By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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With the pressure mounting, the Paladins answered by scoring the final 21 points of the game.

After losing a heartbreaker to VMI in a contest where Furman had the ball, down one, just outside of the redzone with less than a minute remaining, the Paladins found themselves down two touchdowns late in the fourth quarter at home to Samford. Their season, for lack of a better phrase, was on the brink. From there, a Furman team with national expectations fought for and found meaningful momentum. The Paladins scored 14 consecutive points at the end of regulation to force overtime. The extra period came with more of the same.

Simply put, Furman found a way.

An untimely fumble cost the Paladins an opportunity at VMI last Saturday. A deciding recovery was the difference for Furman in a wild overtime win this weekend.

The dramatic late home triumph changes everything for the Paladins. Now 2-1, fresh off two wild finishes, Furman remains near the top of the Southern Conference standings. Looking ahead, the Paladins still have showcase opportunities against the likes of nationally-ranked Chattanooga and Wofford on the schedule, with both of those games set to be played in Greenville. Up next, a road test against East Tennessee State will be key.

Furman should enter the remainder of its schedule with a new energy. This is a team that lost a tough game, appeared to be set for another defeat and, instead, rallied, against all odds, when it mattered most. The spring season for the SoCon has been competitive and unpredictable; for the Paladins to start mid-March with a winning record and one loss by just one point means they are directly in the mix. All things considered, Furman should feel pretty good about things.

It took a remarkable run to shift that perspective.

Quarterback Hamp Sisson found Ryan DeLuca for a critical 31-yard touchdown pass with 6:12 remaining in the fourth quarter to pull the Paladins within one score. Following a defensive stop, Sisson promptly connected with Ryan Miller on a signature 73-yard strike that ultimately tied the contest. Devin Wynn opened overtime with a nine yard scoring run on the second play from scrimmage. A forced fumble by Matt Sochovka, recovered by Cally Chizik, the son of former Auburn head coach Gene Chizik, secured Furman the much-needed victory.

With the pressure mounting, the Paladins answered by scoring the final 21 points of the game.0

Though Furman still hasn’t it played its best football of the season, the Paladins, given their finish, now have a springboard forward. Improved consistency, as the end of the Samford game showed, is within reach. Furman compiled 525 yards of total offense against Samford. Sisson topped 300 total yards and scored four total times, Wynn added another 100-yard rushing game and a touchdown DeLuca topped 100 receiving yards with a score. Defensively, Darius Kearse had a key interception.

Beyond just the victory, which was a must, there are multiple positives on which to build. Most importantly, the fact that Furman kept fighting.

Somehow, the Paladins got down 24-7 on an afternoon where they threw a pick-six, gave up a punt return for a touchdown, trailed by two touchdowns midway through the fourth quarter and won. Good teams win when they don’t necessarily play well. Furman did just that. The season, for the Paladins, now looks much different.