KENNESAW, Ga. – Furman found itself in a difficult spot on Saturday.

Kennesaw, named for a nearby mountain and battle, is nestled on the outskirts of Atlanta, and its university is noted for an upwardly mobile football team. The Paladins escaped Fifth Third Bank Field with a 31-28 victory.

The aforemention football team, the Kennesaw State Owls, caught the Paladins between South Carolina and the Southern Conference opener. It’s not a team to look past.

Ian Williams calmly kicked the game-winning, 19-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining, capping an eight-play, 63-yard drive after Kennesaw State tied the game at 28-28 on a Garland Benyard 49-yard touchdown run with 3:29 remaining.

Furman (2-1) just went back to work.

KSU’s Conor Cummins kicked off out of bounds, giving Tyler Huff and his mates possession at their own 35.

Huff, the graduate from Orange Park, Fla., became the first Furman quarterback ever to rush for four touchdowns in a game.

Huff hit Ben Ferguson for 21 yards on the first play, then found Mason Pline for eight. Jayquan Smith rushed for five yards and another first down, then Huff rambled for 20 and four on the next two. A four-yard strike to Joshua Harris took the Paladins to the three, and a one-yard Huff wiggle set up the winning chip shot.

Historically, it marked the third time Furman has paid a successful farewell to teams exiting the Football Championship Subdivision for FBS. The Paladins defeated Appalachian State and Georgia Southern in 2014.

Huff accounted for 316 yards in total offense, rushing 19 times for 79 yards and completing 24/32 passes for 237 yards. His scoring runs covered 1, 28, 4, and 14 yards.

The fourth touchdown was set up by Wayne Anderson Jr.’s 50-yard kickoff return.

Kennesaw State (1-2) battled back to tie the game at 28-28, getting a 14-yard scoring strike from quarterback Jonathan Murphy to Benyard and Benyard’s 49-yard scoring dash.

Furman’s Cally Chizik secured the win for the Paladins when he intercepted a Murphy pass at the Furman 19 with five seconds remaining.

The Paladins rushed for 159 yards, with Dominic Roberto contributing 73 yards on 16 attempts. Ten different players caught a pass for Furman with Harris hauling in six catches and Ferguson totaling 68 yards on four receptions.

Defensively, Kam Brinson had a team-high eight tackles.

Murphy completed 17/31 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns for Kennesaw State (1-2). The Owls outgained the Paladins, 490-396. Chizik’s interception was the game’s only turnover.

Furman opens Southern Conference play next Saturday, hosting Mercer at Paladin Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.

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