Paladins Rush Dogs to Victory
BIRMINGHAM, ALA. — Defense was the name of the game today as Furman slowed the high powered Samford Bulldogs in their 27-21 win. The Bulldogs were only able to muster up 46 yards rushing today while putting up 211 yards rushing themselves.
Samford took the opening kickoff and drove down the field on 7 plays for 75 yards capped off by a Michael Hiers 38 yard pass to Brendon Jenkins.
After a few unsuccessful drives for Furman, including one ending in an interception, the Paladins put together a 10-play 90-yard drive resulting in a 2-yard pass from Tyler Huff to Joshua Harris putting the score at 7-7. Late in the second quarter, Furman put together another solid drive. However, the drive ended in a sack that forced them to take a 38-yard field goal with 3 minutes left to go in the half.
On the next drive, the Paladins had a 9-play 55-yard touchdown drive that ended with a 1-yard pass from Huff to Ben Ferguson giving Furman a 10-point lead against the Bulldogs.
The 2nd half started like the first with a Samford touchdown pass from Hiers to Jenkins. The 15-yard play capped off a 10-play 69-yard drive to cut the Furman lead down to 3 at 17-14. The following possession, Furman responded with a touchdown drive of their own. The 5-play 75-yard drive ended with a 5-yard rushing touchdown by Dominic Roberto.
“When your O-line is telling you ‘Let’s run the ball,’ you tend to listen to them,” explains Roberto during the postgame conference.
Dominic led the Paladins in rushing with 128 yards.
As the 4th quarter began, Samford took a 17-play 80-yard drive that finished with a 22-yard rushing touchdown. Mid way through the final quarter, Furman put together a 7-play 41-yard drive capped off by a 46-yard field goal putting Furman up by 6, at 27-21. Furman would hold their lead and walk out with the W.
