#3 Georgia Southern 38, Furman 17

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Dominique Swope scored two touchdowns and FCS third-ranked Georgia Southern reeled off 21 unanswered points in the second half on the way to a 38-17 victory over Furman in Southern Conference football action Saturday afternoon at Paladin Stadium.

The win was fifth straight for Georgia Southern (6-1, 5-1 SoCon) and the loss the third consecutive for Furman (2-6, 1-4 SoCon).

Trailing 10-9 after Furman's Ray Early kicked a 48-yard field goal with 3:45 remaining in the third quarter, Georgia Southern (6-1, 5-1 SoCon) answered on the first play following the kickoff when quarterback Jerick Mckinnon connected with Zach Walker on a 75-yard touchdown strike off play action to help the Eagles take a 15-9 lead. GSU's two-point conversion, its first of the two in the contest, made it 17-10.

Two possessions later the Eagles stretched their lead to 24-10 on a 42-yard scoring run by Johnathan Bryant.

GSU then used a big play by its defense to help break the game open. Defensive end Dion DuBose's fumble recovery and 44-yard return to the Furman 5 set up a Swope 4-yard run two plays later to make it 30-10.

After Furman cut it to 30-17 with a Jerodis Williams 2-yard run with 4:24 remaining, Georgia Southern pounced on the onside kick and methodically covered 46 yards in seven plays for its final touchdown, which came on a Swope 1-yard plunge with 20 seconds showing on the clock. The Eagles capped their impressive second half with a two-point conversion by Swope for the game's final points.

Limited to 171 total yards in the first half, including just 81 on the ground, Georgia Southern fueled its second half surge with a 269 yards to finish with 440 yards total offense, 275 via the rush. The Eagles threw for a season high 165 yards, completing 6-of-10 passes.

Furman had 324 total yards, getting a game high 98 yards rushing on 17 carries from Williams. Quarterback Reese Hannon completed 19-of-26 passes for 184 yards.

Bryant paced a group of eight Eagle ballcarriers with six rushes for 75 yards.

The Paladins took a 7-3 lead after Ernie Cain bulled over two yards out with 1:50 to go in the first half and carried that advantage into the halftime locker room after linebacker Mitch McGrath pounced on a GSU fumble the Furman 10 with 40 seconds to go.

Georgia Southern took the second half kickoff and covered 65 yards in 13 plays to grab a 9-7 lead on a McKinnon 1-yard scoring sneak, setting the table to the decisive final two quarters.



Elon 42, Western Carolina 31

ELON, N.C. -- Quarterback Thomas Wilson threw for a career-high five touchdowns and 378 yards to lift the Elon University football team to a 42-31 victory over the Western Carolina Catamounts on Homecoming at Rhodes Stadium. The victory was the seventh straight in the series for the Phoenix which improved to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in Southern Conference play. Western dropped to 1-7, 0-6.



Aaron Mellette continued his stellar season by catching five balls for 154 yards and matching a career-best with three touchdown receptions. Mellette now has 39 career touchdown catches, moving him into second place in league history as he moved past former Citadel wide out Andre Roberts (37). He also surpassed Marshall's Mike Barber to move into third place in conference history with 3,670 career receiving yards.



Elon kicker Adam Shreiner drilled six extra points to move past Andrew Wilcox to become Elon's career leader in PATs. Shreiner has now kicked 135 extra points in his career.



On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Jonathan Spain continued to rack up the tackles, adding another 12 stops to his season total in the victory. In his last three outings Spain has made 50 tackles.



The Phoenix took the opening kickoff and marched 78 yards on 11 plays that concluded when Wilson hit a slanting Mellette across the middle who then raced around the Catamount defense for a 31-yard touchdown.



After forcing a Western Carolina punt, Wilson dropped back on second down and lofted a deep pass down the middle for Chris Harris who out-ran the Catamount defense for a 75-yard touchdown as the maroon and gold built a 14-0 lead just over halfway through the first quarter. The Phoenix took advantage of getting the ball near midfield following a Catamount fumble to add to its lead when Tracey Coppedge took it 48 yards on the first play of the drive for the score.



Following a Miles Williams interception on the first play of the second quarter, Elon marched 71 yards on just eight plays to grab a 28-0 lead when Wilson went deep to Mellette for a 48-yard TD strike with 10:24 left in the period.



Western Carolina got on the board thanks to a Michael Johnson seven-yard run that capped a 50-yard drive that made it a 28-7 contest with 4:03 left in the first half. But the Phoenix came right back and grabbed a 35-7 lead when Wilson tossed his fourth touchdown pass of the day, this one a 55-yarder to Kierre Brown.



Elon carried a 35-13 lead into halftime before Western Carolina scored the first 10 points of the second half to close within 12 at 35-23. The Catamounts booted a 27-yard field goal on the first possession of the half and then forced a Phoenix fumble and returned it to the eight before Johnson scored his second touchdown of the day.



The Phoenix then put the game away when Wilson found Mellette at the Catamounts' 40-yard line. The big receiver then made four defenders miss on his way to a 47-yard touchdown.



WCU tacked on its final eight points with 9:11 left in the game when Spearman Robinson hauled in a 47-yard pass from Troy Mitchell. Johnson then ran it in to convert the two-point try.

Mitchell threw for 175 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for an additional 78 yards. Spearman Robinson caught nine passes for 139 yards and one score for the Catamounts.





#9 Wofford 38, #11 Appalachian State 28

BOONE, N.C. - On a cool Saturday afternoon, the Wofford football team scored twice in the fourth quarter to win 38-28 over Appalachian State at Kidd Brewer Stadium. After the Mountaineers took the lead in the third quarter, a touchdown run by Eric Breitenstein and a fumble return for a touchdown by Tarek Odom secured the victory.

The Terriers are 6-1 on the season and 4-1 in the SoCon. Appalachian State is 5-3 overall and 3-2 in conference play. For Wofford, Eric Breitenstein had 123 yards and two touchdowns, while Michael Weimer added 77 rushing yards and Brian Kass had a 38 yard completion and 71 rushing yards. The Mountaineers were led by Jamal Jackson with 257 passing yards on 29-of-46 passing and 32 rushing yards.

To open the game, Wofford went three-and-out and punted. Appalachian State quarterback Jamal Jackson was intercepted on his first pass attempt of the game by Mike McCrimon at the 40-yard line. The Terriers could not take advantage of the turnover and punted after gaining only five yards. Appalachian State picked up a first down, but a sack by Alvin Scioneaux forced a punt.

Wofford used a 57-yard run by Eric Breitenstein to set up a one-yard touchdown run by Brian Kass with 4:20 left in the first quarter and a 7-0 lead. The Mountaineers were three-and-out on their next possession and punted. Wofford converted a fourth-and-one by Eric Breitenstein on the way to a 29-yard field goal by Kasey Redfern for a 10-0 lead with 11:39 on the clock in the second quarter.

Appalachian State gained three first downs before failing to convert a pass on fourth-and-four. Wofford gained a first down, but then fumbled and Joel Ross returned it 47-yards for a touchdown. The Wofford lead was 10-7 with 7:39 left in the second quarter. The Terriers took advantage of a short field after a kickoff out of bounds and with big plays by Will Irwin and Donovan Johnson had the ball inside the five-yard line. Eric Breitenstein punched it in with a one-yard touchdown run for a 17-7 lead with 5:25 left in the first half.

The Mountaineers picked up three first downs before facing a fourth-and-two at the 23-yard line. Appalachian State ran for the first down and then scored on a 12-yard touchdown run by Steven Miller to make it a 17-14 game with 54 seconds on the clock. Wofford used a 35-yard run by Michael Weimer and a first down by Donovan Johnson to move inside the red-zone, but the ball was not spotted in time for a field goal attempt at the end of the half.

In the second half, each team was three-and-out and punted on the opening possessions. Appalachian State converted a fourth-and-two during a nine-play drive that was capped by a one-yard touchdown run by Jamal Jackson. The Mountaineers took a 21-17 lead with 9:15 on the clock in the third quarter.

The Terriers used a 38-yard pass completion from Brian Kass to Bryan Youman on a drive in which Cam Flowers scored a touchdown from five-yards out. Wofford regained the lead at 24-21 with 5:08 remaining in the third quarter. Appalachian State's Tony Washington took the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown and a 28-24 lead with 4:54 on the clock.

Wofford used a 44-yard run by Brian Kass down the far sideline to move the ball to the five-yard line. Eric Breitenstein capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown to take a 31-28 lead with 14:58 in the fourth quarter. After Appalachian State gained a first down by penalty, Jamal Jackson fumbled and Tarek Odom picked it up and ran 41 yards for a touchdown for a 38-28 lead at 13:48.

The Mountaineers went three-and-out and punted, but then stopped Wofford three-and-out. Appalachian State used a series of short passes down the middle to set-up a 24-yard field goal attempt that was wide left with 5:05 left in the game. The Terriers gained one first down before punting back to the Mountaineers with 2:46 remaining. Appalachian State moved down the field but time expired with the ball at the six yard line.

Wofford had 440 total yards, with 393 on the ground. Appalachian State had 363 total yards, 257 of which were passing. Appalachian State had 26 first downs to 17 for Wofford. Wofford was 4-of-14 on third downs. Appalachian State was 7-of-16 on third down. Wofford had five penalties, while Appalachian State had four. Wofford had the time of possession by a 32:01 to 27:59 margin.



Chattanooga 20, Samford 13

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - A late comeback fell just short as the Samford football team dropped a 20-13 decision in a Southern Conference game at Chattanooga Saturday evening at Finley Stadium.

Samford head coach Pat Sullivan was not in attendance at the game while recovering from a slight relapse of pneumonia. Bill D'Ottavio, Samford's assistant head coach and defensive coordinator led the team in Sullivan's absence.

Samford trailed, 20-3, entering the fourth quarter. Cameron Yaw kicked a 47-yard field goal with 12:13 to go to cut the lead to 20-6. Fabian Truss scored a touchdown on a one-yard run with 3:35 left in the game, and Yaw added the extra point to make the score 20-13.

The Bulldogs had one final shot to score and tie the game. Samford drove to the Chattanooga 41-yard line, but Andy Summerlin's pass on the final play of the game fell incomplete in the end zone, ending the Bulldogs' chances.

With the loss, Samford drops to 5-3 overall and 3-3 in Southern Conference play. Chattanooga improves to 4-3 overall and 3-1 in league play.

In the game, Summerlin completed 27-of-40 passes for 191 yards and one interception. Kelsey Pope caught 12 passes for 78 yards. Truss scored the Bulldogs' lone touchdown of the game, and rushed 11 times for 29 yards in the loss.

Defensively for Samford, Durell Hill led the way with 12 tackles. Keith Shoulders followed with nine stops. Yaw made both of his field goal attempts, including a school-record 52-yarder in the second quarter.

As a team, Samford finished with 259 yards of total offense, to 250 yards for Chattanooga. Samford had 16 first downs, compared to 13 for the Mocs. UTC had the ball for 33:07, while Samford kept the ball for 26:53 of the game.

For Chattanooga, Jacob Huesman completed 18-of-23 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown. Huesman was also the Mocs' leading rusher with 64 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. Terrell Robinson led UTC's receivers with nine catches for 65 yards.

Wes Dothard led the Chattanooga defense with 11 total tackles. Gunner Miller had an interception to go along with his six tackles.

Chattanooga jumped on top first on its first possession of the second quarter. Nick Pollard kicked a 29-yard field goal to give the Mocs a 3-0 lead with 12:21 left in the second quarter.

The Mocs scored the game's first touchdown with just 28 seconds to go before halftime. Huesman scored on a one-yard fourth-down run, and Pollard added the extra point to put Chattanooga up, 10-0.

Samford, however, was able to get into field goal range before the end of the half. The Bulldogs put their first points on the scoreboard when Yaw kicked a 52-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter to cut the UTC lead to 10-3.