Paladins topple Mocs, lose to Tigers
By: Owen Mercer
Issue date: 9/11/09 Section: News
"
Normal isn't something to aspire to, it's something to get away from," Jodie Foster once said.
The famed actress could've been talking about the first two plays of the Furman's first Southern Conference game against Chattanooga.
The start of a game is usually predictable and rarely exciting. The first play, a kickoff, is normally followed by a standard offensive play. The first two plays of this game, however, were anything but normal.
On the first play of the game, the Mocs tried to catch the Paladin return team off-guard, attempting a rare onside kick. It worked, and Chattanooga recovered the football at its own 39-yard line. Then, on the first play from scrimmage, Furman's Max Lerner picked off a B.J. Coleman pass and returned it down the sideline for the score to give the Paladins an early 7-0 lead. So much for normal.
The defensive momentum continued on the next possession as Chris Wiley recovered a Chattanooga fumble at the Furman 30-yard line. Furman quarterback Jordan Sorrells then engineered an eight play, 70 yard drive, capped off by a 2-yard touchdown strike to tight end Chris Truss, to put the Paladins up 14-0. After a Moc touchdown, Furman's Tersoo Uhaa scored on a 32-yard run to give the Paladins a 21-7 lead and close a wild opening quarter.
As the 3rd quarter drew to a close, stange situations again helped the Paladins. After a poor snap on a Chattanooga punt attempt, Furman's Ryan Steed recovered the football in the end zone for a Paladin touchdown and a 35-13 lead that Furman would not relinquish. A Furman field goal by Matthew Cesari and a garbage-time touchdown by Chattanooga rounded out the scoring as the Paladins secured the 38-20 win.
In a game that saw one defensive and one special teams touchdown for the Paladins, Furman grabbed a key Southern Conference win as it looks to secure a spot in the postseason FCS Playoff.
"It's always good to open the conference season with a win, especially on the road," Furman coach Bobby Lamb said. "When you can put points on the board with your defense and special teams, it really gives you a lift."
Last Saturday, the Paladins traveled again, taking on Big 12 power Missouri. This time, however, the Paladins were on the short end of the stick, as they lost 52-12. In the first half, the Tigers scored six consecutive touchdowns and were up 42-0 at the break.
There were some bright spots in the second half, however. A 21-yard touchdown from Sorrells to receiver Tyler Maples narrowed the margin to 42-6 and in the 4th quarter, Uhaa capped off an impressive 11 play, 79-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to round out the scoring at 52-12.
The Paladins return to Southern Conference play next week as they travel to face Western Carolina.
Normal isn't something to aspire to, it's something to get away from," Jodie Foster once said.
The famed actress could've been talking about the first two plays of the Furman's first Southern Conference game against Chattanooga.
The start of a game is usually predictable and rarely exciting. The first play, a kickoff, is normally followed by a standard offensive play. The first two plays of this game, however, were anything but normal.
On the first play of the game, the Mocs tried to catch the Paladin return team off-guard, attempting a rare onside kick. It worked, and Chattanooga recovered the football at its own 39-yard line. Then, on the first play from scrimmage, Furman's Max Lerner picked off a B.J. Coleman pass and returned it down the sideline for the score to give the Paladins an early 7-0 lead. So much for normal.
The defensive momentum continued on the next possession as Chris Wiley recovered a Chattanooga fumble at the Furman 30-yard line. Furman quarterback Jordan Sorrells then engineered an eight play, 70 yard drive, capped off by a 2-yard touchdown strike to tight end Chris Truss, to put the Paladins up 14-0. After a Moc touchdown, Furman's Tersoo Uhaa scored on a 32-yard run to give the Paladins a 21-7 lead and close a wild opening quarter.
As the 3rd quarter drew to a close, stange situations again helped the Paladins. After a poor snap on a Chattanooga punt attempt, Furman's Ryan Steed recovered the football in the end zone for a Paladin touchdown and a 35-13 lead that Furman would not relinquish. A Furman field goal by Matthew Cesari and a garbage-time touchdown by Chattanooga rounded out the scoring as the Paladins secured the 38-20 win.
In a game that saw one defensive and one special teams touchdown for the Paladins, Furman grabbed a key Southern Conference win as it looks to secure a spot in the postseason FCS Playoff.
"It's always good to open the conference season with a win, especially on the road," Furman coach Bobby Lamb said. "When you can put points on the board with your defense and special teams, it really gives you a lift."
Last Saturday, the Paladins traveled again, taking on Big 12 power Missouri. This time, however, the Paladins were on the short end of the stick, as they lost 52-12. In the first half, the Tigers scored six consecutive touchdowns and were up 42-0 at the break.
There were some bright spots in the second half, however. A 21-yard touchdown from Sorrells to receiver Tyler Maples narrowed the margin to 42-6 and in the 4th quarter, Uhaa capped off an impressive 11 play, 79-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to round out the scoring at 52-12.
The Paladins return to Southern Conference play next week as they travel to face Western Carolina.