GREENVILLE, S.C. -- It took wins in its final six regular season games for Furman to secure an at-large bid to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs and four quarters of strong play last Saturday in a 31-6 dismantling of CAA foe Elon to earn certification as prime time material, though some doubting Thomas' across the fruited plan remain, almost reflexively, skeptical.

This Saturday Furman (10-2, 7-1 SoCon/2nd) faces its next challenge, which involves traveling to San Antonio, Texas, to take on Incarnate Word (10-1, 5-1 Southland/1st), the FCS 24-team playoff field's No. 7 seed, in a 2:00 p.m. ET (1:00 CT) ESPN+ showdown at Benson Stadium.  The winner will face the winner of the Richmond-Sacramento State game in a quarterfinal round contest on Dec. 9th or 10th.

In addition to the ESPN+ broadcast, the Furman-Incarnate Word contest will aired over Furman flagship The Fan Upstate and its four powerhouse stations: 97.7 FM/1330 AM in Greenville, and 97.1 FM/950 AM in Spartanburg.  The broadcast may also be accessed via Audacy.com, as well as through FurmanPaladins.com.

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

While Furman, unseeded and a consensus No. 11-ranked team at the end of the regular season, was forced to contend in the tournament's opening round against 12th-ranked Elon, a regular season conquerer of playoff-ers William & Mary (35-31), Richmond (30-27, OT), Delaware (27-7), and Gardner-Webb (30-24), Incarnate Word enjoyed a bye last Saturday following an impressive fall campaign that saw the Cardinals claim a share of the Southland Conference championship and dominate nearly every opponent on its schedule, including FBS foe Nevada, 55-41.

Furman will show up Saturday with a well-earned belief that victory is possible, a mindset no doubt fed by the fact that the Paladins had to slay a couple of dragons to get to the postseason — fire-breathing giants at the time in the form of nationally sixth-ranked Chattanooga (24-20 win in Greenville) and 11th-ranked Mercer (23-13 victory in Macon, Ga.).  Throw in the manner in which the Paladins won those games — and others — with rugged defensive work, almost uncanny special teams play, and well-balanced offensive attacks, and Furman's confidence is warranted.

Defensively the Paladins will have their work cut out for them in facing UIW's lethal offense that leads the FCS in many categories, including total offense (582.4 ypg), passing offense (383.0 ypg), and scoring offense (52.9 ppg).  Certainly no one-trick pony behind the arm of all-everything graduate quarterback Lindsey Scott, Jr. (3,791 passing yds., 50 TDs, 218.1 pass efficiency rating), the Cardinals can run it, too, evidenced by their 199.4 yards per game ground attack featuring Marcus Cooper (1,044 yds., 10 TDs).

Furman will counter with a defense that has proven better than most in shutting down opposing ground games, particularly of late.  Elon running back Jalen Hampton came to Greenville with 1,023 yards and 10 carries later left with 1,053.  Over the last five games the Paladins, ranked 11th in the FCS in rushing defense (107.7 ypg), have surrendered just 296 yards on the ground (2.0 ypc).  Two key run stoppers for Furman, senior All-SoCon nose tackle Cameron Coleman and graduate tackle Matt Sochovka, will be keen to continue that trend.

Getting hands on Scott and slowing down the Cardinals' up-tempo offense is sure to be a challenge, but the Paladins know the drill, evidenced by the 29 sacks they've recorded this fall, including 12 over the last three games.  The fact Furman has consistently played two defensive lines this year should ensure there are a least fresh bodies coming at Scott, including backup tackle Xavier Stephens, who registered 2.5 sacks in the win over Elon.

The Paladins' back seven, beginning with inside linebackers Braden Gilby (83 tackles, 14.5 TFLs, 4 sacks), an All-SoCon pick, and Bryce McComick (67 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks), has played with confidence that has grown from week-to-week.  Furman ranks second in the FCS with 26 turnovers gained, including 16 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries.  The leaders are cornerbacks Travis Blackshear (9 career INTs), an all-conference pick, and Micah Robinson (3 INTs), All-SoCon free safety Hugh Ryan (64 tackles, 4 INTs), and redshirt junior Kam Brinson, whose four fumble recoveries is the best in the FCS.

Furman has been an especially strong fourth quarter team this year, recording seven final period shutouts and allowing just one foe multiple fourth quarter scores.

Paladin head coach Clay Hendrix kiddingly said in his Monday press conference that he didn't expect a 14-10 game this Saturday, which means he will look for his balanced offense (217.2 ypg rushing, 212.3 ypg passing) to deliver.   Given the way the Paladins have produced offensively this year under first-year graduate quarterback Tyler Huff, he may get get what he wants.

The Paladins are 10-1 this fall with Huff as the starting signal caller, his only missed game a 34-27 loss to SoCon rival Samford, which he sat out due to injury.

The Orange Park, Fla., product, a commissioned 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army Reserves, has displayed toughness and true dual threat ability, evidenced by his 2,028 passing yards (14 TDs), 630 rushing yards (6.6 ypc), and six scores.

When he takes to the air, Huff will look first to two two-time senior All-America tight end Ryan Miller (70 rec., 726 yds., 12 TDs), Furman's all-time touchdown receptions leader (28) who has 15 scoring grabs in his last 15 games.  The continued improvement of sophomore wide receiver Joshua Harris (44 rec., 598 yds., 4 TDs) has enhanced the Paladins' air game.

The effectiveness of Furman's rushing attack, headed up by a trio of All-SoCon performers in tackles Anderson Tomlin and Pearson Toomey, and guard Jacob Johanning, will be a big key versus UIW.  They'll attempt to keep the Cardinals busy trying to bring down Dominic Roberto (1,061 yds., 5.8 ypc., 10 TDs), which has been no easy task for foes the last two seasons.

One of the best storylines surrounding Furman's 2022 campaign has been the work of its special teams, and in particular the Paladins' ability to block kicks — 10 in all (tops in the FCS).  Redshirt junior  defensive end Jack Barton owns a FCS best four of them, while Matt Sochovka counts three.

The Paladins have also gotten solid production from kickers Ian Williams and Axel Lepvreau, who have combined to connect on 17-of-20 field goal attempts.  Williams, who is 5-of-5 from 40-49 yards, has also delivered excellent kickoff work, recording 47 touchbacks on 77 kicks.