GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman kicks off its 2019 season this Saturday when it plays host to Charleston Southern in a 1:00 p.m. ESPN+ live streamed contest at Paladin Stadium.
The game will mark the first meeting in football between the two schools and start to the 114th season in Furman football history.
Ranked 17th in the AFCA FCS Coaches Preseason Poll and 19th in the STATS Preseason Poll, Furman returns 17 starters off last year's squad that won its final four games en route to claiming a share of the program's 14th Southern Conference Championship.
Head coach
Clay Hendrix '86, entering his third season at the helm of the Paladin program, will look to a balanced offensive attack to lead the way. All five starters on the offensive front, headed up by All-SoCon tackles
Bo Layton and
Andy Godwin, are expected to pave the way for a talented Paladin backfield featuring junior tailback
Devin Wynn (722 yds., 6 TDs in '18). Senior wide receiver
Thomas Gordon enters the campaign with 111 receptions for 1,776 yards and six touchdowns in his career.
The veteran makeup of Furman's offense should be a plus for quarterback
Darren Grainger, a redshirt freshman who won the starting job with a strong preseason. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Conway, S.C., native appeared in four games a year ago and threw touchdown passes against both Clemson and Samford.
Furman's defense boasts several outstanding performers, including inside linebackers
Donavan Perryman and
Elijah McKoy. Perryman is a senior co-captain, and McKoy, a junior, is the Paladins' top returning tackler with 91 stops a year ago. Other notable returning defensive standouts include redshirt senior defensive end
Jonah Tibbs (24 career starts), redshirt senior cornerback
Quandarius Weems (61 career tackles), redshirt senior spur and co-captain
Jordan Willis (116 career tackles), and senior preseason All-SoCon safety
Bryan Okeh (25 career starts).
The Paladins also count All-America redshirt sophomore bandit
Adrian Hope, who registered a FCS leading 15.0 sacks in 2018. The Ocala, Fla., product was recently named to the "Watch List" for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented annually to the top defensive player in the FCS.
In addition, Furman claims one of the best multi-purpose specialists in the FCS in junior All-America placekicker/punter
Grayson Atkins. A year ago the Inman, S.C., product connected on 11-of-13 field goals, including his final 11 attempts, averaged 42.8 yards per punt, and deposited a SoCon leading 29 of 55 kickoff in the end zone for touchbacks. Among his 11 field goals in 2018 were four from 50+ yards.
Furman's season opener versus Charleston Southern will be followed by road clashes against FBS foes Georgia State (Sept. 7) and Virginia Tech (Sept. 14).
The Game: Furman Paladins (0-0) vs. Charleston Southern Buccaneers (0-0)
Site: Greenville, S.C. (Paladin Stadium, on the campus of Furman University)
Kickoff: 1:05 PM ET
Video Stream: ESPN+, Bob Mihalic (pbp), Sam Wyche (color)
Radio: Van Wagner/Furman Sports Network (Fox Sports 1440; SidearmSports @FurmanPaladins.com, TuneIn.com):
Dan Scott (pbp), David Cobb (analyst); Marcus McMorris (sideline)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast, accesible thru FurmanPaladins.com
Tickets: $20 Available (FurmanPaladins.com); Children 38 inches and shorter admitted free; Timmons Arena, East Stands
Box Offices Open: 11:00 AM
Gates Open: 11:30 AM
Pre-Game/Post-Game Activities:
11:30 AM -- Paladin Club Zone Opens*
-- Hospitality Zone Opens (End Zone)
-- Paladin Stadium Gates Open
11:40 AM -- Paladin Regiment March/Concert (Timmons Arena to PAC Circle)
12:04 PM -- Champions Walk (Paladin Stadium)
1:05 PM -- Furman vs. Charleston Southern (Paladin Stadium)
*Paladin Club Zone, located in the area between the home stands and field house, opens 90 minutes prior to kickoff. Food provided by Ingles. Phone Fan giveaway to first 150 members.
Halftime:
Furman University Paladin Regiment
In-Game Recognitions:
Quarter 1 Break -- Staff Member of the Year Recognition
Quarter 3 Break --
