Furman University

MACON, GA. -- Ben Croasdale scored on a 47-yard run with 47 seconds remaining in the game to lift Furman to a 20-13 win over FCS 14th-ranked and defending Southern Conference champion Mercer on Saturday evening at Five Star Stadium.

The win by Furman (2-1, 1-0 SoCon) snapped a 12-game league winning streak by Mercer (2-1, 0-1 SoCon).

Trailing 13-10 early in the fourth quarter, Furman used a 42-yard punt return by Joshua Tarver to the Mercer 34 to set up a Nathan Chapman 43-yard field goal to tie the contest at 13-13 with 4:53 remaining.  

The Paladins forced a Mercer punt on the ensuing possesssion and took over at their own 15 with 1:54 remaining.  Quarterback Jake Garcia connected with Daniel Haughton on passes covering 15, 17, and five yards to give Furman the ball at the Mercer 47.  On the next play Croasdale raced through a seam in the middle of the Bears defense, bolting untouched 47 yards to the end zone.  Chapman's PAT put the Paladins up, 20-13.

Mercer covered just 13 yards in five plays to the Furman 47, where Mercer quarterback Jaylen King's desperation throw on the game's final play was picked off by Tarver, who returned it 34 yards before sliding to the turf to end the contest.

Furman's defense keyed the victory, recording four interceptions and a fumble recovery to go along with three sacks.  Cornerback Caleb Easterling paced the effort with five tackles, two interceptions, and pass breakup.

The four interceptions represented the most by Furman since the Paladins picked off four aerials in a 45-10 win over Tennessee Tech in 2023.

Croasdale topped the Paladins' 157-yard rushing effort with 74 yards on six carries.

Garcia connected on 18-of-28 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown.  His 46-yard scoring strike to Haughton with 1:09 to go in the third quarter gave Furman a 10-6 lead.

Mercer answered with a nine-play, 74-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown plunge on fourth down by JP Pickles to give the Bears a 13-10 lead.

Haughton topped Furman's receiving effort with eight catches for 103 yards and a score.

Linebacker Raleigh Herbert paced the Paladins with 11 tackles, including two for loss, and a sack.

Furman plays host to S.C. State next Saturday in a 7:00 p.m. contest at Paladin Stadium.