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Greenville, S.C. - Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Spearman Robinson hauled in two receiving touchdowns and freshman tailback Detrez Newsome added two rushing scores as Western Carolina opened Southern Conference play with a convincing 35-17 road victory over Furman Saturday afternoon at Paladin Stadium.

Robinson, playing close to his hometown of Greenwood, S.C., finished with five catches for 120 yards and two first half scores as the Catamounts jumped out to 14-3 lead midway through the second quarter. Junior tailback Darius Ramsey carried the ball 17 times for 113 yards and a late second quarter TD to cap an eight-play drive that staked WCU to a 21-3 advantage.

Newsome added two rushing scores between the third and fourth quarters to cap WCU's scoring, his third-consecutive two-TD outing.

Saturday's victory in its Southern Conference opener snapped four long losing skids for the Catamounts - 22-straight on the road, 15 in a row away from home vs. league opponents, nine-straight road losses at Furman and eight consecutive defeats overall to Furman.

"It's just one ball game, but it's a big ball game," said WCU coach Mark Speir during post-game comments with the Catamount Sports Network. "I'm not worried about breaking streaks or anything like that, but to win at Furman, and be 1-0 in the conference, that's a big deal for this football team."

Speir added, "The biggest thing coming out of today's game is we came down here against a good football team, and when we made mistakes, the other side came out and took care of business for us."

Catamount quarterback Troy Mitchell amassed 252 yards of total offense including 70 yards rushing and 182 passing yards on a 12-for-19 performance. Newsome rushed for 36 yards while Shaun Warren added 13 on the ground. Redshirt junior WR Karnorris Benson made his first receptions of the season, recording three catches for 36 yards.

WCU finished with 415 yards of offense on what was the league's top-rated defense entering the weekend. The Catamounts attempted just six second half passes, grinding out the victory on the ground.

Robinson hauled in the game's first points on a 39-yard scoring strike on the game's opening drive in the first quarter. J.C. Hollingsworth answered as the rookie placekicker split the uprights from 51 yards away to trim the deficit to four, 7-3. It would prove to be as close as Furman would get.

WCU's quick-strike offense put six on the board in just two plays as Robinson caught his second TD of the day on a 21-yard reception midway through the second quarter with Ramsey racing in untouched off the left end late in the frame to make it 21-3 in favor of the Purple & Gold.

The Catamounts led at the break, 21-10, as Furman ended the half with a five-yard touchdown reception by tight end Duncan Fletcher.

Western Carolina opened second half scoring after the defenses traded possession changes as Newsome capped an eight-play, 72-yard drive with a seven-yard score only to have Furman answer, closing the third quarter and opening the fourth with a 92-yard drive that took nine plays. Wide receiver Jordan Snellings hauled in a pass in the left flat and cut it up the middle of the field for a 28-yard pitch-and-catch touchdown from reserve QB P.J. Blazejowski.

With the game still hanging in the balance after Furman cut the margin to 11 at 28-17, the Paladins forced and recovered a fumble on a kickoff that gave the home squad excellent field position. WCU's defense stiffened, though, forcing a 35-yard field goal attempt after a three-and-out that was missed, ultimately sealing the game.

The Catamounts would add Newsome's second rushing score to provide the final tally, 35-17.

Furman was held to 314 total yards on Saturday including just 106 yards on the ground and 208 yards passing. Starting QB Dillon Woodruff finished 10-for-20 with an interception and 133 yards passing while Blazejowski finished just 4-for-15 passing with an interception and the TD pass. Blazejowski, who sparked Furman in the second half, led the Paladins with 56 rushing yards.

Defensively for the Catamounts, senior Christon Gill recorded a team-best seven tackles including four solo stops and half a tackle for loss with lineman Kelvin Ume and linebacker Daniel Riddle posting six stops apiece.

WCU broke up nine passes including three by Jaleel Lorquet and two apiece by Sertonuse Harris, Fred Payne and Trey Morgan. The latter two - Morgan and Payne - both recorded interceptions while Caleb Hawkins tallied a sack.

All told, Western Carolina overcame three turnovers on the day as Mitchell tossed his first interception of the season and the Catamounts gave away two fumbles. WCU, which entered the weekend leading the conference in turnover margin, did tally the two INTs.

Western Carolina plays its second-straight road game next Saturday as it travels back down I-26 to face the Presbyterian Blue Hose (2-2) at Bailey Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 pm.