GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Anderson University (0-1) football fell to Furman (1-0) with a final score of 20-3 on Thursday at Paladin Stadium.
"First and foremost, a big THANK YOU to the Trojan faithful… What a crowd!" said head coach
Bobby Lamb. "I'm incredibly proud of our football team and the effort they gave tonight. We came up short, but I truly believe we have a special football team. The fight, heart, and determination they displayed are something to be proud of. We'll learn from this, get back to work, and keep pushing forward. Proud to be a Trojan!"
Kenneth Brown led the Trojans with six receptions, totaling 75 yards. Quarterback
Wilson Edwards completed 19 of 31 passes for 154 yards, maintaining a steady offensive presence. On defense,
Carter Wit contributed significantly with nine tackles and an interception, surpassing the 150-tackle milestone in his career and now totaling 154. Alexander Ledford also made his mark defensively, recording eight tackles during the matchup.
The first quarter began with Anderson receiving the kickoff, starting their initial drive at their own 15-yard line. Edwards connected with
Seth Fischbach for a 25-yard pass, but a fumble ended the drive prematurely, giving possession to Furman. Anderson's defense held strong, forcing the Paladins to attempt a 42-yard field goal, which was missed, keeping the score level. The Trojans' defensive efforts were crucial in holding the Paladins scoreless in the first quarter.
The Trojans then advanced the ball with effective passing from Edwards, including an 8-yard completion to Brown. A personal foul on Furman further aided the drive, but it stalled at Furman's 37-yard line, resulting in a punt. As the quarter closed, neither team had managed to score, leaving the scoreboard at 0-0.
The second quarter opened with the Trojans holding Furman to a three-and-out, highlighted by
Ivan Williams' defensive play that forced an incomplete pass. Anderson then mounted a drive with Edwards connecting with Brown for a key third-down conversion. A later drive was capped by a 28-yard field goal from
Ross Burnette, narrowing the score gap.
Furman responded with a 47-yard rush by CJ Nettles, setting up a touchdown drive. Anderson's defense, including tackles by
Cade Eavenson and
Fuller Sims, managed to disrupt Furman's momentum temporarily. However, the Paladins closed the quarter with a second touchdown drive, culminating in a short rush by Ben Croasdale. The period ended with Furman leading 17-3.
The third period commenced with Anderson delivering a strong defensive play as Wit intercepted a pass from Furman's Jake Garcia at the Anderson 4-yard line, halting Furman's advance. The Trojans then initiated a drive that was assisted by a pivotal roughing-the-passer penalty against Furman, allowing Edwards to connect with Brown for a 12-yard gain, advancing to their own 37-yard line. Anderson's defense continued to excel, holding the Paladins scoreless in the third quarter with key red-zone stops.
Despite the momentum, Anderson's subsequent drive stalled, resulting in a punt by Samuel Mullis that pinned the Paladins at their own 10-yard line. Furman responded with a determined drive, reaching the Anderson 12-yard line, yet a missed 29-yard field goal attempt by Nathan Chapman kept the score unchanged. The period closed with the Trojans maintaining a defensive stand, while Furman held a 17-3 lead.
As the fourth quarter began, the Trojans faced early challenges, with
Darren Lloyd being tackled for a loss on a rushing attempt. Edwards managed to connect with
Zay Williams on a third-down pass for a short gain, but Anderson was forced to punt, giving Furman possession at its own 45-yard line.
The Paladins steadily advanced, eventually converting a 30-yard field goal, which extended their lead. The Trojans resumed play with a drive starting at their 25-yard line, where Edwards found
Rob Sanders for a short completion. However, the drive stalled, and Anderson punted once more after a series of incomplete passes.
Anderson started a drive deep in their territory in the late going of the contest, at their 5-yard line. Despite a series of completions by Edwards to
Devin Larry, the offense could not sustain momentum, compounded by penalties. The game concluded with Furman running out the clock, finalizing a 20-3 victory.
Up next for the Trojans is a matchup against Keiser University on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 6 p.m.
