GREENVILLE, S.C. – Sophomore Trey Hedden threw for 275 yards and connected with freshman Evans James on a pair of touchdown tosses to power Furman to a 32-14 victory over VMI on Senior Day Saturday afternoon at Paladin Stadium.
 
The victory improved to the Paladins to 6-5 overall and 4-4 in the Southern Conference. VMI fell to 1-10 overall and 0-7 in league play.
 
After a scoreless first quarter, Hedden and James connected on an eight-yard touchdown to cap an eight-play, 68-yard drive to give Furman a 7-0 lead with 5:09 to go before halftime. An 18-yard touchdown run by VMI's Leo Boehling tied the game, but Furman answered with a 6-play, 6-yard drive that took just 30 seconds and ended with a leaping grab by James to haul in a 17-yard touchdown pass with 30 seconds left in the half. Jayquan Smith rushed for the two-point conversion to give the Paladins a 15-7 halftime advantage.
 
Smith added a touchdown of his own to cap a 12-play, 85-yard drive to increase the lead to 22-7. Ben Croasdale scored on a one-yard plunge early in the fourth quarter and senior Ian Williams added a 51-yard field goal to extend the margin to 32-7 before VMI capped the scoring with a 17-yard scramble by Nana Utsey in the final minute.
 
With nine catches for 70 yards on the day, James established a new Furman freshman season receptions record. He also owns the school record for receiving yards in a season by a freshman.
 
Ja'Keith Hamilton added eight catches for 90 yards while Croasdale rushed 14 times for 70 yards and a score as the Paladins compiled 448 yards without a turnover. The Furman defense limited VMI to 244 yards, 76 of which came on the Keydets final possession.
 
The Paladins conclude the 2025 season next Saturday with a 4:30 p.m. kickoff at Clemson.
 
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