Game #7 - Furman Paladins

For the Catamount's seventh game of the season, #8 Western Carolina remains in Cullowhee after a bye week, as the #4 Furman Paladins travel up the mountain from Travelers Rest, SC for the 2023 football edition of "The Battle for Purple Supremacy, and probably The Southern Conference championship. 

Coming into this game, the Paladins & Catamounts have identical 3-0 conference records and are the only remaining unbeaten teams in conference play, in the SoCon.  The October 21 game is Heroes Day in Cullowhee, as WCU athletics salutes all military personnel – both active and veteran – as well as all first responders. 

Game #7 -  Furman Paladins

When: Saturday, October 21, 2023

Time:  2:30 pm EST
Where: Bob Water Field, Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC
Radio: Catamount Sports Network

     -announcers:  Gary Ayers,  Jeff Bryson
TV/video: ESPN+ 

    -announcers:  Kyle Rush (pbp), Jason Patterson (analyst)

Furman Message Board:  GoPaladins

The Series:  The Cats are 13-35-2 overall against the Paladins in the series that started back in 1972. The Cats had lost 5 in a row to the Paladins, a string that was broken in the 2021 season with a 43-42 win in Whitmire Stadium.  The Cats are 7-11-1 in games played in Cullowhee

Game Notes:   Western Carolina    -     Furman     -      Southern Conference 

The last game played vs. Furman:  Oct. 15, 2022  - Valiant Fourth-Quarter Rally Falls Just Short at Furman, 47-40 - Western Carolina's valiant fourth-quarter rally came up just five yards short on Saturday as the Catamounts fought back to a one-score affair, suffering a 47-40 loss to the Furman Paladins in Southern Conference action at Paladin Stadium. Freshman back-up quarterback Cole Gonzales orchestrated three fourth-quarter scoring drives, capping drives with a nine-yard TJ Jones rushing score and tossing touchdown passes of 42 and 69 yards to classmate Censere Lee as the Catamounts clawed back to within a score, 44-40, with 2:18 to play. WCU's defense limited the Paladins to a field goal on the ensuing possession setting up a frantic finish. 

Head Coach: Clay Hendrix - Was introduced as Furman’s head football coach on December 19, 2016, Clay Hendrix in five seasons has reinvigorated a Paladin football program accustomed to success. Hendrix, a former standout Paladin offensive guard and assistant coach who returned to his alma mater following a decade as an assistant coach at the US Air Force Academy, directed Furman to an 8-5 campaign and Football Championship (FCS) playoff appearance in 2017.

Record At Furman:  : 46-27 (7th Year ) 

Overall Record: Same 

Record vs. SoCon: 35-15

Hendrix vs. Western Carolina: 5-1

Bell vs. Furman:  1-1

Offensive Formation:  Multiple 

Starters: Returning/Lost: 8 / 11

Defensive Formation:   3-4

Starters: Returning/Lost: 10 / 11

Last Season's Record (Furman 2022): 10-3 overall, 5-1 home, 5-2 away, 7-1 in the SoCon 

This Season's Record (Furman 2023):  5-1 overall, 3-0 home, 2-1 away, 3-0 in the SoCon

Coming into "The game of the Week", Western Carolina had a bye week after last weekend's classic between the then  #11 Cats and #24 Chattanooga Mocs – a 52-50 win by the Cats with a walk-off victory on the strength of a 32-yard field goal by Richard McCollum. The win was the sixth straight for Western in SoCon play and snapped a 47-game winless drought against nationally-ranked opponents on the road. 

 
Western's five-game winning streak this season is the longest within one season since the Cats won eight consecutive games in 1983. The five consecutive victories also are the most in a row since the Catamounts won six straight through the final four games of 1984 and the first two games of 1985.  The Cats have won eight straight games against FCS teams dating back to last season including victories in the last three games.

The Paladins were picked to finish first in the SoCon preseason polls (tied with Samford in the coaches poll and #1 pick in the media poll), and 15 Paladins were picked up for preseason all-conference honors (coaches & media), seven first-team and eight-second team. 

Offense - The Paladins returned 18 starters from last year’s squad that went two rounds into the playoffs, losing by only three points to Incarnate Word. Furman fielded a very balanced offense last season, putting up 213 rushing yards and 209 yards per game passing. Eight starters are back for the offense, led by Tyler Huff at quarterback. While the passing attack lost tight end Ryan Miller, three very good wide receivers return, Joshua Harris, Kyndel Dean, and Wayne Anderson.  Dominic Roberto, a running back who had 197 carries for 1,120 yards and 11 TDs. Three starters return on the O-line in Wyatt Hughes and Furman also added transfer Fred Norman Jr. in the offseason, a multi-year starter at e ETSU.

Defense - The Furman defense returned 10 starters from last season that only allowed 20.2 points per game, ranking them in the top 10 FCS scoring defenses. Furman defended the run well last season, allowing only 116 yards per game, however, the pass defense was not as good, giving up  272 yards per game, ranking them at #115 in the subdivision in the pass defense. 

On offense, the Catamounts lead the league in points scored with 248 or 41.3 points per game (ppg). On the defensive side of the ball, Furman ranks first in the league, having given up a total of 134 points, or 22.3 ppg. 

2023 Furman Statistics  (6 games)
Rushing Offense: 1201 yards
Yards per game: 177.5
Yards per rush: 4.4 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 135
TDs rushing: 61
Passing Offense: 1186 yards or 198 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 6.8 yards
Passing 1st downs: 59
Passing Att-Comp-Int: 175-119-4

TDs Passing: 16
Total Offense: 2251 yards or 375 ypg
3d Down Conversions: 47%
4th Down Conversions: 43%
Field Goal-Attempts  5 of 9
On-side kicks: 0 of 1
Red Zone Scores: 27 of 32 

Red Zone Touchdowns: 22 of 32
Avg per punt:  44 yards
Fumbles-Lost: 4-1