The SoCon Spread

GREENVILLE, S.C.--With Furman's offense struggling to both score points and sustain drives, a change was made in offensive leadership Sunday it was announced by a source close to the program, as Justin Roper asked to relinquish his play-calling duties, but will remain on staff as an assistant coach. The change, however, is effective immediately ahead of Saturday's game with Wofford. Quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Drew Dudzik will take over the play-calling duties for the remainder of the season. Roper was extremely vital to helping Furman win 20 games, win its first outright SoCon title (2023) in 34 years, and make a pair of FCS Playoff appearances in his first two seasons as the Paladin OC. The rare mid-season change by Furman 10th-year head coach Clay Hendrix was made with precision timing and with much consideration, as the 2-3 Paladins will look to make a charge at a 16th Southern Conference title and 21st playoff bid after starting the league campaign in p...

Furman All-America defensive end Joshua Stoneking posted three tackles and a sack in the loss (photo courtesy ofFurman athletics) RICHMOND, VA.--I've waxed poetic about just how dominant Furman's 2026 defense can be, but it's No. 19 Richmond and its vaunted defensive unit coupled with an offense that did just enough to overcome four turnovers, posting a 13-9 win over Furman Saturday afternoon at Robins Stadium. Saturday's meeting featured a pair of former SoCon rivals and a pair of coaches that, played and coached at their alma maters, in Clay Hendrix of Furman and Richmond's Russ Huesman, who starred as a defensive back for head coaches Joe Morrison and Bill Oliver back in the late 1970s and early '80s. Furman's Hendrix was an accomplished offensive lineman at Furman during the early to mid '80s, helping the Paladins to make their first of three national titles in program history as a senior in 1985. On Saturday, both teams played to their personality o...

  WEEK 4 OVERVIEW AND PREVIEWS                                                                                                                 Four SoCon games highlight the week four slate, with none bigger than the one between Western Carolina and East Tennessee State, which has come to be known more affectionately as the "Blue Ridge Border Battle" in recent seasons, and the rivalry has the makings of what could be another shootout this weekend.  That meeting will mark the 56th all-time clash between the two programs, with the series all tied, 27-27-1. The Bucs were able to officially bring an end to WCU's playoff hopes last season, claiming what...