GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Skyler Wilson's 42-yard fourth quarter field goal gave FCS 12th-ranked Chattanooga the lead, and the Mocs' defense made it stand up in beating FCS 11th-ranked Furman, 20-18, in Southern Conference football action Saturday afternoon at Paladin Stadium.

The win improves Chattanooga to 3-1 on the season and 3-0 in SoCon play while the loss drops Furman to a 3-2 overall and 3-2 in league action.

Wilson's game deciding kick came after Furman quarterback Hamp Sisson gave the Paladins an 18-17 lead on a swing pass that freshman tailback Kendall Thomas converted into an 11-yard touchdown two plays into the fourth quarter. The Paladins, who earlier in the contest had an extra point blocked, failed on the ensuing two-point conversion attempt, keeping it a one-point advantage.

Furman had a chance to take control on the ensuing possession when safety Hugh Ryan picked off a pass by Chattanooga quarterback Drayton Arnold at the UTC 38, but three plays failed to net a yard, and the Paladins' couldn't down a Timmy Bleekrode pooch punt inside the UTC 1-yard line.  From their 20-yard line, Chattanooga covered 55 yards to the Furman 25, where Wilson nailed his second field goal of the game, from 42 yards out, to give UTC the 20-18 lead.

The Paladins' final two possessions ended with turnovers — the first a Jerrell Lawson interception at the UTC 23, and the second on a sack and caused fumble by Devonnsha Maxwell that was recovered by teammate Ben Brewton at the Furman 45 with 48 seconds remaining.

Chattanooga dominated statistically, posting a 390-170 advantage in total offense in a contest that featured seven turnovers.

The Mocs took a 10-0 first quarter lead on a Wilson 22-yard field goal and 1-yard Tyrell Price touchdown plunge, but Furman answered with a pair of Bleekrode second quarter field goals to cut the lead to 10-6 at intermission.

Furman opened the second half with its only sustained offensive possession of the game, covering 77 yards in 11 plays for a Sisson 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jake Walker that gave the Paladins a 12-10 lead.

Chattanooga responded on the ensuing possession, aided by a 50-yard pass from Arnold to Reignald Henderson on a 3rd-and-16 play from its own 19, to take the lead, which it did after three consecutive carries by Gino Appleberry, who finished off the touchdown drive with a 3-yard run for a 17-12 lead.

Pressed into service after Mocs' punter Gabe Boring was scratched prior to the game, Wilson inadvertantly downed a low snap at the UTC 11, which Furman converted into Sisson's strike to Thomas that gave the Paladins the 18-17 lead, their last of the contest.

Price led Chattanooga's 172-yard rushing attack with 111 yards on 20 carries and a score.

Arnold and UTC backup quarterback Cole Copeland combined to throw for 218 yard but connected on just 11-of-29 passes and were picked off three times.

Sisson passed for 121 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted twice and suffered two sacks.

Furman totaled only 49 yards rushing on 34 carries.