GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Devin Wynn scored on a one-yard plunge with 14:47 remaining to give FCS No. 15 Furman the lead and the Paladins' defense forced a pair of fourth quarter turnovers to edge ETSU, 17-10, in Southern Conference football action Saturday afternoon at Paladin Stadium.
 
The victory, Furman's seventh straight against FCS foes and sixth in a row in SoCon play, improved the Paladins to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the SoCon while ETSU dipped to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in league play.

Wynn's game winning score on the first play of the fourth quarter was set up by a Darren Grainger 40-yard pass play to Ryan DeLuca to the ETSU 11.

On the ensuing possession Furman's defense forced its first of two fourth quarter turnovers when freshman cornerback Cally Chizik dislodged the football from the Bucs' Jacob Saylors, and it was recovered by Parker Stokes at the ETSU 37.  The Paladins couldn't capitalize, however, as ETSU's Artevius Smith intercepted a Granger pass at the Bucs' 5-yard line to halt the threat.

Furman All-American specialist Grayson Atkins helped keep ETSU in check in the fourth quarter with a 42-yard punt to the Buc 13.  ETSU managed to move to their own 39, but on a third-and-five play quarterback Trey Mitchell's pass down the right hash mark was picked off at the Furman 36 by DiMarcus Clay, who returned it to the Paladin 49 with 3:06 remaining.

The Paladins, who entered the game as the SoCon leader in third down conversion percentage (49.0%) but were only 1-of-7 on third down plays prior to their final possession, converted a pair of third down opportunities with a Grainger 13-yard pass to Avery Armstrong and 4-yard run by Grainger to run out the clock.

Furman took a 10-0 first half lead on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Grainger to DeLuca and Atkins' 28-yard field goal, which eclipsed the record he previously shared with ETSU's JJ Jerman.

The Buccaneers capitalized on a fumble recovery by Jason  Maduafokwa at the Furman 40 to get on the scoreboard.  Spurred by a 26-yard run by Quay Holmes to the Furman 6, Cameron Holmes bounced outside for six yards on the next play and into the end zone to help cut Paladin lead to 10-7.

ETSU tied it up midway thru the third quarter with a Tyler Keltner 34-yarrd field goal.

A week after limiting Mercer to 283 total yards in a 45-10 triumph, Furman surrendered 290 yards to ETSU.  The Paladins, meanwhile, managed just 268 yards after entering the game averaging 469.5 yards per outing.

DeLuca accounted for three receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown, and his 40-yard fourth quarter connection set up the Paladins' game winning score.

Paladin cornerback Amir Trapp and linebacker Braden Gilby shared game high tackle honors with 11 stops apiece, and Jordan Willis finished with 10.

Furman plays at Samford next Saturday.