GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Get your FCS Playoff Week started with notes on the Furman Paladins, who take on the Elon Phoenix this Saturday in a noon first round clash at Paladin Stadium.

FURMAN PALADIN POINTERS (11/20/2022)

Furman's at-large bid to the 2022 FCS (formerly I-AA) Playoffs is its 19th — tops among current Southern Conference schools — and third under head coach Clay Hendrix (2017, '19, '22).

Furman owns a 19-17 all-time FCS playoff record and has appeared in three national championship games (1985, '88, '01).  The Paladins won the 1988 national championship (13-2) — the first Southern Conference school and first private school to accomplish the feat.

One of Furman's 19 FCS playoff victories was recorded against Elon (28-27, Nov. 25, 2017, in first round action at Elon).

Furman owns a 5-1 FCS playoff record versus schools who currently compete in football in the CAA: d. Rhode Island (58-15, 1985), d. Delaware (21-7, 1988), d. William & Mary (24-10, 1989), l. Villanova (31-24, 2002), d. Richmond (24-20, 2005), d. Elon (28-27, 2018).

Furman holds a 12-8 lead in its series with Elon, a former member of the Southern Conference.  The Paladins are 8-5 versus the Phoenix in Greenville and own a 4-3 slate in games played at Elon.  The Phoenix won the last meeting, posting a 45-7 verdict at Elon early in the 2018 season.

Head coach Clay Hendrix has been part of 30 of Furman's 36 FCS playoff games over the years (1982-85; 1988-06; 2017-present) as a player, assistant coach, or head coach.  The Paladins are 17-13 in playoff matchups with him wearing the purple and white.

Furman is 11-7 in FCS playoff games in Paladin Stadium.  Saturday's clash with Elon will mark the Paladins' first home playoff contest since 2005 (14-12 first round win over Nicholls State), halting a streak of seven straight road playoff games.

Furman's nine wins this season is its most since 2005 when the Paladins went 11-3 and advanced to the FCS (then I-AA) playoff semifinals with a coaching staff that included Hendrix.

Furman's seven SoCon wins this year is its most since 2001, when the Paladins went 7-1 in league play en route to a 12-3 overall campaign and FCS national runner-up finish.

Furman defeated a SoCon-best three ranked teams in 2022: vs. ETSU (18th/27-14); vs. Chattanooga (6th/24-20); vs. Mercer (11th/23-13).

Furman is now 5-2 versus its last seven FCS ranked opponents (2021-present).

Furman's 63-28 win over Wofford was the Paladins' sixth consecutive victory — the program's longest since 2017, when Furman won seven straight in head coach Clay Hendrix's first season at the helm.

The 63 points Furman registered against Wofford (all in the first three quarters before reserves played the entire fourth period) represented the program's highest scoring tally against a Division I foe in the Clay Hendrix era (2017-present) and most since 2003 (63-21 road win over Chattanooga).

The Paladins' 63 points also marked the second highest tally in its 96-game series with Wofford, topped only by the 69-0 win in 1920.

Furman scored touchdowns on its first six possessions and on eight of its first nine possessions (spanning three quarters) against Wofford.

Furman surrendered only 37 rushing yards to Wofford on 24 attempts (1.5 ypc), extending its stellar work this year in defending the run.  Two weeks ago in a 23-13 triumph over Mercer thee Paladins checked the Bears' ground game, limiting it to just 53 yards on 29 carries after Mercer entered the game averaging 203.9 ypg.  Over the last four games (4-0) Furman has only yielded 219 yards rushing on 119 attempts (1.84 ypc).  The Paladins rank 15th in the FCS in rushing defense (110.5 ypg).

Furman graduate transfer quarterback Tyler Huff completed 21-of-22 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing eight times for 40 yards and two scores versus Wofford.  Huff connected on his first 16 passes of the game before he threw an interception on his final pass attempt of the first half.  Counting a completion on his final attempt the week before versus Mercer, the consecutive completions streak was 17 before it was halted. Huff had a streak of 19 consecutive completions (one shy of Furman's record) earlier this year — a stretch that included seven straight versus North Greenville and his first 12 attempts against Clemson.

Tyler Huff's 70.2 completion percentage (167x238) ranks fifth in the FCS.

Over Furman's last five games (5-0) Tyler Huff has completed 82-of-115 passes (71.3 completion percentage) for 1056 yards and eight touchdowns, while rushing 51 times for 312 yards (6.1 ypc) and four TDs.

In Furman's last three games (wins over Chattanooga, Mercer, and Wofford) Tyler Huff has accounted for 79.4 percent of Furman's offense, passing for 795 yards and rushing for 251 yards (1,046 of 1,317 total yards, 6 TDRs) in the three victories.

Furman is 11-2 in its last 13 games. One of its two losses was a 35-12 setback at then FBS 5th-ranked Clemson (Sept. 10), which the Paladins outgained in total offense, 384-376.  The other was a 34-27 home defeat suffered to Samford (Oct. 1) in a game did not feature Paladin starting quarterback Tyler Huff (injured).  

Furman led Samford, 10-0, early in the second quarter when an official's call nullified a Furman interception at the Samford 28 and led to two reviews (the second reversing the first, which reversed the original call) and a 15-minute halt to game action.  The Bulldogs were ultimately awarded the football based on the initial ruling of a reception and forward progress and proceeded to quickly erase Furman's lead en route to the win.  Two days later the SoCon issued the following statement: "After a review of a play in question during the Samford-Furman football game on Oct. 1, the Southern Conference's coordinator of officials believes there were significant errors in the officials' approach and final ruling. The conference has enacted disciplinary measures for the officials...no further comment".

Furman's 63-28 win over Wofford improved the Paladins to 9-1 in their last 10 SoCon games.

Furman has registered five consecutive road victories — the program's longest such streak since the 1989 (4 wins) and 1990 seasons (1 win).

Furman recorded two blocked field goals versus Wofford to run its season total of blocked kicks to nine (6 FGs, 2 PATs, 1 Punt) — tops in the FCS.  Defensive end Jack Barton blocked the first kick, a 38-yard second quarter attempt, and Cameron Coleman stepped in front of the second attempt, from 41 yards in the third quarter, deflecting the ball that was scooped up and returned by cornerback Travis Blackshear 65 yards for a touchdown.

Jack Barton leads the FCS in blocked kicks with four (FGs).  Paladin defensive end Matt Sochovka is tied for second with three blocks (2 PATs, FG).

Travis Blackshear's 65-yard blocked field goal return for a touchdown versus Wofford was the first such documented play in Furman football history.

Furman leads the SoCon and ranks 10th in the FCS in third down percentage defense (32.7, 53x162) after surrendering a 47.7 percent clip on third downs in 2021.

Furman tops the SoCon and ranks 11th in the FCS in scoring defense (19.6 ppg).  

Furman has recorded seven fourth quarter shutouts in 2022.  Wofford, which trailed Furman 63-21 after three quarters, managed a lone fourth quarter touchdown versus Paladin reserves.

Furman surrendered only 13 points and 316 total yards to Mercer (23-13 win), which entered the game averaging a SoCon leading 40.3 ppg, as well as 463.0 ypg.

Furman ranks fourth in the FCS in turnovers gained (24) and is eighth nationally in interceptions (16).

Furman has 48 pass breakups (4.4/game) this season — its most since 2005 when the Paladins tallied 50 over 14 games (3.6/game).

Redshirt junior strong safety Kam Brinson is tied for the FCS lead in fumbles recovered (3).

Seven Furman receivers combined for 23 receptions for 292 yards, including 231 yards after catch (YAC), in the 63-28 victory over Wofford.

Two-time Furman All-America tight end Ryan Miller caught four passes for 31 yards and two touchdowns against Wofford to become Furman's career touchdowns receptions leader (27), surpassing Chas Fox (26, 1982-85).

Ryan Miller, a member of the Payton Award Watch List, ranks eighth in the FCS in touchdown receptions (11).

Ryan Miller has 14 touchdown catches in his last 14 games.

Ryan Miller now ranks fifth all-time in Furman history in receptions (140) and sixth in receiving yards (2,036).

Sophomore wide receiver Joshua Harris followed up his impressive performance (5 rec., career-best 146 yds., 56-yard TD) in Furman's 23-13 win over Mercer (Nov. 12) by catching a career-high eight passes for 112 yards and a TD in the 63-28 romp over Wofford.  That's 13 catches for 258 yards and two TDs in the last two games.

Redshirt junior running back Dominic Roberto ran 16 times for 90 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Wofford to give him 963 yards on the season and move him up to 15th on Furman's rushing ledger (1,957 yards).  He exited the game in the third quarter, along the rest of the starting offense, after the Paladins took a 56-21 lead.

Should Dominic Roberto reach 1,000 rushing yards, he will be the 17th Paladin to do so and first since Devin Wynn ran for 1,182 yards in 13 games in 2019.

Over his last 14 games Dominic Roberto has rushed for 1,475 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 6.6 ypc and 105.3 ypg over that span.

Redshirt junior free safety Hugh Ryan has been named SoCon Defensive Player of the Week twice this year (vs. ETSU & Chattanooga), as well as the league's defensive player of the month for October.  His season includes a streak of three consecutive games (3-0) with an interception (vs. Western Carolina, VMI, and Chattanooga).  He has eight career interceptions.

True freshman safety Caleb Williams recorded the first interception of his collegiate career in the victory over Wofford.

Redshirt sophomore Ian Williams converted all three field goal attempts (44, 36, 36) in the 23-20 win over Mercer (Nov. 12) and has now made 9-of-11 field goals this fall, including 5-of-5 from 40-49 yards.

Redshirt junior Wayne Anderson, Jr., ranked eighth in the FCS in kickoff returns (27.1 avg.). His season includes a 97-yard kickoff return in a 47-40 win over Western Carolina.

Furman's veteran offensive line has combined to register 126 starts in their careers: OT Anderson Tomlin (27), OG Jacob Johanning (28), C Evan Jumper (36), OG Wyatt Hughes (15), and OT Pearson Toomey (20).