GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Presbyterian College football team came within inches of winning its road game at Furman on Saturday, but the Paladins blocked a 23-yard field goal with 18 seconds left to hold on for a narrow win, 21-20.
Both teams move to 1-2 on the season. The Blue Hose will take a bye week to prepare for a home game against Charlotte on Saturday, September 28 at 2 p.m. Furman next travels to The Citadel on September 28.
The Blue Hose built a 20-7 lead before halftime that evaporated when the Paladins used two straight Hank McCloud touchdowns to get back in front. With 6:32 remaining in the game, PC strung together a 14-play, 48-yard drive that put the team six yards from paydirt. Facing fourth down with 18 seconds on the clock, a timeout set up a field goal attempt between the hash marks. Brett Wilson (Apopka, Fla.) launched the try but the Paladins managed to get a hand on the kick and seal the win, 21-20.
Kaleb Griffin (Florence, S.C.) delivered one of his best performances in a PC uniform, tossing for 135 yards on a 15-for-18 effort and rushing for 21 yards. Part of his stellar percentage came from completing his first nine passes of the day. Demarcus Rouse (North Augusta, S.C.) enjoyed a solid day on the ground by running for 89 yards and two touchdowns.
Furman mistakes cost the Paladins in the opening half. Two fumbles led directly to a pair of PC touchdowns as the Blue Hose led 20-7 at halftime
The Paladins scored first in methodical, straightforward fashion. Furman opened the game with 16 straight rushes—and no passes—to march down the field and score a six-yard touchdown keeper from quarterback Reese Hannon. The drive spanned 8:47 of the opening quarter and put the home side ahead, 7-0.
The total stood at 18 rushes before Furman tried its first pass on a third down play. The PC defense proved ready, as Breyon Williams (Lancaster, S.C.) found a hole and sacked Hannon for a big loss to bring up fourth down. Punter Ray Early couldn't handle the snap and fell on the ball to give PC possession on the Furman four yard-line. The Blue Hose capitalized immediately, handing the ball to Rouse for a short touchdown run to the outside that tied the game at 7-7 late in the first quarter.
PC strung solid defensive plays on both ends to go ahead in the second quarter. Ugonna Akoh (Athens, Ga.) sniffed a reverse out for a 12-yard loss that helped to end a Furman drive and give the ball pack to PC.
The Blue Hose offense then assembled a 13-play, 82-yard drive that ended with LaQua Mayes (Rose Hill, Kan.) punching in a three-yard rush. During the series, Blake Roberts (Cumming, Ga.) juked his way on third-and-11 for a PC first down and a pair of Griffin scrambles moved PC to the seven. Mayes's touchdown made the score 14-7 in favor of the visitors midway through the second quarter.
Breyon Williams delivered another huge defensive play on Furman's next series, recovering a fumble to start a PC drive in enemy territory. Rouse and the Blue Hose offense needed only two plays to take advantage, as the running back rushed for 12 yards before breaking off a 29-yarder into the end zone. After a missed extra point, PC lead 20-7 with 4:01 left in the half.
Furman attempted a 43-yard field goal shortly before halftime that sailed wide right and sent the teams into halftime with PC ahead, 20-7.
In a reversal of fortune from earlier, mistakes hurt the Blue Hose in the third quarter. A PC fumble and two penalties helped Furman move all the way to the two-yard line, where Hank McCloud punched it in to pull the Paladins within a touchdown late in the period, 20-14.
A three-and-out gave the ball back to Furman with time left in the third. The Paladins turned to McCloud again and the redshirt junior obliged, capping a short drive with a 26-yard scamper into the end zone to put Furman back ahead, 21-20.
The Blue Hose logged another long drive that led to an unsuccessful 33-yard field goal attempt. Tobi Antigha (Tampa, Fla.) made four catches for 49 yards during the series and Joey Gilkey (Woodstock, Ga.) hauled in a short pass on third-and-10 and ran for a crucial conversion.
PC's chances came down to the final drive and special teams heroics from the Paladins.
Defensively, Ed Britt (Greensboro, N.C.) led PC with 10 total tackles. Cory White (Anderson, S.C.) made eight and Donelle Williams (Starke, Fla.) added seven. The PC defense bottled up Hannon as the sophomore threw for only 51 yards on a 10-for-19 afternoon.
Furman's McCloud led all rushers with 102 yards and two touchdowns.
