SoCon losses doom 'Dins
By: Owen Mercer
Issue date: 11/6/09 Section: Sports
"We're still in the playoff hunt. Our league is so balanced right now."
Furman football coach Bobby Lamb said these words after the Paladin's last-second 19-12 loss to Elon.
After a close win over Samford but losses to The Citadel and Appalachian State, Lamb's words were different: "Our playoff hopes are over. We just have to keep fighting the rest of the season."
After the loss to Elon, the Paladins kept their season alive with a win against the Samford Bulldogs. And keep it alive they did … barely. After a missed field goal by Furman kicker Matthew Cesari kept the score at 26-24, Samford got the ball back at their own 22 yard-line with 1:51 left in the game. Nine plays and 1:50 later, they lined up to kick a game-winning field goal.
Would the Paladins fall victim to a last second field goal for the second straight week or, in a repeat of the 2008 Furman-Samford contest, would the Furman defense block the kick?
As the crowd held its collective breath, Paladin defensive end Kyle McKinney broke through the line and batted down the 38-yard field goal attempt to seal the win.
"I almost had a heart attack," Furman cornerback Ryan Steed said.
Lamb agreed.
"My hair is already gray and this finish just made it grayer. Every Southern Conference game is a battle and we were lucky to come out on top."
After pulling a victory from the jaws of defeat, the Paladins traveled to Charleston to take on SoCon foe The Citadel, a team the Paladins beat 34-20 last season. The result was different this time, as Citadel quarterback Miguel Starks rolled up 327 total yards and five touchdowns in a 38-28 Citadel win. The Paladin defense was unable to contain Starks, who made his first start at quarterback, and The Citadel had its way with the Paladins all afternoon.
The Furman offense kept the game close, however, as Jordan Sorrells tossed three touchdown passes, two of which went to David Hendrix.
In the end, however, mistakes on defense, offense and special teams doomed the Paladins.
Furman football coach Bobby Lamb said these words after the Paladin's last-second 19-12 loss to Elon.
After a close win over Samford but losses to The Citadel and Appalachian State, Lamb's words were different: "Our playoff hopes are over. We just have to keep fighting the rest of the season."
After the loss to Elon, the Paladins kept their season alive with a win against the Samford Bulldogs. And keep it alive they did … barely. After a missed field goal by Furman kicker Matthew Cesari kept the score at 26-24, Samford got the ball back at their own 22 yard-line with 1:51 left in the game. Nine plays and 1:50 later, they lined up to kick a game-winning field goal.
Would the Paladins fall victim to a last second field goal for the second straight week or, in a repeat of the 2008 Furman-Samford contest, would the Furman defense block the kick?
As the crowd held its collective breath, Paladin defensive end Kyle McKinney broke through the line and batted down the 38-yard field goal attempt to seal the win.
"I almost had a heart attack," Furman cornerback Ryan Steed said.
Lamb agreed.
"My hair is already gray and this finish just made it grayer. Every Southern Conference game is a battle and we were lucky to come out on top."
After pulling a victory from the jaws of defeat, the Paladins traveled to Charleston to take on SoCon foe The Citadel, a team the Paladins beat 34-20 last season. The result was different this time, as Citadel quarterback Miguel Starks rolled up 327 total yards and five touchdowns in a 38-28 Citadel win. The Paladin defense was unable to contain Starks, who made his first start at quarterback, and The Citadel had its way with the Paladins all afternoon.
The Furman offense kept the game close, however, as Jordan Sorrells tossed three touchdown passes, two of which went to David Hendrix.
In the end, however, mistakes on defense, offense and special teams doomed the Paladins.