GREENVILLE, S.C. -- After splitting a pair of road games, Furman returns home to open Southern Conference play this Saturday against Mercer. Kickoff for the Family Weekend, Pepsi sponsored contest at Paladin Stadium is set for 2:00 p.m.
Saturday's game will be live streamed via ESPN+ and 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. The broadcast can also be accessed via Audacy.com, as well as through FurmanPaladins.com.
Fans may 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 game will showcase exciting experiences for fans heading to Paladin Stadium, including 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 (2-1, 0-0 SoCon) has won its last two league openers, including a 35-7 decision over Western Carolina a year ago, and is 2-2 in league lid lifters under head coach
Clay Hendrix.
Mercer (1-1, 0-0 SoCon) was idle last week after falling to Alabama, 48-14, two weeks ago. The Bears opened the season with a 69-0 win over Point.
Furman is 4-3 versus Mercer since the Bears joined the SoCon in 2014 and 2-1 in clashes in Greenville, having captured a 45-10 verdict in 2019 in the last meeting in Paladin Stadium.
Mercer won last year's contest, 26-14, in Macon.
The Paladins hold a 10-7-2 advantage in the all-time series.
Mercer's Drew Cronic will be making his first appearance in Paladin Stadium as a head coach after serving as a Furman assistant coach over two tenures. The first ran from 2002-10, and the second was a one-year stint as offensive coordinator under Hendrix in 2017.
After taking it on the chin in a pair of clashes against FBS foes in their last outings, both Furman and Mercer will be anxious to test their mettle against FCS competition, which for the Paladins will be their third of the campaign that includes wins over North Carolina A&T (29-18) and Tennessee Tech (26-0).
What is known about Furman is the Paladins, despite losing senior tackle to
Matt Sochovka to a season ending knee injury in the season opener, own a quality defense fronted by end
Landon Lawrence, tackle
London Lewis, nose guard
Cameron Coleman, and bandit
Adrian Hope (24.5 career sacks), who collectively own 122 games of experience and 53 starts. Top backups include fifth-year senior interior lineman Parkert Stokes (44 g/87 tackles) and bandit
Elijah McKoy (38g/27gs/237 tackles).
The Paladins have received stellar play from junior cornerback
Travis Blackshear in the early going. The Savannah, Ga., product has totaled 14 tackles, a SoCon leading three interceptions, fumble recovery, forced fumble, and sack through three games.
In its two FCS games this year defensive coordinator
Duane Vaughn's troops have surrendered only 18 points, 94 rushing yards, 366 passing yards (43.1 completion percentage), and just 230.0 ypg in offense.
What is equally apparent is Furman's offense has shown flashes of improvement from its spring performance, but the Paladins are looking for more firepower starting this week.
Furman's running game, which is averaging just 128.0 ypg and 3.2 yards per rush, certainly has the horses to deliver, led by fifth-year senior tailback
Devin Wynn (186 yds., 2 TDs) and running backs
Devin Abrams and
Dominic Roberto. Wynn heads into Saturday's game ranked ninth on Furman's career rushing yards ledger (2,654 yds.) and 10th in touchdowns (27). A a pair of redshirt sophomore running backs,
Devin Abrams and
Dominic Roberto, are proven performers.
The Paladins' passing game, built behind junior quarterback
Hamp Sisson (50x88, 644 yds., 4 TDs, 2 INTs), sports three key targets, beginning with junior All-America tight end
Ryan Miller (9 rec., 197 yds., 2 TDs) and including impressive freshman wideout
Joshua Harris (9 rec., 126 yds., TD) and fifth-year senior wideout
Ryan DeLuca (6 rec., 71 yds.). Miller has registered eight touchdown catches in the last 10 games, and DeLuca is 33 yards shy of reaching 1,000 for his career, which includes 62 receptions.
Furman's kicking game has been a big plus, courtesy of
Timmy Bleekrode, who has converted 7-of-9 field goals, including a career best 51-yarder in the win over Tennessee Tech.
The Game: Furman Paladins (2-1, 0-0 SoCon) vs. Mercer Bears (1-1, 0-0 SoCon)
Game Sponsor: Pepsi
Date: Saturday, September 25, 2021
Site: Greenville, S.C. (Paladin Stadium, on the campus of Furman University)
Kickoff: 2:05 PM ET
Video Stream: ESPN+ (Brock Bowling, pbp), Ellis Tolbert (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
