Oct. 2, 2004

Stats

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Ingle Martin passed for 168 yards and two touchdowns to lead NCAA I-AA second-ranked Furman to a 31-10 win over Western Carolina in the Southern Conference season opener for both teams in front of 14,412 fans at Paladin Stadium.

Martin, a junior quarterback from Nashville, Tenn., completed 17-of-25 passes, including touchdown strikes of 5 and 25 yards, and also rushed for 16 yards to lead Furman (4-1) to its 10th straight conference season opening victory and seventh consecutive triumph over Western Carolina (2-3).

"Anytime you win a Southern Conference game 31-10, you've got to be pleased with the result," said Furman head coach Bobby Lamb. "We came out in the first half and played the type of football we wanted to play, setting the tone with the long drive, but we didn't finish the way we wanted. That said, we're glad to get the win, and we look forward to playing Appalachian State next Saturday."

"Furman is a good football team and a good program. There is a reason they are ranked No. 2 in the nation," said Western Carolina head coach Kent Briggs. "We didn't do the things we needed to do to win the game. We have a lot of work ahead and have a lot of injured players we'll have to replace. This football team is not dead. We still have a lot of season left."

Western Carolina outgained Furman 351-285, but the Catamounts suffered three turnovers -- all interceptions -- including one crucial pickoff in the third quarter that allowed Furman to extend a 14-point halftime advantage to 24-3 lead.

Furman took the opening kickoff and used 18 plays to move 80 yards to grab a 7-0 lead on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Martin to Daric Carter with 6:19 left in the first quarter.

Western Carolina got on the board in the second period when Tim Mayse converted a 26-yard field goal to make it 7-3 with 4:42 remaining.

Furman answered on the ensuing possession to increase its advantage to 14-3 with a six-play, 65-yard drive that netted a 1-yard touchdown plunge by fullback Jerome Felton with 1:55 left in the half

Western Carolina's failure to convert a fourth-and-one play at the Furman 45 led to the Paladins' final tally of the first half. Using three pass completions and a 9-yard run by Martin to the Western Carolina 25, Scott Beckler booted a 42-yard field goal with only five seconds left to extend Furman's lead to 17-3.

Western Carolina's Rico Reese's fumble recovery at the Furman 37 on the Paladins' first play of the second half provided the Catamounts with a scoring opportunity. Two plays later, however, quarterback Justin Clark's pass attempt under pressure was picked off in the backfield by Furman free safety Jeremy Blocker, who returned it 58 yards for a touchdown, giving Furman a 24-3 lead at the 11:50 juncture.

The Paladins increased their advantage to 31-3 when Ingle Martin connected with Brian Bratton on a 24-yard pass to Western Carolina 1, where Bratton fumbled into the end zone and it was recovered by teammate Grant Brigham with 3:21 to go in the third quarter.

Western Carolina got untracked in the fourth period, piling up 158 yards in offense and its lone touchdown of the contest, which came on Nicholas Wishart 2-yard scoring run at the 10:08 mark.

The Catamounts, however, failed to draw closer after redshirt freshman Russell Hamby was picked off twice in the end zone by Furman's T.J. Wilson and William Freeman to end Catamount scoring threats.

Making the first start of his career in place of injured All-Southern Conference linebacker Mike Killian, who was sidelined last week against Pittsburgh with a fractured fibula, junior Josh Slagle paced Furman with nine stops. Jeremy Thacker added five stops for the Paladins in his first career start for injured Paladin strong safety Shelton Riley.

Western Carolina was paced by Primus Glover's nine stops, which included a tackle-for-loss.

Furman returns to action next Saturday when it travels to Boone, N.C., to take on Appalachian State in a 3:30 p.m. game.