Defensive tackle London Lewis helped Furman hold Tennessee Tech to 23 yards rushing in the Paladins' 26-0 win last Saturday. Photo courtesy of Furman |
When the Furman football team reported to fall camp in August, it did so with more than 110 players taking the practice field. Coach Clay Hendrix said it was the biggest group of players he could recall since his playing days back in the mid-1980s. In addition to creating needed competition, Hendrix said it also created much-needed depth.
"Our sport is one of attrition," Hendrix said following a preseason practice. "We've recruited really hard to try to get our numbers up. It's nice having more bodies to work."
Hendrix believed that with some fall games being quite a bit warmer than the spring, depth would pay off especially in the fourth quarters this season. That proved to be the case in the season-opening win over North Carolina A&T as Furman finally found some running room in the final quarter to help seal the win.
Depth paid off in last Saturday's win at Tennessee Tech in a different way, although the Paladins did run out the clock over the final five-plus minutes of the game to seal their first shutout in 17 years. The depth along the defensive line proved to be a factor all day. After losing starting defensive tackle Matt Sochovka for the season due to a torn knee suffered in the opener, Hendrix said others would have to step up and they did.
All three of Furman's sacks last Saturday were made by non-starters. Backup bandit and co-captain Elijah McKoy made his first sack since 2018 on a third-down play in the first quarter, while backup tackle Parker Stokes' sack came on a third-down play in the fourth.
The other sack was made by freshman bandit Luke Clark, who doesn't appear on the two-deep depth chart. His went for a 13-yard loss and a forced fumble that freshman Seth Johnson, a backup noseguard, just missed picking up for a possible scoop and score.
"He tried to pick it up, but you've just got to get that ball," Hendrix said. "But we've got more and more of those guys stepping up and that's good to see. ... We're playing a lot of guys over there who are playing really well and flying to the ball.
"We will be challenged more and more going forward. Certainly (N.C. State) is going to be a totally different animal ... but this is a good one to build on."
Furman's defense held Tennessee Tech to 121 totals yards and six first downs, including 18 yards and one first down in the second half.
Getting off the field
Of Tennessee Tech's 13 offensive drives last Saturday, 10 lasted no more than three plays including each of its final eight drives. The Golden Eagles converted just 2-of-13 third downs, one week after North Carolina A&T made just 3-of-12. That 20 percent third-down conversion rate by Furman's defense ranks third-best in the FCS.
The defense has found other ways to get off the field as well. After making eight interceptions in seven spring games earlier this year, the Paladins are halfway there two games into the fall. All three on Saturday turned out to be key.
Cornerback Travis Blackshear's first on Saturday came two plays after Devin Wynn's 42-yard touchdown run on Furman's opening possession. It led to the first of Southern Conference special teams player of the week Timmy Bleekrode's four field goals that pushed the Paladins' lead to 10-0.
DiMarcus Clay's interception came on the very next play after Tech's lone first down of the second half. Three plays later, Wynn scored Furman's other touchdown to seal the win. The Eagles' only trip into Furman territory after halftime came after a long punt return to the Paladins' 39. Three plays and zero yards later, Blackshear made his third pick of the season on Tech's final offensive play with 5:21 left.
Those kind of plays were similar to the season opener when Furman seemingly had an answer every time North Carolina A&T threatened to make things very interesting. After two turnovers in their own territory by Furman's offense, the defense limited the Aggies to field goal attempts each time. When it appeared A&T's quarterback was about to run for a score, Blackshear forced a fumble before he reached the goal line.
"It's called sudden changes and you've got to know how to respond," Blackshear said. "That's what we key on in the secondary. You're going to get beat sometimes, but how are you going to respond. ... We had a good week of preparation (for Tennessee Tech), but you've got to translate that to the field and we did that."
Harris making an immediate impact
One week after taking a slant pass 41 yards for a touchdown the first time he touched the ball in a college football game, true freshman receiver Joshua Harris made his first collegiate start at Tennessee Tech. He made the most of it on Furman's opening drive. Harris converted both of Furman's third downs on the drive, making catches of 15 and 12 yards respectively.
In the third quarter, Harris made a beautiful two-handed grab over the middle for a gain of 16. He finished as Furman's leading receiver with 54 yards on five receptions.
"A couple of those weren't easy catches by any means. The first third down, he went down to the ground to catch it and reached back on another," Hendrix said. "He came from a great program, so he was pretty good when he got here. ... I just love his demeanor. He's a great kid who just goes out there and works. He's already well liked."
Injury update
Hendrix said wide receiver Noah Henderson could make his season debut this Saturday at N.C. State. Running back Wayne Anderson is questionable. Anderson missed last week's game after getting banged up in the opener.
"You might even see Noah Henderson back up (All-American tight end) Ryan Miller a little bit," Hendrix said. "I sometimes worry about Ryan playing too many plays."
Freshman Dominic Morris, who's listed as Blackshear's backup on this week's depth chart, should make his collegiate debut Saturday. Morris, who enrolled at Furman in January after spending last fall at Air Force Prep, has been out with an injured finger.
"He was going to be playing until his finger deal," Hendrix said. "So that should help us a little bit, especially on special teams."
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