CSN So South: Paladins Get Back in the Race with Upset of Rival Wofford

Stung by consecutive SoCon losses – including a thumping at rival Georgia Southern a week earlier – Furman came out with intensity and intention and held on to defeat Wofford 26-21 in Greenville. The Paladins’ win improves their conference record to 3-2 and enhances their prospects for a top-tier SoCon finish.

By Myron Hosea
So South Columnist
College Sporting News

Furman pulled out a two-score lead in the third quarter and then responded in the fourth quarter after Eric Breitenstein’s touchdown – the first of two in the final period – cut it to a one-score lead. Tersoo Uhaa punched it in to give the Paladins a 26-14 lead. Breitenstein’s second touchdown led to the final score of 26-21. The Terriers could not complete the comeback.

The game featured the SoCon’s top two rushers and each of them scored a pair of touchdowns. Breitenstein ran for 129 yards on 24 carries. Furman’s Jerodis Williams, meanwhile, gained 155 and 22 carries, and both of his touchdowns came in the first half. Wofford led 284 to 208 in rushing and 351 to 318 in total yards but suffered two interceptions.

Some defenders racked up impressive numbers. Mitch McGrath, Kadarron Anderson, and Gary Wilkins had 13 total tackles apiece while their Furman teammates Nathan Wade and Greg Worthy finished with 11 and 10 respectively. Wofford’s James Zotto and Mike Niam registered 12 total tackles each.

Appalachian State scored 21 second-quarter points and defeated Samford 35-17. The Mountaineers got production from several players, especially running back Travaris Cadet. He delivered 258 all-purpose yards, including 139 yards and two touchdowns rushing.

Quarterback Jamal Jackson threw for 290 yards and two touchdowns. He hit Brian Quick for a 69-yard touchdown pass.

The Citadel got its triple-option offense rolling in Cullowhee in defeating Western Carolina 35-7. The Bulldogs, who pounded out a 21-0 first-half lead, rushed for 435 yards. Darien Robinson ran for 106 yards on 13 carries while Rickey Anderson needed just six attempts to run for 95 yards.

A couple of quick scores – one offensive and one defensive – helped Chattanooga jump out early and pick up a 42-18 road win at Elon.

Less than two minutes after the Mocs’ offense scored the game’s first touchdown, linebacker Gunner Miller returned an interception 24 yards for a touchdown to give Chattanooga a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Chattanooga would double its point total before the half ended, leading 28-3 at the break.

Quarterback Terrell Robinson, making his second start, ran for 115 yards and hit 11 of 13 pass attempts for 140 yards and three touchdowns.

Elon receivers Jeremy Peterson and Aaron Mellette combined for 17 catches and 186 yards.

Top-ranked Georgia Southern continued to roll, defeating Presbyterian College of the Big South 48-14 in Statesboro. The Eagles led 38-0 at halftime and finished with 353 yards on the ground. Four different players scored the Eagles’ five rushing touchdowns, and the Georgia Southern defense also registered a touchdown.

Elsewhere in the Big South, Ron Dickerson, Jr. got his first signature win as head coach at Gardner-Webb as the Runnin’ Bulldogs knocked off Coastal Carolina 26-24 on the road.

Bulldogs placekicker Trever Austin booted four field goals, including the 31-yard game-winner as time expired.

Austin’s kick capped a wild last half of the final period. Travis Small scored on a two-yard run for the Chanticleers at 7:21 to cut Gardner-Webb’s lead to 20-17. At 2:06, Austin kicked a 32-yard field goal for a six-point lead, but Tre Henderson returned the kickoff 86 yards with 1:53 left. Grant Clayton’s extra point gave Coastal Carolina a brief 24-23 lead before the Bulldogs drove for Austin’s game winner.

Gardner-Webb held a 405 to 267 edge in total yardage and rushed for 223 yards. Ricky Rhodes ran for 143 of those yards on 33 carries. He also tossed a short touchdown pass to James “Pork Chop” Dugas, one of the tight end’s two scoring receptions.

Linebacker Marty Patterson led the Bulldogs’ defense with 10 solo tackles.

Liberty continued to stay ahead of the pack by beating Charleston Southern in Charleston 38-16. The Flames raced to 24 second-quarter points for a 31-0 halftime lead.

Some of those points came from the defense. KuJuan Lee returned an interception 100 for a touchdown while Scott Hyland added a 22-yard interception return for a score, both in the second quarter. Kevin Fogg then returned the second-half kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown.

Running back Aldreakis Allen ran for 126 yards on 16 carries for the Flames.

Stony Brook kept pace by whipping VMI 42-14. The Seawolves didn’t pull away until the second half, though, as they led 7-0 at halftime.

To break away, Stony Brook scored three times in three-and-a-half minutes. First, quarterback Kyle Essington connected with Kevin Norrell on a 31-yard touchdown pass. Then Brock Jackolski ran seven yards for a score. Grant Nakwaasah returned a fumble 29 yards for the touchdown.

Running back Miguel Maysonet ran 15 times for 141 yards and a touchdown. VMI’S Aaron Lewis caught four passes for 118 yards and a touchdown.

GAMES OF OCT. 29, 2011

Charleston Southern (0-7/0-2) at Gardner-Webb (2-5/1-2), 1:00 p.m.

It’s been a dreary season for Charleston Southern, and now they go on the road to face a Bulldogs team coming off a big win. The Bucs haven’t won in Boiling Springs since 2005. Gardner-Webb’s defense, led by linebacker Marty Patterson (37 solo tackles in last four games), will try to continue Charleston Southern’s streak of going scoreless in the first quarter. The Bucs are 0-for in the opening period of eight straight going back to last season.

VMI (1-6) at The Citadel (3-4), 1:00 p.m.

It’s the renewal of the Military Classic of the South – Silver Shako, isn’t it – as these two historic Southern schools meet in Charleston. Both teams won last week, which was the first time this season for VMI. The Bulldogs have had a touch of Jekyll and Hyde thus far, but they seem to be getting much more comfortable in their offense than do the Keydets. The Citadel won the last meeting 70-28 in 2007.

Elon (4-4/2-3) at Wofford (5-2/3-1), 1:30 p.m.

We figured the margin of error for a team with designs on the SoCon title would be one loss. That would mean that Wofford no longer has a margin of error if they look to have a shot at the crown, particularly with Georgia Southern and Chattanooga still ahead. The Terriers shouldn’t consider the Phoenix an easy mark. When Elon isn’t turning the ball over, its offense can be potent. Of course, this game does feature the nation’s number two rushing offense (Wofford) against the nation’s 99th-ranked rush defense (Elon).

Furman (4-3/3-2) at Chattanooga (4-4/2-3), 2:00 p.m.

This is a pivotal game for both teams if they plan to finish near the top of the league. The Mocs have played well the past two weeks, and Furman is coming off a super win. So this game matches teams on an upswing. Will Furman be seeking redemption for the fourth-quarter debacle last season when Chattanooga rallied for a win?

Georgia Southern (7-0/5-0) at Appalachian State (5-2/3-1), 3:00 p.m.

A lot of games are big this time of the season, but this one really is big – on both the conference and national stages. The top-ranked Eagles can take a large step closer to the league crown with a win, while the Mountaineers can open the race up. Neither program has a real edge in this series. Appalachian State leads it 13-12-1.

Presbyterian College (2-5/1-1) at Liberty (5-3/3-0), 3:30 p.m.

The Blue Hose will have a significant challenge trying to break a five-game losing streak in away games during a visit to Liberty. The Flames have won four straight overall. In the past three, Liberty has jumped to leads of 21-0, 42-0, and 38-0 before its opponents have scored.

Western Carolina (1-6/0-5) at Samford (4-3/2-3), 3:30 p.m.

Hopes for a turnaround have faded again for the Catamounts, who will suffer another losing season. They can gain a measure of hope for the future by getting a win or two in the final stretch of 2011, beginning with this road game at Samford. The Bulldogs can still get a winning season, so this game will be important. Samford leads the series 7-1.

Coastal Carolina (4-3/1-2) at Stony Brook (4-3/2-0), 4:00 p.m.

The Chanticleers’ plan to return to the playoffs is in serious trouble, making this game up North a must win. They would still need help, but without a win at Stony Brook, it’s done. The Seawolves have four consecutive wins and want to keep steamrolling toward a showdown with Liberty. Stony Brook has won all three games in this series, but the average margin of victory in those games is just 6.7 points.