Depth paying off for Furman running game

Furman fullback Kealand Dirks runs against VMI. Photo courtesy of Furman.

While injuries continue to pile up in Furman's offensive backfield, so do the rushing yards.

In Saturday's 42-10 win over VMI, the Paladins were without two of their top three tailbacks as Triston Luke (hamstring) and Devin Wynn (knee) sat out with injuries. Meanwhile, starter Darius Morehead ran four times for 20 yards in his only half of action as Furman continues to play it safe with its speedy freshman who redshirted last season after suffering a serious concussion in week two.

Despite the injuries, Furman (4-3, 3-1 Southern Conference) put up a season-high 354 yards rushing on 61 attempts Saturday. It's the third consecutive game with at least 290 yards rushing for the Paladins, who've rushed for 952 yards during that span. The last time Furman had a three-game stretch rushing like that came in 2005.

From 2006-16, the Paladins had at least 290 yards rushing in a game just five times - three against Western Carolina (2007, 2012, 2016) and twice against Colgate (2008, 2010).

In addition to the running backs, Furman quarterbacks were also hampered by injuries much of last week. Starter P.J. Blazejowski didn't practice until Wednesday after suffering a knee injury at Chattanooga. Backup Harris Roberts was hobbled by a sprained ankle. Both of them looked just fine against VMI though. Blazejowski ran five times for 74 yards, while Roberts had 72 yards on two carries.

Leading the way for the Paladins Saturday was fullback Kealand Dirks with 82 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Dirks, a 244-pound junior, has rushed for 283 yards over the last three weeks.

"Kealand might have come as far as anybody on our football team. It's funny to watch him grow into a guy who kind of likes to practice, and that's not an easy position to play," Furman coach Clay Hendrix said. "We do inside drills every Tuesday and Wednesday and we run two plays, so it's not like we're fooling them with what we're doing.
"He's always had really good running skills, but now he's just buying into everything - practice, blocking, toughness."

Furman's running game will be tested this week against Mercer (4-3, 3-2), which has won three straight games. The Bears rank third in the SoCon - behind The Citadel and Furman - in rush defense allowing just 138 yards per game.

Taking care of the ball
Even though the Paladins have been putting up many yards on the ground lately, they haven't been putting the football on the ground. Furman hasn't had a turnover since a lost fumble in the second quarter against ETSU on Sept. 30. The Paladins have had 198 offensive plays since then, including 154 running plays without a fumble of any kind.

In SoCon play, Furman has forced eight turnovers and committed just one.

Better starts and finishes
During the Paladins' three-game losing streak to open the season Furman was outscored 42-6 in the first quarter and 24-9 in the fourth quarter. In the four-game winning streak since, the Paladins have outscored opponents 49-10 in the first quarter and 35-25 in the fourth quarter.

Big second half helps Furman cruise past VMI

After a bit of a dysfunctional first half for Furman Saturday afternoon at Paladin Stadium, the Paladins put it all together after halftime and cruised to a 42-10 win over VMI.

It's the fourth consecutive victory for Furman (4-3, 3-1 Southern Conference) and the fourth straight game it's scored at least 41 points. In 112 years of football, Furman had never before scored at least 40 in four straight games.

"I think it was just a matter of playing better (after halftime)," Furman coach Clay Hendrix said. "The only thing I really said to them at halftime was that we weren't going back to mediocrity. That was a really mediocre first half."

The first half came after a challenging week of practice, which saw third-string freshman quarterback JeMar Lincoln take a lot of snaps the first two days.

After suffering a knee injury at Chattanooga last Saturday, quarterback P.J. Blazejowski didn't practice until Wednesday. Backup quarterback Harris Roberts was also hobbled all week with an ankle injury. On Saturday, Furman played without injured tailbacks Triston Luke (hamstring) and Devin Wynn (knee), then starter Darius Morehead sat out the second half for precautionary reasons.

While the week got a little hairy, Furman's opening drive Saturday showed no signs of it. Blazejowski ran 44 yards to the VMI 1-yard line setting up an Antonio Wilcox touchdown.

Things changed though as the Paladins sputtered the rest of the half. Furman was able to take advantage of a big break as a punt hit a VMI blocker and Ridge Gibson recovered at the Keydets' 20-yard line. Four plays later, Kealand Dirks scored from a yard out as Furman went up 14-3 with 5:20 left in the second quarter.

VMI (0-7, 0-4) answered on its ensuing drive as Daz Palmer's 51-yard run set up a three-yard touchdown pass from Duncan Hodges to Rohan Martin cutting the deficit to 14-10 with 3:18 left.

The Paladins looked like they would respond as they drove inside VMI's 5-yard line. But after calling its last timeout with 37 seconds left, Furman ran Dirks up the middle three straight plays. On the last one, Dirks got one yard to the one-yard line as time expired in the half.

"That end of the half was on me," Hendrix said. "We wasted a couple of timeouts earlier. ... We should've just called where we'd have a run-pass option and have a chance to stop the clock. Thankfully it didn't come back to bite us."

The four-point halftime deficit was VMI's closest against Div. I competition this year. The Keydets' 10 points tied for the most points they'd scored in any half this season. VMI also scored 10 in each half of its 27-20 loss to Div. II Catawba.

Furman got the ball to start the second half and looked like a different team from the first half. Wilcox capped that opening drive with a 16-yard touchdown, helping push the lead to 21-10.

VMI then drove to the Paladins' 28-yard line, but reserve linebacker Dillon Vann had his second interception in as many weeks. Vann returned it 42 yards to the VMI 33-yard line. Furman then converted a pair of fourth downs on an 11-play drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown by Dirks.

"That was a huge play (by Vann)," Hendrix said. "We did a really good job of cramming that next score in."

On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Paladins connected on yet another long touchdown pass in  a season full of them. Blazejowski hit Andy Schumpert over the middle and the senior tight end raced to the end zone for a 57-yard touchdown. It's the sixth consecutive game that Blazejowski has thrown a touchdown of at least 57 yards.

"We started out a little slow and weren't executing like we should have," Schumpert said. "We came out in the second half and got back to what we've been doing."

All told in the second half, Furman had touchdowns on each of its first four possessions and ran out the clock at the VMI 20-yard line on its fifth. The Paladins outgained VMI 317-107 after halftime.

Furman finished with 523 yards of total offense, including 354 rushing, and no turnovers for the second week in a row. Dirks had 82 yards rushing to lead the way. Blazejowski had 74 yards rushing on five carries, while Roberts had 72 on two attempts.

"I was really proud of how we responded," Hendrix said. "We played really well in the second half and I thought we probably finished the game better than we have all year."

Furman looks to extend streak against VMI

Furman freshman linebacker Dillon Vann returns an interception
for a touchdown at Chattanooga. Photo courtesy of Furman.

Furman returns home Saturday looking to extend its three-game winning streak as the Paladins host VMI at 1 p.m. A victory would put Furman (3-3, 2-1 Southern Conference) above the .500 mark for the first time since Oct. 3, 2015.

Furman is coming off an impressive 41-17 win at Chattanooga that snapped a five-game losing streak in the series. The Paladins piled up 290 rushing yards against a talented Mocs' defensive front in what Furman coach Clay Hendrix called his team's most complete game of the year.

"One of the things we've talked about is, if you want to be a championship football team, you've got to go win on the road in some places where you maybe haven't had success," Hendrix said afterwards. "They prepared well and responded well."

The Paladins have scored 142 total points over their three-game winning streak and have tallied at least 41 points in each of the three. The last time Furman scored more than 40 points in three consecutive games came in Ingle Martin's senior year of 2005.

In its struggles the past few seasons, the biggest problem for the Paladins came in running the ball and stopping the run. That's turned around this season. Furman ranks fourth in the SoCon at 214.7 yards rushing per game, and is second in rushing defense (123.5 yards allowed per game).

That rushing defense total has dropped significantly during the win streak as Furman has allowed just 95 total yards on the ground over the last three weeks. After giving up 22 yards rushing to ETSU two weeks ago, the Paladins allowed just seven last Saturday at Chattanooga.

"We'll always take that," Hendrix said.

Running the ball effectively has opened up big play opportunities in the passing game and P.J. Blazejowski has taken full advantage. He's thrown a touchdown of at least 57 yards in four consecutive games. The senior captain has helped Furman produce a well-balanced offense as the Paladins average 210.2 yards passing per game, which also ranks fourth in the SoCon.

That passing attack hasn't tapered off the last three weeks despite playing without injured leading receiver Thomas Gordon, who could return Saturday vs. VMI. As has been the case throughout Furman's team this year, others have stepped up in Gordon's absence. Most notably has been senior Logan McCarter, who has caught 18 passes for 403 touchdowns and three touchdowns. McCarter has come through up at a big time personally for the Sevierville, Tenn. native as well.

"To beat ETSU and Chattanooga back-to-back weeks is a really good feeling," McCarter said. "I had family that went to ETSU so that was personal, and (Chattanooga) was personal because we (seniors) had never beat them.
"I think this was a statement game to show the rest of the SoCon that we're not the Furman of old."

VMI (0-6, 0-3) enters Saturday having struggled all season. The Keydets rank last in the SoCon in scoring offense (8 points per game), scoring defense (41.7), total offense (211.2 yards per game) and total defense (463.7). However, VMI is coming off possibly its best showing in a 26-7 loss to Samford last Saturday. The Keydets limited the Bulldogs' high-powered offense to two first-half touchdowns and none in the second half.

While VMI is just 3-22 in the SoCon since rejoining the league prior to the 2014 season, it hasn't been a pushover for Furman. The Keydets beat the Paladins 31-15 in 2014, while Furman won the last two meetings, 24-21 and 24-10.

• Saturday's game is Military Appreciation Day at Paladin Stadium. All active military personnel and veterans can receive two complimentary tickets and purchase additional tickets for the reduced rate of $10 per ticket at the gate.

• Furman will honor its 2017 Athletics Hall of Fame class also Saturday. This year's class includes All-American football cornerback William Middleton, basketball forward Chuck Vincent, tennis player Monica Arguello, and men's golfer Ken Ezell.

New Paladins continue to step up

Freshman Reynard Ellis grabs one of Furman's four interceptions Saturday
in the Paladins' 41-17 win at Chattanooga. Photo courtesy of Furman.

As Furman's winning streak reached three consecutive games Saturday at Chattanooga, so did the Paladins streak of having new players contribute.
While sophomore offensive lineman Jacob Conrad made his first start of the season, cornerbacks Darius Kearse and Bradford Lemmons made their first-ever collegiate starts.
Conrad stepped in at right tackle for injured starter Bo Layton and was part of an offensive front that helped Furman rush for 290 yards in the 41-17 win, which snapped a five-game losing streak to UTC.
Lemmons, a junior who converted from receiver this offseason, had three tackles at left corner in place of injured starter Quandarius Weems. Kearse, a true freshman who was injured for the first four weeks of the season, had four tackles. Kearse also made a key three-yard tackle for loss when he fought through a block to blow up a screen pass as Furman was in the process of going up 27-10 in the first half.
"We didn't have either of our corners today and had a brand new tackle in there, but it's fun to see kids step up," Furman coach Clay Hendrix said afterwards. "It's still a work in progress ... but the (offensive line) and running back group is coming along.
"Those three fullbacks have been a pretty good bunch to get in there and make some hard yards and push piles. ... We've got a bunch of guys that can make plays."
Kearse is one of 25 freshman who have played this season for the Paladins, and one of 10 who have registered starts.
Another one who made a splash Saturday was reserve defensive tackle Landon Lawrence, who had 1.5 sacks. That was one of eight tackles-for-loss Saturday as Furman held the Mocs to just seven yards rushing. Over the last three games, the Paladins have given up a total of just 95 yards on the ground.
Blazejowski listed as starter
On Furman's weekly depth chart released Wednesday, P.J. Blazejowski is listed as the starter at quarterback. Blazejowski left in the third quarter of the Chattanooga game with a knee injury and didn't return.
Also on the depth chart, Weems and Layton are listed as backups this week after missing last week with injuries. Tailback Triston Luke, who's averaging 9.6 yards per carry but missed Saturday's game due to injury, is not listed on this week's two-deep.
Statistical national rankings
Despite missing much of the second half Saturday, Blazejowski threw for 138 yards and three touchdowns. It was also his fourth consecutive game with a touchdown pass of at least 57 yards. That's helped him remain No. 1 in the FCS in yards per completion (19.25) and yards per attempt (11.30). He's also third in the country is passing efficiency (183.3).
With three sacks Saturday, Furman now has 20 this season which is tied for third-most in the FCS. A total of 14 different Paladins have been in on those sacks. That's the most Paladins with a sack since 16 combined for 38 sacks in 2001.
Furman and Presbyterian are tied for third in the FCS in fewest penalties per game (3.67).
The Paladins have converted 51.2 percent of their third downs, which ranks eighth-highest in the country.
Absurd national rankings
For the first time in quite a while, Furman received three votes in this week's STATS FCS (Media) poll, but none in the FCS coaches poll. It could probably be argued that the Paladins are worthy of a bit more national attention. Their three losses have been to: fifth-ranked Wofford, 24-23 on the road; 16th-ranked Elon, 34-31; and FBS' 20th-ranked N.C. State, 49-16.
Meanwhile, Furman's three wins have been by an average margin of more than 25 points.
The Paladins definitely deserve more votes than Colgate (2-4), and there's no argument otherwise. After jumping out to a 38-0 second quarter lead at Colgate on Sept. 23, Furman went on to a 45-14 win. Despite the blowout, Colgate received three votes in the following week's poll.
A week later, Colgate recorded a 21-7 win at a Cornell team that's currently 1-3 and received six votes in the next ranking. Last Saturday, the Raiders lost 41-38 at home to a Lehigh team that entered 0-5 this season. Inexplicably, Colgate got even more votes after that showing with nine this week.

Paladins end losing skid vs. UTC with authority

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Furman's "throwback" season continued Saturday.
While the Paladins traveled to Chattanooga on a five-game losing streak in the series, Furman coach Clay Hendrix didn't. In 19 years as an assistant with the Paladins, Hendrix was part of 17 wins and just two losses against the Mocs.
Furman gave its new head coach another victory over Chattanooga in convincing fashion Saturday at Finley Stadium. The Paladins ran 61 times for 290 yards, overpowering their way to a 41-17 win.
While Furman ran wild, Chattanooga ran nowhere. The Paladins allowed just seven yards net rushing on 17 attempts. That's the fewest allowed by Furman since Presbyterian ran for four yards on 10 attempts in 2001.
"I could tell how big this was just the way they responded in the locker room after the game," Hendrix said. "They prepared well and came out and played maybe our most complete game."
Furman (3-3, 2-1 Southern Conference) set the tone on the opening drive. The Paladins drove 75 yards on 14 plays in 6:07, capped by P.J. Blazejowski's 11-yard touchdown pass to Logan McCarter. Furman ran 11 times for 56 yards on the march.
That was the the first of six possessions of at least eight plays for the Paladins, including two 14-play drives.
Early in the second quarter, UTC true freshman Cole Coleman - who made his collegiate debut - threw a deep pass to Alphonso Stewart. Stewart was well-covered, but went up and made a terrific catch for a 40-yard touchdown as the Mocs took a 10-7 lead.
The Paladins answered in a big way. After Antonio Wilcox ran for a four-yard touchdown that put Furman back in front, freshman linebacker Reynard Ellis had an interception three plays later. That led to a 15-yard touchdown pass from Blazejowski to Andy Schumpert pushing Furman's lead to 20-10.
The Paladins' two-minute offense produced a drive that ended on a 12-yard touchdown run by Darius Morehead with 40 seconds left as Furman took a 27-10 lead into halftime.
"What I like best is that we responded well. I think our bunch - offense, defense, whatever - they've been pretty good at responding in the right situation," Hendrix said. "Getting that score right before the half was big."
The 27-point first half was more scoring than Furman had against UTC in any of the last six meetings. The Paladins' 20 first downs in the opening half were the most in a game against UTC in 10 years.
The Mocs (1-5, 1-2) had planned to redshirt the highly-touted Coleman this season. But after injuries to its top two quarterbacks last week, UTC turned him loose Saturday in hopes of turning its season around.
After completing each of his first eight passes for 121 yards, Coleman's next eight throws produced five completions but just one negative yard of passing. Ellis' interception highlighted that turnaround.
"I kind of messed up because we were supposed to back up (on third down), but I just saw the ball, everything slowed down for me and I made the play," Ellis said. "This was an important conference win, but we just want to keep getting better moving forward."
Chattanooga got the ball to start the second half in dire need of a score. The Paladins gave up one first down, but forced a punt. Furman then got the backbreaker with yet another bomb. This one was a 57-yard touchdown from Blazejowski to McCarter that capped an 85-yard drive and pushed the lead to 34-10.
It's the fifth consecutive game that Blazejowski has thrown a touchdown of at least 57 yards.
The only drama the rest of the night for Furman came when Blazejowski left the game on the next drive with a knee injury. He didn't return, but was seen riding an exercise bike on the sideline after getting checked out.
"I think he's got a slight sprain," Hendrix said. "Could he have gone back in there? Maybe.
"We will see how he feels tomorrow. You usually don't know about those things for a day or two."
Furman wrapped up its scoring with a 33-yard interception return for a touchdown with 3:56 left in the game. While the Mocs desperately tried to get another score on the board, the Paladins ended the game in fitting fashion - with its third sack and fourth interception on the final two plays.
Kealand Dirks finished with 101 yards rushing - his second consecutive 100-yard game - to lead Furman. Blazejowski threw for 151 yards and rushed for 51.
Copeland finished with a UTC single-game record 317 yards passing for the Mocs.

Furman hopes big play fun continues at UTC

Kealand Dirks runs for a 32-yard touchdown for Furman.
Photo courtesy of Furman.

Following last week's 56-35 win over ETSU, Furman coach Clay Hendrix noted how much his team has bought in to what the first-year head coach and his staff have been teaching. It's been evident lately on Saturdays and every other day of the week as well.
"It's almost like they like to practice," Hendrix said. "We have kids with different class schedules ... I'll look up and those guys will be running over the hill to get to practice from labs.
"That's really encouraging to me."
It looks like the Paladins (2-3, 1-1 Southern Conference) are are having more fun by the week. Scoring 101 points on offense and racking up 11 sacks on defense over a pair of wins the last two weeks certainly helps the "fun" level rise.
The new offense, with input from Hendrix, new offensive coordinator Drew Cronic, new assistant head coach George Quarles and receivers coach Brian Bratton, has clicked more and more each week.
"As coaches, we're making adjustments and getting more on the same page," Hendrix said. "It's been new for us too. ... We want to be a hard-to-prepare-for team."
While it appears to be a run-based offense - and certainly relies on effectively running the ball - quarterback P.J. Blazejowski is thriving passing in it. The senior captain has thrown a touchdown pass of at least 61 yards in four consecutive games. Each one of those featured a wide open receiver.
Blazejowski is currently fourth in the country (FCS) in passing efficiency at 178.4.
"P.J.'s smart. He will take risks, but he won't do anything that's out of nowhere. I love having a guy back there in the pocket that will do that," said senior wide receiver Logan McCarter, who had career highs in receptions (7) and yards receiving (178) last week.
As for getting wide open on long strikes this year, McCarter said, "It's just fun. The blocking part kind of drags you down, but you know that just opens up the passing game.
"Coach Bratton just tells us to stay with it and when we pass it, just make a play."
After putting up more than 300 yards rushing, more than 300 yards passing and 56 points against ETSU, Furman ranks third in the SoCon in total offense (421.6 yards per game) and second in scoring (34.2).
Just two years ago, the Paladins ranked dead last in the SoCon in scoring (17.5) and total offense (318.7). That 2015 team scored 24 offensive touchdowns and its longest offensive play was 61 yards.
At the near-midway point this year, Furman has 22 touchdowns and 16 offensive plays of 30 yards or more. Seven different players have collected them:

FURMAN OFFENSIVE PLAYS OF 30+ YARDS

(*touchdowns)

RUNS (3)

Triston Luke (44*, 45)

Kealand Dirks (32*)

RECEPTIONS (13)

Thomas Gordon (30, 36, 77*, 41)

Darius Morehead (31)

Logan McCarter (35, 43, 51, 64*)

Andy Schumpert (71*, 32*, 30*)

Cam Burnette (61*)

In addition to those plays from scrimmage on offense, three different Paladins have kickoff returns of at least 39 yards.
Among SoCon teams, only Western Carolina has more 30-plus yard plays on offense this season:

SOCON OFFENSIVE PLAYS OF 30+ YARDS

Western Carolina - 19 in 5 games (7 runs, 12 receptions)

Furman - 16 in 5 games (3 runs, 16 receptions)

Samford - 13 in 5 games (1 run, 12 receptions)

Mercer - 10 in 5 games (10 receptions)

Wofford - 9 in 4 games (4 runs, 5 receptions)

ETSU - 9 in 5 games (9 receptions)

VMI - 8 in 5 games (1 run, 7 receptions)

The Citadel - 7 in 4 games (2 runs, 5 receptions)

Chattanooga - 2 in 5 games (2 receptions)

Those big plays for Furman are often set up by the running game - or at least the appearance of the run from a tight formation. Just like with the big plays in the passing game, several Paladins have contributed on the ground. Seven different players have rushing touchdowns this season, and there's been a different leading rusher in four of Furman's five games.
"We've got three tailbacks and three fullbacks that we can play and feel really good," Hendrix said. "We can be a little bit fresher and they each bring a little something different to the table."
Last week, fullback Kealand Dirks posted the first 100-yard rushing day for any Furman back this season and scored two touchdowns. Tailback Darius Morehead added 97 yards and a pair of scores as well.
"I really like this offense. I think it suits me better," Dirks said. "We've got (fullbacks) Ridge (Gibson), who's a great blocker, Antonio (Wilcox), who can run outside with those long legs, and I can run it inside."
• This week, Furman hopes those SoCon big play trends continue when it travels to Chattanooga Saturday for a 4 p.m. kickoff. After dominating much of the series, including a 15-game winning streak from 1995-2009, the Paladins have lost each of the last five meetings with the Mocs.
Furman's last win in the series came in a 14-7 victory in 2011 at Chattanooga. The last two trips to Finley Stadium have resulted in blowout losses for the Paladins.
Chattanooga (1-4, 1-1) enters Saturday struggling on offense (251 yards per game) and with a big question of who will start at quarterback.
Preseason all-SoCon second team member Alejandro Bennifield returned from a four-game suspension last week against Western Carolina, but left the game in the first quarter after a vicious hit that knocked his helmet off.
Mississippi State transfer Nick Tiano, who started the first four games with Bennifield out, left in the fourth quarter last week with a shoulder injury. Redshirt freshman Dominic Caldwell played the rest of the game.
Bennifield and Tiano are listed as "or" as the starter on this week's depth chart. There seems to be a feeling that Tiano will get the start. The third quarterback on the depth chart is highly-touted freshman Cole Copeland, but the Mocs are trying to redshirt him.
While Furman's defense enters with an FCS-best 17 sacks this season, Chattanooga has allowed a SoCon-worst 18 sacks.
The Mocs ranks third in the SoCon in total defense (334.6 yards allowed per game) despite not having the services of senior linebacker Dale Warren. Warren, who led the SoCon with 19 tackles-for-loss in 2016, is serving a six-game suspension for an NCAA rules violation and won't be eligible to return until next week.

Paladins racking up points, yards, honors

Furman's Logan McCarter is all smiles following his 64-yard touchdown
reception against ETSU Saturday. Photo courtesy of Furman.

Saturday's 56-35 win over ETSU marked Furman's biggest offensive output since a 62-21 win over Presbyterian on Sept. 24, 2011. The Paladins have piled up more than 100 points over their last two games as they scored 45 the week before at Colgate. The last time that happened was also 2011 as the Paladins followed up that PC game with a 47-21 win over Western Carolina.
For the casual observer it could be tempting to dismiss Furman's offensive showing as it came against an ETSU program in just its third year of play since being resurrected. However, the Buccaneers entered Saturday having gone 2-2 in its last four SoCon games dating back to last season. All four had been decided by eight points or less, including a 15-14 win over Samford last season in which ETSU became the only team in recent memory to shut down the Bulldogs' prolific passing attack.
"It was a good day against a team that's played really good against everybody else," Furman coach Clay Hendrix said after Saturday's game.
As Furman continues to improve each week, its doing so with a multitude for players. The Paladins were substituting seemingly after every offensive play last Saturday and not missing a beat.
A total of seven different Paladins have rushed for a touchdown this season, while six different Paladins have caught touchdowns.
Overcoming injuries
Furman's also persevering while losing starters to injury. The Paladins put up more than 600 yards of offense against ETSU without leading receiver, Thomas Gordon. Gordon has a torn meniscus and will likely miss 2-4 weeks.
Without Gordon, Logan McCarter stepped up posting career highs in receptions (7) and receiving yards (178). He also had a 47-yard kickoff return for a touchdown off an ETSU onside kick.
"I'm glad it was 47 yards. I'm not sure how much further he could've gone," Hendrix teased McCarter afterwards. "He's an east Tennessee guy, so I know that was great for him."
Tight end Andy Schumpert's status was iffy all week as he missed three days of practice because of a virus. The Brentwood, Tenn. native didn't participate in pregame warmups as he received two IV fluid injections instead. He was able to go and continued his knack for big plays with touchdown catches of 32 and 30 yards, respectively.
"Schumpert was sick all week," Hendrix said. "He lost like 15 pounds, but you couldn't tell with how he played."
McCarter and Schumpert helped P.J. Blazejowski post the third 300-yard passing day of his career. He was 17-of-22 for 301 yards with the three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Defensively, the Paladins racked up six sacks without the services of injured starting defensive end Chinedu Okonya. Furman now has an FCS-best 17 sacks, which have been totaled by 13 different Paladins. Okonya, who shares the team lead for sacks (two) with Chris Washington, may be able to return this week at Chattanooga.
Weekly honors
Others took note of Furman's effort against ETSU. Blazejowski was named the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) National FCS Player of the Week, while McCarter was tabbed as the Southern Conference's Special Teams Player of the Week. Another weekly honor came Wednesday when Schumpert was selected as the SoCon's Scholar-Athlete of the Week.
McCarter is the first Paladin to earn SoCon Player of the Week honors since Oct. 31, 2015.
Schumpert is a three-time SoCon Academic Honor Roll selection and recipient of the 2017 Lawrence Kessler Award for Excellence in Accounting. He has a 3.77 cumulative GPA. On the field this season, Schumpert has nine catches for 192 yards and a team-leading three touchdowns.