After first win, Furman looks to recharge with off week

After emphatically snapping its longest losing streak in 61 years last Saturday with a 52-7 win at ETSU, the Furman football team is off this week. The Paladins (1-6, 1-3 Southern Conference) resume play Oct. 29 at VMI.

Having a bye the week after finally figuring things out may not always be welcomed, but that’s not the case for Furman.

“Our players have gone seven hard games. Obviously our record is disappointing, but I’ve been really proud of the way we’ve kept practicing,” Furman coach Bruce Fowler said. “We’ve got to continue to work at some things, but we needed to get some rest.

“We need to get guys ready to go for this final four-game conference stretch.”

When the Paladins take the field again in Lexington, Virginia, they will look to sustain the momentum from one of its best offensive performances in years which helped snap a nine-game losing streak.

Two things coaches have been waiting all season to see took place at ETSU: Furman got off to a good start and ran the ball effectively.

A 35-0 halftime lead nearly matched Furman’s first-half output all season. The Paladins had been outscored in the opening half 134-45 this year prior to Saturday.

Furman ran the ball for 198 yards Saturday racing past its average of 88 yards rushing per game coming in. It was the most yards rushing for the Paladins since putting up 251 yards at Samford last season, which happened to be Furman’s last win prior to ETSU.

GOLF: Freshmen help boost Furman women to elite status

• Senior quarterback Reese Hannon, who already held school career records for passing offense and total offense, set the Furman standard for career completions Saturday. He was 16-of-18 for 267 yards giving him 574 career completions. Hannon’s four touchdown passes moved him to No. 5 on the career chart with 34.

• While Furman’s run game was boosted by the return of Richard Hayes, who had been sidelined the previous two weeks by a concussion, the Paladins are still in wait-and-see mode with freshman Darius Morehead.

Morehead, who won the starting running back job in preseason and had a solid debut in the opener at Michigan State, has not played since taking a helmet-to-helmet hit at The Citadel on Sept. 10. He still hasn’t passed the concussion protocol to return to practice.

“It’s certainly something that we follow closely and he just can’t quite get cleared,” Fowler said. “Obviously, his health is foremost.”

As the season winds down, Fowler said there’s a chance a medical redshirt could be sought for Morehead the longer he’s out. He remains hopeful Morehead can return this year.

“We need him, so that’s also a factor,” Fowler said. “We’re doing everything we can to take care of this season first.”