Furman rallies late to defeat The Citadel 17-16 in opener

In Charleston, S.C., on Saturday, Furman University staged a remarkable comeback against The Citadel in their Southern Conference opener. Trailing 16-3 with just over five minutes left in the game, quarterback Trey Hedden led the Paladins to victory by throwing two touchdown passes. The first was a 10-yard connection with Ben Ferguson, followed by an 11-play drive that culminated in a 6-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Pryor with only 61 seconds remaining. Ian Williams' extra-point kick proved crucial, giving Furman a 17-16 lead. The Citadel initially took control of the game, scoring a 48-yard field goal on their opening drive, followed by a 48-yard touchdown pass from Johnathan Bennett to Dervon Pesnell, establishing a 10-0 lead by halftime. Both teams exchanged field goals in the third quarter, with The Citadel maintaining a slight edge. Hedden's performance was pivotal, completing 23 of 33 passes for 246 yards, while the Paladins struggled on the ground, rushing for only 29 yards on 23 carries. In contrast, Bennett led The Citadel with 103 passing yards and was also their top rusher with 48 yards. This victory improved Furman's record to 2-3, while The Citadel fell to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the conference. The game highlighted Furman's resilience and ability to perform under pressure, setting a positive tone for the remainder of their season.