The Southern Conference is getting organized.

Each member is a squall drifting off the coast of Africa. The local meteorologists breathlessly give us the latest analyses of where each storm is headed and its chances of development.

Furman (3-1, 1-0 SoCon) is coming off an impressive road victory at Samford (0-5, 0-3) and returning home to play East Tennessee State (2-3, 0-1) on Saturday at 2 p.m.

“I think it’s like that most years, so, you know, we’ll find out if we’re up to the challenge,” said Furman head football coach Clay Hendrix.

“What we’re doing, we’re doing better,” “he added. “Can we just continue to improve?”

Hendrix hopes Family Weekend will be kind to the Paladins, who defeated the Bulldogs, 31-13, in terms of both performance and attendance. The Paladins are 1-1 at home and 2-0 away.

“Defensively, I thought we played about as well as we could play [at Samford]. I’d like to take away a couple plays, which, of course, you can’t do,” Hendrix said. “In all four games, we’ve left points on the field, but I think all coaches think that.”

Furman looks for its fourth consecutive victory over ETSU. The Paladins lead the all-time series, 30-9, and are 17-3 versus ETSU in Greenville, including 14-2 in Paladin Stadium.

Furman and East Tennessee State squared off in the first game in Paladin Stadium history, a 21-0 Furman victory on Sept. 19, 1981.  On Saturday, Furman commemorates the 40th anniversary of Furman’s 1985 Southern Conference championship and NCAA I-AA (FCS) runner-up team that went 12-2 and won 11 consecutive games, including a 42-20 triumph over N.C. State.

Furman’s pursuit of another championship faces a huge challenge against a talented ETSU squad that could easily be 4-1 if not for disappointing late-game turns in losses to West Georgia (35-31) and Mercer (38-34). First-year head coach Will Healy will be out to reverse that trend with the help of a pair of assistant coaches with Furman ties — Patrick Covington, the Buccaneers’ offensive line coach and 2005 Paladin All-American whose position coach was Hendrix, and Chad Staggs, ETSU’s defensive coordinator, who served in the same capacity for two years (2017-18) under Hendrix.

The defensive line has displayed strength and depth, led by redshirt sophomore defensive end Joshua Stoneking, twice a SoCon Defensive Player of the Week already, who leads the FCS in both tackles for loss (10) and sacks (6-1/2).  The Paladins put Samford quarterbacks on the turf seven times and now have 14 sacks on the season after totaling 20 in 11 games a year ago.

“I would say it started in the spring, practicing like I’m playing a game,” said Raleigh, N.C., product Stoneking. “I’m going against our own line like it’s a game, giving 100 percent and working different moves. You don’t want to throw the same moves throughout the same game because tackles would know that and sit on it.”

Senior linebacker Luke McLaughlin is the overall tackling leader with 25. Redshirt soph Raleigh Herbert returned an interception 47 yards has completed .717 of his passes for 1,028 yards and six touchdowns. for a score against the Bulldogs.
A big key for Furman is what it can generate offensively against ETSU. Sophomore quarterback Trey Hedden has posted a completion percentage of .717 and thrown six touchdowns to go with 1,028 yards. Hedden went 23/28 for 210 yards and two scores against ETSU last season.
Hedden’s targets have been plentiful, led by freshman Evan James (32 rec., 379 yds., 2 TDs), graduate King, redshirt junior Ja’Keith Hamilton (14-164) and graduate tight end Joshua Burrell (13-75).

“The whole receiver corps is full of people hungry for the ball,” said Hamilton, from Shelby, N.C. “We don’t have a game where we don’t get the ball. We do our job because we feel like just because you don’t have 100 yards doesn’t mean you don’t have a good game.”
In a league blessed with excellent specialists, Furman may have the best in Ian Williams, who has converted 7/9 field goals, averaged 44.5 yards per punt, and deposited 19 of 24 kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.

The game is a designated a “White Out” contest, and fans are asked to wear all white attire and pick up a white rally towel, courtesy of Century BMW, upon entry into Paladin Stadium.

Set to open at 11 a.m., the Furman Fan Zone, offering an energetic, fun pre-game atmosphere featuring food trucks, inflatables, tailgate games, tailgate opportunities, and beer and wine sales, will be located adjacent to the Paladin Statue in front of the stadium and also include live music on the Ingles Concert Stage beginning at noon.

The Wicked Weed Endzone Experience, slated to open at 12:30 p.m. and accessible from both the west and east stands, will feature food sales, as well as the outdoor brewery experience, while offering fans an up-close view of on-field action.

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