GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Fall football is set to make a comeback this Saturday when the Furman Paladins open the 2021 season by playing host to the FCS nationally ranked North Carolina A&T Aggies.

Kickoff for the BMW North America sponsored contest is set for 2:00 p.m. at Paladin Stadium, one of the nation's most beautiful football venues on a world renown scenic campus.

Saturday's contest, which will mark start of the 116th gridiron season for Furman and represent the first football meeting between the Paladins and Aggies, will be televised over the Nexstar Network (WYCW Spartanburg, S.C.) and live streamed via ESPN+.  In addition it will be aired over flagship ESPN Upstate and its four powerhouse stations: 97.7 FM/1330 AM in Greenville, and 97.1 FM/950 AM in Spartanburg.  Broadcasts can also be accessed via Audacy.com, as well as through FurmanPaladins.com.

Fans can also follow the action through StatBroadcast live stats, accessible via FurmanPaladins.com and get timely updates on twitter @PaladinFootball.

For a complete guide to Furman Football Game Day information, fans are encouraged to click HERE.

Saturday's season opener will showcase new experiences for fans heading to Paladin Stadium, including the debut of the Furman Fan Zone, the Wicked Weed Endzone Experience, and beer & wine sales from the concession stands. 
 
The Furman Fan Zone, located adjacent to the Paladin Statue in front of the stadium, will be open to all fans before the game and include live music on the Ingles Concert Stage, food trucks, inflatables, tailgate games, tailgate opportunities, and beer & wine sales. It will be an energetic and fun pre-game atmosphere that fans can enjoy for free. The area opens at 11:00 a.m. and closes 30 minutes before the start of the game. 
 
The Wicked Weed Endzone Experience is slated to open 30 minutes prior to kickoff and is available to all fans free of charge.  It is accessible from both the west and east stands and will feature food sales, as well as the outdoor brewery experience, while offering fans an up-close view of on-field action.

Furman hopes the start of 2021 fall campaign mimics the beginning of the spring season when the Paladins knocked off Western Carolina, 35-7, at Paladin Stadium.  Head coach Clay Hendrix's troops proceeded to go 3-1 thru its first four games before faltering and losing their final three outings.

To get back on track the Paladins will look to kick start an offense that sputtered over the last half of the spring season.  To aid that goal Furman can rely on a talented and deep backfield headlined by fifth-year tailback Devin Wynn.  The Greensboro, Ga., product and two-time All-Southern Conference performer enters the season ranked ninth in Furman history in rushing (2,468 yds.) and 10th in rushing touchdowns (25).

Any potential offensive success will depend heavily on the play of junior quarterback Hamp Sisson, who fashioned moments of solid play in his first season as a starter a year ago, passing for 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns (9 INTs).

Sisson has a veteran cast of receivers at his disposal, headlined by junior All-America tight end Ryan Miller, who nabbed 15 aerials for 254 yards and a conference leading six touchdowns in the spring.  First-year senior Ryan DeLuca, who counts 56 receptions for 896 yards and nine touchdowns in his career, headlines the wide receiving corp.

Furman's offensive line must replace two starters from a year ago, but the task will be aided by the return of junior All-SoCon tackle Anderson Tomlin and sophomore guard Jacob Johanning, who landed SoCon All-Freshman Team honors in the spring.

The Paladin defense was salty enough a year ago to make Furman a title contender, and it could be yet again with the return of 10 regulars.

Up front Furman boasts experience and depth at all three spots, led by fifth-year defensive end Landon Lawrence, senior tackle Matt Sochovka, and junior nose guard Cameron Coleman, an all-conference pick last season.

Furman's inside linebacking corps is headed up by junior Braden Gilby, who counts 17 career starts and 110 tackles, and redshirt sophomore Nicky Kuzemka, the Paladins' leading tackler last year with 49 stops.

The bandit position sports redshirt senior Adrian Hope, who heads into the fall ranked third on Furman's career sacks list (23.5), and fifth-year senior Elijah McKoy, owner of 27 starts and 236 tackles in his career despite missing all of last season due to injury.

At cornerback look for preseason all-league pick Travis Blackshear to lead the way, and at the two safety positions, DiMarcus Clay, who has registered playing time in 42 games as a Paladin, and Hugh Ryan are back.

A preseason No. 24 and No. 25 pick in national polls conducted by the AFCA and Stats Perform, North Carolina A&T opted out of the 2020 season due to the pandemic, so getting back onto the field for the first time in almost two years will be an much anticipated moment for head coach Sam Washington's squad.  

Speaking of excitement, the Aggies are new members of the Big South Conference, having switched following a long tenure in the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) following the 2019-20 school year.  North Carolina A&T departed the MEAC with a bang, claiming the league championship in 2018 and representing the conference in the 2019 Celebration Bowl, where it outscored Alcorn State, 66-44.

The Aggies sport a lot of firepower, led by All-America running back Jah-Maine Martin, who ran over, through, and around the opposition in 2019 to the tune of 1,446 yards and 23 touchdowns.  The Conway, S.C., product started his collegiate career at Coastal Carolina in 2016 before transferring to North Carolina A&T.

The Game: Furman Paladins (0-0) vs. North Carolina A&T Aggies (0-0)
Game Sponsor: BMW North America
Date: Saturday, September 4, 2021
Site: Greenville, S.C. (Paladin Stadium, on the campus of Furman University)
Kickoff: 2:05 PM ET
TV/Video Stream: Nexstar Network, ESPN+ (Pete Yanity, pbp), Jared Singleton (analyst)
Radio: Van Wagner/Furman Sports Network (ESPN Upstate: 97.7 FM/1330 AM, Greenville; 97.1 FM/950 AM, Spartanburg); Audacy.com; FurmanPaladins.com: Dan Scott (pbp), David Cobb (analyst); Marcus McMorris (sideline); Tom Van Hoy (spotter/pre-game & halftime host)
Tickets: Tickets can be purchased at the Timmons Arena Box Office, located in the lobby of Timmons Arena, and at the East Stands Box Office of Paladin Stadium beginning at Noon.  All single game credit card transactions are charged a 2.5 percent convenience fee online, over the phone, or at the box office. All ticket sales are final. No exchanges, no refunds. 

Furman GameDay Schedule Of Events
10:00 AM — Parking Lots Open
11:00 AM — Furman Fan Zone Opens (Live Music Begins at Noon)
Noon — Box Offices Open
12:30 PM — Furman Band & Spirit Perform (Ingles Concert Stage)
12:30 PM — Paladin Stadium Gates Open, Champions Walk Begins
1:30 PM — Furman Fan Zone Closes & Wicked Weed Endzone Experience Opens
2:05 PM — Kickoff

Halftime — Performances by North Carolina A&T Band and Furman University Regiment