For the first time in 35 years, Presbyterian College holds bragging rights in football over Furman University. The Blue Hose came out victorious against the #12 Paladins largely due to their lock down defense and excellent work on special teams.

Furman started quickly, as they attempted a field goal on their first drive. Right when it looked like it was about to be a long night for the Blue Hose, the field goal was blocked, keeping the score at 0-0. The Paladins were able to score later on in the quarter, however, as Dillon Woodruff connected with Chad Scott for a 43 yard touchdown late in the 1^st Quarter. The Paladins quickly recovered the ball following a Blue Hose fumble and began to drive again as the 1^st Quarter drew to a close.

The Blue Hose defense needed to come up big as Furman started the 2^nd Quarter, and they did, as the forced the Paladins to kick a field goal. The second attempted field goal of the night was also the second unsuccessful field goal as Jon Croft Hollingsworth missed to the right. The Blue Hose saw their opportunity to fight back, and they took it as Heys McMath and Darnell Bridges led the offense down the field, driving 61 yards and ending in a Brett Wilson field goal, to make the score 7-3 in Furman’s favor at half time.

The 3^rd Quarter was filled with a lot of tension built up by drives that failed to come to anything. Neither offense was able to find the spark, which meant the 4^th Quarter was going to be crucial and filled with drama. It didn’t disappoint.

Furman started the 4^th Quarter with the ball, still failing to find the spark needed to move further ahead in what had become an incredible football game. Things took a turn for the worst for the Paladins, though, as Male Athlete of the Week, DaRon Dickey forced Woodruff to fumble the football and he recovered it on Furman’s 35-yard line. This was the chance for the Blue Hose. Led on the ground by Bridges and Demarcus Rouse, PC found themselves in a 3^rd and Goal situation. McMath took the football, and searched the field for an open man. He threw it to his right and found Kris Hurley for a touchdown, giving PC their first lead in the game, 10-7. Now it was time for the defense to finish the job, and they did, forcing Furman to punt on their next drive and stopping the Paladins on 4^th down to give the #12 Paladins their first loss of the 2014 season.

Punter Stephen Doar and the players on special teams played phenomenally, as 5 of Doar’s 8 punts were downed behind Furman’s 20 yard line, including one downed all the way back to the 2 yard line.

With this win, the Blue Hose improve to 2-1 on the season while the Paladins drop their first game this year, also with a record of 2-1. PC will travel to Raleigh, North Carolina on Saturday as they take on the 3-0 NC State Wolfpack.