Furman Game Notes (PDF)

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Off to its first 2-0 start since 2014, FCS 25th-ranked Furman will attempt to extend its success this Saturday when it ventures to Raleigh, N.C., to take on North Carolina State in a 7:30 p.m. contest at Carter Finley Stadium.

The game, which will mark the Paladins' first clash with a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent since 2019, will be televised by several regional sports networks, as well as by ESPN3. 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, and through Sirius/XM channels 111/193.

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

Furman and N.C. State last met in 2017 in Clay Hendrix's inaugural season in charge of Paladin program.  The Wolfpack won that encounter, 49-16, in the first clash between the two programs since 1985, when Furman took out N.C. State, 42-20, following a 34-30 triumph over the Wolfpack the year before.  The architect of both the 1984 and '85 Furman victories was Dick Sheridan, who N.C. State lured away to take over its program the following year.  

Sheridan enjoyed tremendous success at both Furman, where he directed the Paladins to six Southern Conference championships and a 69-23-2 record over eight seasons (1978-85), capped by a 12-2 mark and national runnerup finish in 1985.  He went on fashion an impressive tenure at N.C. State, registering a 52-29-3 mark in seven campaigns, including nine-win seasons in his final two years.  Honored as national coach of the year at both Furman (1985) and N.C. State (1986), he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2020 and will be enshrined later this year.

Hendrix, a starting offensive guard for the Paladins in the 1984 & '85 wins over the Wolfpack, began his coaching career at N.C. State, serving as a graduate assistant under Sheridan during the 1986 & '87 seasons.

Furman will take the field Saturday with what appears to be a solid defense. The Paladins were never threatened in shutting out Tennessee Tech 26-0 on Saturday, limiting the Golden Eagles to only six first downs for the game and just 18 total yards on 21 plays in the second half.

Thanks in part to veteran and deep defensive front, which has covered the loss of senior tackle Matt Sochovka to a season ending knee injury sustained in the 29-18 win over North Carolina A&T on Sept. 4, Furman has the makings of being tough against the run, evidenced by the 94 rushing yards allowed through two games.

The early returns on Furman's pass defense have also been favorable as opponents have completed just 25-of-58 passes (43.1 percent) against the Paladins, who have picked off four aerials in two games.  Junior cornerback Travis Blackshear has accounted for three of the unit's four interceptions, including a pair in the win over Tennessee Tech.

A result of Furman's defensive efficiency thus far has been the scarcity of tackles, evidenced by junior safety Hugh Ryan's  unit leading 13 stops — the only Paladin with double figure tackles. In manhandling Tennessee Tech, Furman's defense faced only 30 plays that offered tackle opportunities.

While the abilities of defensive coordinator Duane Vaughn's troops were known coming into the 2021 campaign, questions surrounded the Paladin offense, which struggled in the second half of the spring season.  Hope for a rebound has surfaced as Furman has displayed an improved passing game via the trifecta of quarterback Hamp Sisson, All-America tight end Ryan Miller, and freshman wide receiver Joshua Harris.  Sisson opened the season by throwing for 362 yards and three touchdowns in the 29-18 win over North Carolina A&T, including an 87-yard touchdown connection to Miller, who has seven scoring grabs in the last nine games.  Harris has given the wide receiving corps a big boost, stepping into a starting role and combining for a team leading eight catches for 113 yards a 41-yard touchdown catch.

The Paladin ground attack has shown some life behind fifth-year senior tailback Devin Wynn, who has run for 176 yards and two touchdowns, including a 42-yard, first quarter burst that opened the scoring against Tennessee Tech.  The Greensboro, Ga., product heads into the N.C. State with 2,627 rushing yards, which ranks ninth in Furman history.

While any coach prefers touchdowns to field goals, Hendrix at least has the confidence that scoring opportunities have the high probability of yielding points based on the work of redshirt sophomore Timmy Bleekrode, who accounted for 14 of the Paladins' 26 points versus Tennessee Tech by going 4-for-4 on field goals and converting both PATs.  His final field goal covered a career long 51 yards and helped net him SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week and Student-Athlete of the Week honors.

N.C. State opened its season in dominating fashion, pasting South Florida, 45-0, but dropped a 24-10 road verdict to Mississippi State last Saturday.