Furman vs. The Citadel Game Notes (PDF)

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The FCS fourth-ranked Furman Paladins return to action this Saturday when The Citadel Bulldogs pay a visit to Paladin Stadium to renew the Southern Conference's most contested football rivalry in a 2:00 p.m. contest.

Sponsored by BMW, the game will highlight Family Weekend at Furman University and mark the 103rd clash between the longtime SoCon rivals.  Furman, which holds a commanding 62-37-3 lead in the series that began in 1919, has won the last two encounters, including a 21-10 win last year in Charleston.  Two years ago the Paladins downed the Bulldogs, 24-14, at Paladin Stadium, where Furman has posted a 14-6 record in 20 clashes against their arch-rival.

Saturday's contest, which will include a pre-game Warbirds Flyover featuring vintage World War II aircraft, will be a ESPN+ live streamed event.  In addition, the game will be aired over flagship The Fan Upstate and its four powerhouse stations: 97.7 FM/1330 AM in Greenville, and 97.1 FM/950 AM in Spartanburg.  Broadcasts can be secured via Audacy.com, as well as through FurmanPaladins.com.

Fans, who are encouraged to wear purple to the game, may also follow the action through StatBroadcast live stats, accessible via FurmanPaladins.com, and receive timely updates through the "X" platform.

Idle last Saturday following a 38-14 dismantling of previously 17th-ranked Mercer on Sept. 23, Furman (3-1, 1-0 SoCon) took advantage of several losses among the FCS Top 10 last week to climb to fourth in the latest AFCA FCS Poll — the program's loftiest ranking since 2006.  Remaining there or rising further is now the challenge for head coach Clay Hendrix's squad beginning Saturday against The Citadel (0-5, 0-2 SoCon), which is under the direction of first-year head coach Maurice Drayton, a former Bulldog standout player.

Furman's football influence, evident in the fact that four of the league's nine head coaches count experience in the Paladin program, also stretches to the assistant coaching ranks, which this week brings first-year Bulldog offensive coordinator Patrick Covington '06 back to Paladin Stadium, where he enjoyed notable success as an All-America offensive guard (2002-05) under the tutelage of the direction of then-offensive line coach Clay Hendrix.

Determined to keep Covington's and The Citadel's designs on success in the memory bank will be a Paladin defense that has proven to be consistently stout in defending the run.  Over the last 10 games, during which time the Paladins have gone 8-2, Furman has limited opponents to just 3.0 yards per rush and eight rushing touchdowns. Attempting to extend that span of solid work will be a veteran defensive front led by nose guard Xavier Stephens, tackle Matt Sochovka, and end Jack Barton — owners of a combined 49 career starts — and a full second unit that continues to rack up quality playing time.

Furman's linebacking corp features one of the program's most experienced players in Braden Gilby, who heads into Saturday's fracas with 289 tackles in a Paladin tenure that spans 51 games and 36 starts.

The Paladin secondary will look to check The Citadel's passing game.  The leader there is All-SoCon cornerback Travis Blackshear, Furman's most veteran player with 44 starts in a career that features 10 interceptions, including three "pick-sixes."

One of the biggest keys to Furman's success over the last 17 games (13-4) has been offensive ball security and the ability to both create and capitalize on opponent turnovers.  After leading the FCS with 29 takeaways (18 INTs, 11 FRs) a year ago, Furman has continued the trend this year, registering nine takeaways while suffering just three turnovers through four games for a +1.57 turnover margin (5th in FCS).  Over the aforementioned 17-game span the Paladins have followed up the 38 takeaways by scoring 166 points on ensuing possessions.  A year ago Furman exacted a steep toll on a pair of third quarter Bulldog fumbles, scoring a pair of touchdowns that proved key in the 21-10 win in Charleston.

The Citadel will have a lot to think about when it comes to dealing with Furman's balanced offense that generates 163.0 yards on the ground and 208 yards passing.  The Paladin ground game churned out a season high 222 yards and four touchdowns against Mercer, aided by the return of All-America offensive guard Jacob Johanning, who missed the first three games due to injury.  The owner of 31 starts and 2,094 play participations, Johanning, along with All-SoCon tackle Pearson Toomey (26 career starts) and center Wyatt Hughes (21 career starts), will look to clear the way for a cadre of running backs, led by Dominic Roberto (2,303 career rushing yards, 25 TDs).

Furman's running game and its overall offensive game plan is lashed to the considerable talent of experienced quarterback Tyler Huff, who has rushed for a team high 218 yards and four touchdowns this season.  The graduate signal caller's running ability, also evident in his skill to tuck and bolt on pass plays, can be heartburn central for opponents if Huff doesn't first dole out punishment through the air, where he has connected on 73-of-108 passes for 706 yards and two scores.

One of Huff's talents has been ability to utilize his experienced and deep receiving corps, fronted by Joshua Harris (18 rec., 177 yds.) and Kyndel Dean (11 rec., 152 yds.). Sophomore Ben Ferguson (8 rec., 146 yds.) and freshman speedster Colton Hinton (11 rec., 114 yds.) have also stepped up, as has 6-foot-7, 260-pound graduate tight end Mason Pline, who collected his first scoring grab as a Paladin in the win over Mercer.

The Game: Furman Paladins (3-1, 1-0 SoCon) vs. The Citadel Bulldogs (0-5, 0-2 SoCon)
Promotion: Family Weekend
Game Sponsor: BMW
Date: Saturday, October 7, 2023
Site: Greenville, S.C. (Paladin Stadium, on the campus of Furman University)
Kickoff: 2:02 PM ET
TV/Video Stream: ESPN+ (Brock Bowling, pbp), Cole Neely (analyst), Anna Witte (sideline)
Radio: Van Wagner/Furman Sports Network (The Fan 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 Paladin Stadium Box Office, located at the Defenders Gate, and at the East Stands Box Office of Paladin Stadium beginning at Noon.  All tickets are mobile and fans should have their cell number ready when purchasing at the stadium. Tickets will be texted to walk-up buyers. All ticket sales are final. No exchanges. No refunds.