GREENVILLE, S.C. -- "Knowledge Is Good," imparted mythical college president Emil Faber, so knowledge of the Furman Paladins' football team is important, right?  

A 31-6 FCS first round playoff winner over Elon on Saturday, Furman (10-2) advances to the round of 16 to face Incarnate Word this Saturday at Benson Stadium in San Antonio, Texas.  Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. CT (2:00 p.m ET).

Incarnate Word (10-1), the tournament's No. 7 seed, drew a first round bye on Saturday.

19TH FCS PLAYOFF APPEARANCE

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

FIRST SOCON, PRIVATE SCHOOL NATIONAL CHAMPION

Counting Saturday's 31-6 win over Elon, Furman owns a 20-17 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.

LONE SOUTHLAND FOE

Furman has faced one Southland Conference member school in the FCS Playoffs, that being Nicholls, which the Paladins beat, 14-12, in 2005 in first round action in Greenville.

FIRST TIME IN TEXAS

Furman, whose football history began in 1889 and includes 1,168 games spanning 117 seasons, has never played a football game in the state of Texas.

LONE STAR STATE PALADINS

Furman counts 10 Texans on its 2022 roster: Emmanuel Adebayo (Lewisville), Wayne Anderson, Jr. (Prosper), Ben Croasdale (Dallas), Ben Ferguson (The Woodlands), Myion Hicks (Desoto), Ryan Lamb (Plano), Dominic Morris (Spring), Grant Robinson (Plano), Kendall Thomas (Round Rock), and Truette Tumey (Houston).

OUR GREATEST TEXAN

The greatest Texan to play football at Furman is Bob King, from Ranger, who in 1936 became the first player in program history to be named All-Southern Conference, as an end. King later served as Furman's head coach from 1958-72. He is a member of the Furman Athletic Hall of Fame.

FEWEST POINTS ALLOWED IN PLAYOFFS

The six points surrendered (two 51-yard field goals) to Elon in the 31-6 first round playoff victory were the fewest points allowed by Furman in its now 37-game playoff history.

TWO IN THE WIN COLUMN

Two of Furman's 20 FCS playoff victories have come against Elon: 28-27, Nov. 25, 2017/1st Round at Elon; 31-6, Nov. 26, 2022/1st Round in Greenville.

ANOTHER WIN VS. THE CAA

Furman's 31-6 win over Elon in FCS first round playoff action improved the Paladins' FCS playoff record to 6-1 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), d. Elon (31-6, 2022).

BEEN THERE

Head coach Clay Hendrix has been part of 34 of Furman's 37 FCS playoff games — as a player (1982-85), assistant coach (1988-06), and head coach (2017-present).  The Paladins are 19-15 in playoff matchups with him wearing the purple and white.

MOST WINS SINCE 2005

Furman's 10 wins this season is its most since 2005 when the Paladins went 11-3 and advanced to the FCS playoff semifinals with a coaching staff that included Hendrix.  The 10-win season is also the ninth double digit win campaign in Furman history (1927, '83, '85, '88, '89, '01, '04, ''05, '22).

MOST SOCON SUCCESS SINCE 2001

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.

SEVEN STRAIGHT

Furman's 31-6 win over Elon marked the Paladins' seventh consecutive victory — the program's longest since 2017, when Furman won seven straight in head coach Clay Hendrix's first season at the helm.

1989

The last time Furman won eight consecutive games was 1989, when it reeled off a school record 12 straight wins in a 12-2 season.

FIVE IN A ROW & LOOKING FOR HISTORY

Furman currently boasts a five-game road winning streak, which ties the school standard last registered over two seasons: 1989 (4 wins) and 1990 seasons (1 win).  Furman has never won six consecutive road games.

PRETTY GOOD STRETCH

Furman is 12-2 in its last 14 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 that did not feature Paladin starting quarterback Tyler Huff (injured).

MOST WINS OVER RANKED TEAMS

Furman has defeated a SoCon-best four ranked teams in 2022 — No. 18 ETSU (27-14), No. 6 Chattanooga (24-20),  No. 11 Mercer (23-13), and No. 12 Elon (31-6) — its highest tally since posting five such victories (5-1) in 2005.

NOTABLE

Furman is 6-2 versus its last eight FCS ranked opponents (2021-present).

TOUGH VERSUS THE RUN

Furman surrendered only 77 rushing yards to Elon on 28 attempts (2.8 ypc), extending its stellar work this year against the run.  The Phoenix entered the game averaging 159.2 ypc rushing.  Over the last five games (5-0) the Paladins have only yielded 296 yards rushing on 147 attempts (2.0 ypc). 

Furman ranks 11th in the FCS in rushing defense (107.7 ypg).

Furman limited Elon running back Jalen Hampton (1,023 rushing yds. in 10 regular season games) to just 30 yards on 10 carries (3.0 ypc).

CLAMPING DOWN

Elon entered Saturday's game averaging 27.5 points and 390.7 yards per game but could muster just six points and 315 total yards versus Furman.

Furman tops the SoCon and ranks sixth in the FCS in scoring defense (18.5 ppg). The Paladins have yielded only 70 points (14.0 ppg) over the last five contests.

Furman's current 18.5 ppg scoring defense is its best since 2004, when the Paladins surrendered a 16.6 ppg clip over a 13-game season.

RED ZONE SUCCESS

Furman leads the SoCon in both red zone offense (88.2%, 45x51) and red zone defense (74.3%, 26x35), ranking 15th and 22nd in the FCS in both categories, respectively.

IMPRESSIVE BALANCE

Furman boasts one of FCS's most balanced offenses, averaging 217.2 ygp rushing and 212.3 ypg passing.

OWNING THE FOURTH QUARTER

Furman has recorded seven fourth quarter shutouts and surrendered only 40 total points in 12 fourth periods in 2022.   Elon's lone fourth quarter score came on a 51-yard field goal.  Only one foe, Western Carolina, managed to register multiple fourth quarter scores (20) against the Paladins this fall, and that came after Furman built a 44-20 lead over the Catamounts after three quarters.

BIG TIME IMPROVEMENT

Furman limited Elon to just 5-of-17 third down conversions (29.4%), which lowered the Paladins' SoCon leading and FCS 10th best third down percentage defense clip to 32.4% (58x179).  A year ago the Paladins yielded a 47.7% success rate to the opposition on third down.

YOU'RE GIVING, WE'RE TAKING

Furman's two fumble recoveries against Elon give it 26 turnovers gained this season, which ranks second in the FCS.  The Paladins rank third in the FCS in interceptions with 16.

FCS LEADER

Redshirt junior strong safety Kam Brinson leads the FCS lead in fumbles recovered (4), with his latest recovery coming versus Elon.  His four recoveries tie him with five former Paladins for second most in a season.  The record is five, set by Jeff Snipes in 1979.

MAKING THE PLAY

Furman registered six pass breakups against Elon to up its total to 54 (4.5/game), topping the previous season standard of 50 tallied over 14 games (3.6/game) in 2005.

SACK 'EM UP

Furman's 29 sacks this season are a combination work of 13 players, paced by redshirt senior All-SoCon linebacker Braden Gilby and sophomore defensive tackle Xavier Stephens (4.5 sacks apiece).  Stephens, who joined the Furman program in January after playing for Lehigh as a true freshman in 2021, had 2.5 of Furman's four sacks against Elon.

ALMOST UNREAL

Furman leads the FCS with 10 blocked kicks (6 FGs, 2 PATs, 2 Punts).  Free safety Jack Rhodes became the latest Paladin to contribute to the tally when he deflected an Elon first quarter punt.

Furman has recorded a blocked kick in six consecutive games.

When Elon placekicker Skylar Davis booted a 51-yard first quarter field goal, it halted Furman's run of consecutive blocked field goal attempts at four, spanning three games: vs. Chattanooga (FG), Mercer (FG), and Wofford (2 FGs).

BARTON LEADING THE BLOCK PARTY

Furman defensive end Jack Barton leads the FCS in blocked kicks with four (3 FGs, PAT), and defensive tackle Matt Sochovka is tied for second with three blocks (2 PATs, FG). 

FIRST IN FURMAN FOOTBALL HISTORY

Nose guard Cameron Coleman's block of a 41-yard Wofford field goal attempt was scooped up and returned by cornerback Travis Blackshear 65 yards for a touchdown — the first return of a blocked field goal for a score in program history.

VETERAN OFFENSIVE LINE

Furman's veteran offensive line has combined to register 131 starts in their careers: OT Anderson Tomlin (28), OG Jacob Johanning (29), C Evan Jumper (37), OG Wyatt Hughes (16), and OT Pearson Toomey (21).

THREE FIRST TEAM SELECTIONS RARE

Furman offensive linemen Anderson Tomlin, Jacob Johanning, and Pearson Toomey collected All-SoCon first team honors for the 2022 season — a first for the Paladins since  2005.

EFFECTIVE RUNNING

Furman graduate transfer quarterback Tyler Huff accounted for 233 yards and two touchdowns in the 31-6 win over Elon, passing for 140 yards (16x26) and a 30-yard scoring strike, while rushing for 93 yards and a nine-yard scoring run.  The 93-yard rushing performance was his fourth 90+-yard outing of the season.  He ran for season high 132 yards in a 24-20 win over then No. 6-ranked Chattanooga, and rushed for 98 and 94 yards, respectively, in wins over East Tennessee State (27-14) and North Greenville (52-0).

RUSHING STANDARD IN SIGHT

Tyler Huff is averaging a team leading 6.6 ypc and is just 10 yards shy of Furman's season rushing yards standard for quarterbacks, currently held by Justin Hill (640 yds., 1999).

ON TARGET

Tyler Huff completed 21-of-22 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns in the Paladins' 63-28 win over Wofford, setting a new school completion percentage record (95.4%) for a minimum of 20 attempts.

Tyler 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 69.3 completion percentage (183x264) ranks seventh in the FCS and is currently ahead of Furman's single season standard of 68.8% held by Harris Roberts (2018).

TOP 10 MATERIAL

With 2,028 passing yards this season, Tyler Huff is just two yards shy of cracking Furman's season Top 10.  Ahead of him in 10th place is Braniff Bonaventure (2,030 yds., 1996), and in ninth is Frankie DeBusk (2,035, 1990).

Tyler Huff has 2,658 yards in total offense (630 rush, 2,028 pass) in 2022, which ranks fifth on Furman's season total offense ledger.  Next up in fourth place is Reese Hannon with 2,764 yds. (2016).

Tyler Huff's 20 touchdown responsibilities this season puts him 10th on Furman's chart, in a tie with Frankie DeBusk (1989) and Renaldo Gray (2007).  Currently tied for eighth with 21 TDRs is Jordan Sorrells (2009) and P.J. Blazejowski (2017).

BIG FACTOR

In Furman's last four games (wins over Chattanooga, Mercer, Wofford, and Elon) Tyler Huff has accounted for 74.8 percent of Furman's offense, passing for 935 yards and rushing for 344 yards with eight touchdown responsibilities.

RECORD BREAKER

Senior 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 added to his new Furman career touchdown receptions standard with a 30-yard scoring reception versus Elon, giving him 28 scoring catches in his career.

Ryan Miller's 12 touchdown receptions in 2022 ranks eighth in the FCS and also represents a new Furman season standard, having surpassed Chas Fox (11, 1985).

MR. CONSISTENT

Ryan Miller has 15 touchdown catches in his last 15 games.

MILLER ON OTHER CHARTS, TOO

Ryan Miller's 70 receptions in 2022 is tied for the second most in a season (with Bear Rinehart, 2002), just four shy of the record of 74 registered by Adam Mims in 2009.

Ryan Miller now ranks fourth all-time in Furman history in receptions (149) and fifth in receiving yards (2,110), having moved ahead of Isaac West (140 rec., 2001-04) on the receptions ledger and Chas Fox (2,045 yds., 1982-85) on the receiving yards chart against Elon.

1,000 & 2,000-YARD RUSHER

Redshirt junior running back Dominic Roberto ran 23 times for 98 yards in the win over Elon to give him 1,061 yards on the season and make him the 17th player in Furman history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season (first since former teammate Devin Wynn ran for 1,182 yards in 2019).

In addition to topping the 1,000-yard mark for the season against Elon, Roberto also became the 14th Paladin to surpass 2,000 career rushing yards, his 2,055 yards ranking 12th in Furman history.

IMPRESSIVE STRETCH

Over his last 15 games Dominic Roberto has rushed for 1,573 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 6.5 ypc and 104.8 ypg over that span.

CAREER BEST

The highlight of Dominic Roberto's 2022 season was a career high 252-yard, two-touchdown peformance in a win over Western Carolina, which netted him FCS National Offensive Player of the Week honors.  The 252 yards was the third highest single game rushing tally in Furman history.

RYAN HEADLINES

Redshirt junior free safety Hugh Ryan was 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.

ACCURATE TOES

Redshirt sophomores Ian Williams (9x11) and Axel Lepvreau (8x9) have combined to convert 17-of-20 field goals (85.0%) this year.  In addition to going 5-of-5 from 40-49 yards, Williams has registered 47 touchbacks on 77 kickoffs (61.5%).  Lepvreau, meanwhile, has booted 46-of-48 PATs this fall.

GO THE DISTANCE

Redshirt junior Wayne Anderson, Jr., ranks 11th in the FCS in kickoff returns (26.5 avg.). His season includes a 97-yard kickoff return in a 47-40 win over Western Carolina.

ABOUT THAT SAMFORD GAME

Furman led Samford, 10-0, early in the second quarter when an official's call nullifed 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".