking advantage of the young QB and has made his day rough at this point. The Citadel gets the ball back and marches down the field Furman calls timeout with 2 minutes left in the first half, Citadel is at the Furman 36 and its 3rd and 11. Furman needs to hold here to go into halftime only down 10 points. Furman gets the third down stop its the two minute warning and now Citadel must decide what they will do. They are setting up like they will try to kick a 57-yard FG, but the kicker instead punts the ball, and Furman takes over at the 13-yard line with 1:53 left in the game. The Citadel stops Furman and makes them punt away and they get the ball back at the 37-yard line of Furman with 47 seconds left. Furman gets a sack on 3rd down and Citadel will once again decide if they want to kick a field goal or punt away with under 30 seconds left in the half.
Furman takes over at the 2-yard line after a great punt by the Citadel. The half will end with Furman held to just 34 yards of offense, 2 rushing and 32 passing after several huge sacks from Citadel keeps them from playing Clay Hendrix kind of ball. They will need to come out in the second half and show they can get the plays to keep the Citadel out of the backfield.
We get ready for the second half here in Charleston SC with Furman down 10-0 and they will receive the ball first when we get started. Furman really needs to drive down the field and get points on the board to start off this half. Furman comes out and is quickly stopped by Citadel and has to punt away. The Bulldogs get the ball and they with the thanks of a personal foul face mask head straight down the field. Citadel has the ball in 3rd and goal and misses a chance to score a touchdown, and settles for a field goal to make it 13-0 third quarter with 5:30 left.
Once again, the Paladins are in a must score and also hold the ball to allow the defense to rest. Furman is slowly moving the ball with two first downs and the ball at the 45-yard line. After a huge defensive holding penalty, the Paladins see the Citadel side of the field for the first time. Trey Hedden has gotten off some great passes and has Furman at the 23-yard line of the Bulldogs. Furman now first and ten at the 14-yard line and ready to score on this drive. Furman fails on third down and is going to get the points with a field goal for 26 yards, and Furman gets on the board so now its 13-3 Citadel in the lead,
We head to the fourth quarter with Citadel with the ball and looking to get some more points on Furman and try and close out the ball game.
Furman defense on third down holds the Citadel, and the Bulldogs will punt the ball away to Furman and they will take over at the 20-yard line. The Bulldogs hold Furman who then punts away and pins the Citadel deep. Furman is able to get a huge stop, and the Citadel has to punt away, and Furman fumbles the catch, and Citadel has the ball at the Furman 31-yard line. Furman is able to hold and cause a field goal and its now a 44-yard attempt and its good and the Bulldogs lead 16-3 with 8:27 left in the game.
Furman takes the ball down the field and its third down at the Citadel 24-yard line and they get the first down to the 11-yard line. Furman is now first and ten, but a sack once again happens to young Trey Hedden and the ball is now on the 20-yard line. Trey gets what appears to be a touchdown, but a flag is thrown, and the touchdown is not allowed due to penalty. Hedden connects on another pass and its third down on the 12 and he throws a touchdown pass to #3 Ben Ferguson and its 16-10 with Furman now ready to compete a comeback.
Furman is able to hold the Bulldogs and gets the ball back at the 10 yard-line. The are able to get the ball and are now at the 30-yard line. A possible forward thrown pass by the QB is being reviewed by the officials on the field to see if it’s a fumble for a touchdown or a incomplete pass. Its ruled incomplete and Furman has yet another chance to get the scoring drive going. Trey Hedden makes two great throws, and Furman is at the 31 of the Bulldogs. He connects with #1 Hinton at the 18-yard line and the two-minute warning has arrived.
Furman now has a chance to win this game, and they get the first down and its first and goal at the 7-yard line with 1:07 on the clock here in Charleston, SC. The Paladins get a touchdown when #Jackson Pryor gets a catch in the end zone and the kick is so important and its good even with an offsides by Citadel.
The Citadel now has 3rd and 12 from the 22 and the ball is picked off by Furman and the game is pretty much over as Furman will take over with 30 seconds left from the Citadel 36-yard line. Furman has a remarkable comeback and gets a hard-fought victory.
