By Southern Pigskin Staff
SouthernPigskin.com

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Recapping all of the weekend action in the SoCon.

nBucknell (3-1) 28, VMI (1-4, 0-1) 22 in OT

nVMI couldnxe2x80x99t hold on to a 19-7 fourth quarter lead and fell in overtime to the visiting Bucknell Bison 28-22.xc2xa0 Bucknell began its comeback after a 42-yard VMI scoring play to extend the lead to 12 with an 85-yard kickoff return for touchdown by Joey DeFloria to cut the Keydets’ lead to 19-14 with a ten and a half minutes left.xc2xa0 After a VMI punt on the ensuing possession, Bucknell marched 57 yards in eight plays, culminating with a nine-yard R.J. Nitti to Will Carter touchdown pass to the back corner of the end zone that gave the Bison the lead. Nitti converted the two-point play, making it 22-19 with 4:55 left.xc2xa0 VMI had one last crack at it regaining the ball with 1:50 to go and drove into field goal range behind Al Cobb completing four out of five passes on the drive to set up Dillon Christopherxe2x80x99s 40-yard game-tying field goal as time expired.xc2xa0 Christopher then missed a 38-yard field goal try in overtime setting the stage for Bucknell to take the win with a 23-yard touchdown run by Matt DelMauro.xc2xa0 VMI will jump back onto SoCon play this week hosting Samford.

nWestern Carolina (2-2) 33, Presbyterian (1-4) 21

nWestern Carolina enjoyed a career day from sophomore running back Detrez Newsome to fight off the rainy weather and a pesky Presbyterian squad 33-21 in Cullowhee.xc2xa0 Newsome, had a career high 189 yards rushing and two touchdowns helping the Catamounts overcome a 21-20 deficit entering the fourth quarter.xc2xa0 Western Carolina owned the fourth quarter possessing the ball for over 11 minutes while scoring twice to hold the upset-minded Blue Hose at bay.xc2xa0 The Catamounts out-gained Presbyterian, 151-to-27, including 115 yards on the ground while holding the Blue Hose to just 13 rushing yards in the fourth quarter.xc2xa0 Newsome went over 200 all purpose yards and scored 2 touchdowns in a game for the second week in a row adding 48 kickoff return yards to his career high rushing numbers.xc2xa0 Western Carolina signal caller Troy Mitchell went over 300 total yard with 75 on the ground and 226 through the air.xc2xa0 Freshman kicker Logan Howard got in on the action as well battling the elements to boot a pair of field goals including a career long 46 yarder.xc2xa0 The Catamounts host Mercer this week in Cullowhee.
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nWofford (3-2, 1-0) 34, Mercer (2-2, 0-1) 33

nWofford survived a furious comeback by Mercer to force overtime and a missed Bear extra point in overtime to secure their first SoCon win of the season 34-33 in Macon.xc2xa0 Mercer scored ten points in the final four minutes of regulation to force overtime and then scored on a 25 yard pass from John Russ to Avery Ward on the first play of overtime to take a 33-27 lead but then missed the extra point setting the stage for the Terriers to grab the win.xc2xa0 The Terriers overtime possession began with a Lorenzo Long first down and then Evan Jacks scampered 14 yards for the touchdown.xc2xa0 The extra point by David Martin sailed through the uprights and Wofford grabbed the 34-33 overtime win.xc2xa0 Wofford finished with 434 total yards, with 391 on the ground. Mercer had 464 total yards, 277 through the air.xc2xa0 Wofford travels to Charleston to take on The Citadel this week and Mercer will head north to take on the Catamounts of Western Carolina.

nFurman (3-2, 1-0) 17, South Carolina State (2-2) 3

nFurmanxe2x80x99s defense led the way along with freshman running back Tristan Lukexe2x80x99s 2 touchdowns, his last coming with 7:37 left to seal the win, on 75 yards rushing to defeat visiting South Carolina State 17-3 in a rainy Paladin Stadium Saturday night.xc2xa0 Furmanxe2x80x99s offense stagnant at times, gaining just 32 yards over the span of the 2nd and 3rd quarters, put together a nine play, 59 yard drive in the fourth quarter ending with Lukexe2x80x99s second touchdown of the night put the game away extending the Paladin lead to the final margin of 17-3.xc2xa0 Furmanxe2x80x99s defense was again led by a 2 interception performance by safety Trey Robinson, who now leads the SoCon with 6 on the year, and a huge goal line stand tackle made by Brian Ross in the 3rd quarter.xc2xa0 Furman, which registered three takeaways in the game and did not suffer a turnover, got a career high 19 tackles from linebacker Carl Rider and 13 stops from Cory Magwood.xc2xa0 The Paladins take to the road this week to take on two time defending SoCon champion Chattanooga at 1:00.

nWritten by Robbie Ross