GREENVILLE, S.C. -- As the calendar flips to November so does the intensity of Southern Conference action for Furman, which begins the third leg of its 12-game regular season schedule this Saturday with a 2:00 p.m. ESPN+ clash at Chattanooga.

The game will also presented over the VanWagner/Furman Sports Network via Fox Sports 1440, in addition to being audio streamed via FurmanPaladins.com and TuneIn.com.

Furman (5-3, 4-1 SoCon), the consensus 13th-ranked team in this week's FCS Coaches and STATS polls and winners of four of its last five games, heads into the weekend tied for first place in the SoCon with Wofford.  Lurking a half game back is Chattanooga (4-4, 3-1 SoCon), which fell 35-34 in overtime to Wofford on Saturday after the Mocs dropped what would have been a game winning two-point conversion pass on the contest's final play.

The Paladins have claimed the last two meetings with the Mocs, taking a 16-10 decision a year ago in Greenville and 41-17 verdict in their last venture into Finley Stadium in 2017.

To stay atop the league standings and strengthen its playoff chances, Furman will need its offense to produce behind redshirt freshman quarterback Darren Grainger, who has thrown for 1,114 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.  Grainger passed for only 96 yards in the victory over Western Carolina, but his 36-yard, touchdown connection with Thomas Gordon spurred the Paladins to a decisive third quarter en route to the win.  The Conway, S.C., product also ran for 52 yards in the rain-soaked Paladin triumph.

Furman relies heavily on its ground attack, which averages 282.0 yards per game, good for sixth in the FCS.  Junior Devin Wynn is the leader, having totaled 807 yards and eight touchdowns this fall while averaging an impressive 7.5 yards per carry, the fifth best average in the country.  The Greensboro, Ga., native has averaged 101.5 ypg over the last 13 games, highlighted by a career-best 217-yard, two touchdown performance in a 58-14 thrashing of Samford on Oct. 5.

Gordon is the leader in Furman's receiving corps with 29 catches for 503 yards and five touchdowns.  He currently stands fourth in program history in receptions (140) and receiving yards (2, 279).

The SoCon in scoring defense (19.1 ppg), Furman recorded its third second half shutout of the season against Western Carolina.  Notching a fourth will be a challenge due to the potent Chattanooga trio of quarterback Nick Tiano (1,384 passing yards, 7 TDs), wide receiver Bryce Nunnally (34 rec., 477 yds., 4 TDs), and freshman running back workhorse Allym Ford (893 yards, 9 TDs), who averages almost 23 carries per game.

The Paladins' blue collar defense is paced by senior spur Jordan Willis (58 tackles), who is coming off a solid seven-tackle effort against Western Carolina, and redshirt freshman Braden Gilby (55 takles).

Furman re-ignited its pass rush with three takedowns versus WCU, giving the Paladins 15 on the season.  Redshirt junior defensive end Dru Seabrook accounted for one sack to run his team leading tally to five, and Adrian Hope registered his first full sack since the Paladins' season opening, 46-13 win over Charleston Southern.  The Ocala, Fla., redshirt sophomore's 17.5 career sacks ranks fifth in program history.

Should the game come down to special teams play the Paladins' confidence will be high due to the presence of junior All-American placekicker Grayson Atkins, the SoCon's top all-purpose specialist.  Last week Atkins saw his school record string of 18 consecutive made field goals come to an end but not before he tied Furman's longest field goal standard with a 55-yard effort.  The Inman, S.C., product has converted 28 of 35 career attempts, including 14 from 40+ yards, and ranks second in the SoCon in punting (42.4 avg.) while also topping the league in with 30 touchbacks on 46 kickoffs.