GREENVILLE, S.C. – FCS No. 6 Furman forced six turnovers and returned two interceptions for touchdowns en route to a 45-10 victory over Tennessee Tech in the season opener for both schools on Thursday evening at Paladin Stadium.
Travis Blackshear picked off Tennessee Tech's Ethan Roberts on the opening drive of the game and dashed 43 yards to put the Paladins in front 7-0. With the Paladins leading 24-10 in the fourth quarter,
Dominic Roberto scored from nine yards out, and
Dan Scianna intercepted Roberts and returned the pick 67 yards for a score on the Golden Eagles' next possession to up the margin to 38-10 with 5:38 to play.
The Paladins out-gained Tennessee Tech 384-291, including 194 yards on the ground and 190 through the air. Roberto paced the Paladins with 59 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.
Furman's four interceptions were the most since the Paladins picked off four passes in a 41-17 win over Chattanooga during the 2017 season.
The Paladins, who led the FCS with 18 interceptions a year ago, now have 22 pickoffs in their last 14 games.
Nose guard
Xavier Stephens intercepted a Roberts screen pass at the Golden Eagles' 17 to set up a
Kyndel Dean 6-yard touchdown run around left end and give Furman a 14-3 lead midway through the second quarter
The Paladins made it 21-3 on their next possession, taking advantage of a 32-yard
Joshua Harris punt return and 24-yard pass from quarterback
Tyler Huff to Dean to the Tech 9. On the next play Roberto bounced off defenders to reach the end zone.
Furman, which led 21-10 at the half, scored the only points of the third quarter on an
Ian Williams 32-yard field goal before exploding for three touchdowns in the final period.
Roberto registered his second 9-yard scoring run of the contest to conclude a 14-play, 94-yard drive at the 7:34 mark to give the Paladins a 38-10 lead.
Scianna's 67-yard pickoff made it 38-10, and redshirt freshman running back
Jayquan Smith's 6-yard touchdown run, the first of his Paladin career, accounted for the game's final points.
The Paladins limited Tech to just 79 yards rushing on 32 carries.
Blackshear's interception return for touchdown was the 10th of his career and third for a score.
Furman is back in action on Saturday, September 9, at South Carolina. Kickoff at Williams-Brice Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network+.
