Oct. 2, 2004

Final Stats

Greenville, S.C. - Western Carolina outgained Furman 351 yards to 285, but the Catamounts suffered three turnovers as the second-ranked Paladins were able to hand the Catamounts a 31-10 setback Saturday afternoon in the Southern Conference season opener for both teams at Paladin Stadium.

In addition to outgaining the Paladins in offense, Western's defense held Furman (4-1, 1-0 SoCon) to just 117 rushing yards (2.9 yards per carry) despite the Paladins coming into the game ranked third nationally in rushing offense with a 271 yards per game average. Furman was also averaging 521.8 yards of total offense per game prior to the Cats (2-3, 0-1 SoCon) holding the Paladins to just 285.

Ingle Martin, a junior quarterback transfer from the University of Florida, completed 17-of-25 passes for 168 yards and threw for two touchdown, while rushing for 16 yards to lead the Paladins. However, the Paladins' key play of the game was, after committing a turnover early in the third quarter with a 17-3 lead, Furman defensive back Jeremy Blocker picked off a pass and returned it 58 yards for a 24-3 advantage.

Furman took the opening kickoff and used 18 plays to move 80 yards to grab a 7-0 lead on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Martin to Daric Carter with 6:19 left in the first quarter.

Western Carolina got on the board in the second period when Tim Mayse converted a 26-yard field goal to make it 7-3 with 4:42 remaining.

Furman answered on the ensuing possession to increase its advantage to 14-3 with a six-play, 65-yard drive that netted a 1-yard touchdown plunge by fullback Jerome Felton with 1:55 left in the half.

Western Carolina's failure to convert a fourth-and-one play at the Furman 45 led to the Paladins' final tally of the first half. Using three pass completions and a 9-yard run by Martin to the Western Carolina 25, Scott Beckler booted a 42-yard field goal with only five seconds left to extend Furman's lead to 17-3.

Western Carolina's Rico Reese's fumble recovery at the Furman 37 on the Paladins' first play of the second half provided the Catamounts with a scoring opportunity. Two plays later, however, quarterback Justin Clark, who was in for the injured starter Bennett Swygert, lost grip of the football and Blocker picked it off in the backfield and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown, giving Furman a 24-3 lead at the 11:50 juncture.

The Paladins increased their advantage to 31-3 when Ingle Martin connected with Brian Bratton on a 24-yard pass to Western Carolina 1, where Bratton fumbled into the end zone and it was recovered by teammate Grant Brigham with 3:21 to go in the third quarter.

Western Carolina got on track in the fourth period, piling up 158 yards in offense and its lone touchdown of the contest, which came on Nicholas Wishart 2-yard scoring run at the 10:08 mark.

The Catamounts, however, failed to draw closer after redshirt freshman Russell Hamby was picked off twice in the end zone by Furman's T.J. Wilson and William Freeman to end Catamount scoring threats.

Western Carolina was paced on defense by Primus Glover's nine stops, which included a tackle-for-loss. Jada Sullivan and O.J. Owens each added six tackles. Offensively, Darius Fudge came off the bench to park the offense in the fourth quarter, gaining 58 yards on four carries. His day was highlighted by a career-long, 45-yard carry to set up the Cats' lone TD. Wishart averaged 4.8 yards per carry, gaining 53 yards on 11 attempts. Swygert completed 14-of-20 passes for 87 yards befor leaving with a shoulder injury.

The Catamounts return home to host third-ranked Georgia Southern next Saturday (Oct. 9) for Hall of Fame and Family Weekend.