The Furman Paladins (4-3, 2-2 SoCon) return home for this week’s match up with The Citadel Bulldogs (3-4, 2-2 SoCon) starting at 2pm here at Paladin Stadium for Homecoming. The Paladins last week lost to a Wofford team 31-13, and a week before by Western Carolina 52-7, hoping some home cooking will lead to a victory. The Citadel played Western Carolina and lost 45-38 and won the week before over Valdosta State 38-14. The battle will help either team march back towards the top in the SoCon in a year where anything can happen every week.
@CitadelFootball 0@PaladinFootball 0
2pm Kickoff
105th Meeting the longest rivalry in SoCon! @Carlito25Way @GSM_TGFFGameday @Coach_Norris103 @soconpulse @SSN_Furman @SotgSports @SOTGsmoke @SoConSports pic.twitter.com/A1xlkBam3B— GSM_Furman (@GSM_FurmanJoust) October 25, 2025
Furman is able to take the opening kickoff down to the Citadel 27-yard line and kick a field goal and goes up 3-0 on the Bulldogs. Impressive drive for the Paladins who will need to be able to get points on every drive versus a stingy Citadel team this afternoon.
@CitadelFootball 0@PaladinFootball 3
11:48 1st Quarter @GSM_TGFFGameday @jdilla7791 @GreenvilleSM @GreenvilleNews @ESPNCFB @FOXSports @soconpulse @SoConSports @SotgSports— GSM_Furman (@GSM_FurmanJoust) October 25, 2025
The Citadel is not able to get much of anything on its first series and will kick the ball away to the Paladins who will take over at the 21-yard line. After a huge first down, Furman gets two huge pass plays and is in Bulldog territory at the 23-yard line of the Citadel. The Paladins are not able to get a first down and will attempt a field goal which is good for 36 yards and the score is 6-0 Paladins.
@CitadelFootball 0@PaladinFootball 6
3:56 1st Quarter @GSM_TGFFGameday @GreenvilleSM @jdilla7791 @GreenvilleNews @Carlito25Way @SotgSports @JustinGrice1 @soconpulse @SoConSports @FCSNationRadio1 pic.twitter.com/3owFXHK5yk— GSM_Furman (@GSM_FurmanJoust) October 25, 2025
The Paladins are able to once again hold the Bulldogs to only a few yards and will once again get the ball back, yet the receiver drops the ball but is able to get it back and Furman takes over on the 21-yard line. For the first time today, Furman will not get points on a drive, and they punt the ball down to the 6-yard line where The Citadel will take over. That will be the end of the first quarter with Furman ahead 6-0 with Citadel now 2nd and 10 from the 6-yard line to start the second quarter.
— Furman Football (@PaladinFootball) October 25, 2025
The Paladins after a huge bad penalty by the refs where they were called for hitting the kicker and video showed they didn’t, the Bulldogs get a huge first down to the 46-yard line, and the Bulldogs are threatening to get across midfield. After a great run called back the Bulldogs are at the 37 of Furman. The Citadel are going to go for it on 4th down are stopped, and Furman takes over at the 32-yard line. They are unable to get a first and kick the ball back to The Citadel. The Bulldogs start deep once again in their own territory, yet the Paladins defense has held once again and will get the ball back at the 26-yard line with 5:54 left in the half.
@CitadelFootball 0@PaladinFootball 6
7:23 2nd Quarter @GSM_TGFFGameday @FCSNationRadio1 @jdilla7791 @GreenvilleNews @GreenvilleSM @JustinGrice1 @soconpulse @SoConSports pic.twitter.com/aULfVvnfGz— GSM_Furman (@GSM_FurmanJoust) October 25, 2025
Furman gets the ball and heads right down to the red zone of Bulldogs, and Furman will go for it on 4th down with 1:11 left in the half here at Paladin stadium and they call timeout to think about it with 4th and 2 at the 4-yard line. The Paladins to kick the field goal and be safe right here at the half, the kick is up and good and the Paladins take a 9-0 lead over the visiting Bulldogs with 1:06 left before the half.
Ben Croasdale with a 27 yard rush and the stiff arm 😈 pic.twitter.com/ANLJFnAePg
— Furman Football (@PaladinFootball) October 25, 2025
We start the third quarter with the Citadel getting the ball first at the 25-yard line. The Paladins in the first half had 90 yards rushing with 113 yards receiving, with 9 first downs and 230 yards of total offense. The Citadel does a crazy formation that Furman bites on and they throw for a touchdown, and just like that Citadel is only down 7-9 to the Paladins. The Paladins have had issues all year not playing a complete game, so Coach Hendrix will have to get his team settled down and go out and score this possession to make sure the Bulldogs stay off the field and let its defense adjust to what just happened.
Furman 9, The Citadel 7 | 13:05-3Q
— Furman Football (@PaladinFootball) October 25, 2025
Furman gets the ball back but is unable to get a first down after a bad sack on Hedden. They punt the ball away to the Bulldogs who take it on the 42-yard line. The Citadel gets yet another huge pass play and now takes the lead over Furman 14-9 over the Paladins with 9:43 left in the third quarter. Two pass plays for the same yards to the same receiver for a touchdown, and the defense needs to figure out what they need to do better.
The Citadel 14, Furman 9 | 9:43-3Q
— Furman Football (@PaladinFootball) October 25, 2025
The Bulldogs keep the Paladins from getting a first down and will get the ball back before Furman can get across the 50-yard line. Citadel takes over at the 3-yard line and Furman gets a huge tackle almost getting a safety. on third down the Bulldogs can only get as far as the 5-yard line and will punt away to the Paladins. The Paladins take the ball down the field and score a touchdown, while also getting a two-point conversion to make the score 17-14 with 3:30 left in the third quarter.
@CitadelFootball 14@PaladinFootball 17
3:30 3rd Quarter @GSM_TGFFGameday @MarkLiving40700 @ESPNCFB @CollegeFootball @foxcarolinanews @JustinGrice1 pic.twitter.com/3TSd2VcWzB— GSM_Furman (@GSM_FurmanJoust) October 25, 2025
TOUCHDOWN PALADINS 😈😈
The Paladins now lead 17-14! pic.twitter.com/wldu8PQgNN
— Furman Football (@PaladinFootball) October 25, 2025
We come to the end of the 3rd quarter with the Citadel making its way down the field and they have made it to the Furman 24-yard line. The Paladins will really need to hold the Bulldogs to a field goal or get off the field to keep this game in hand. The Citadel is looking to take back the lead and keep the Paladin offense off the field while extending its lead. Furman is able to hold the Citadel on 3rd down as the Bulldogs go for field goal and miss wide left, and the Paladins take over at the 30-yard line with 12:41 left in the game. They are unable to get a first down and kick the ball away to the Bulldogs. Bulldogs with 10 minutes left in the game go hurry up on the Paladins but are unable to get a first down as the Paladins hold on third down.
The Citadel misses a 48-yard FGA. Paladins take over at their own 30.
Furman 17, The Citadel 14 | 12:41-4Q— Furman Football (@PaladinFootball) October 25, 2025
Furman connects on a huge pass play when Trey Hedden hits #16 Evan James down to the Bulldogs 42-yard line. Hedden connects with James again for a first down and there is 7 minutes on the clock left in this game. Hedden to James connects again for yet another first down and they are in the redzone at the 14-yard line. Furman then gets the touchdown when #28 his second touchdown of the game, Furman takes the lead 24-14 with 3:21 left in the game.
Trey Hedden connects with Evan James for a 38 yard pass 💪 pic.twitter.com/fInQUdTkQz
— Furman Football (@PaladinFootball) October 25, 2025
The Citadel now needs to answer this score quickly to have a chance to get back in this game, after such a great start in the third quarter they have struggled to score since. The Bulldogs start to march down the field with the two-minute warning they are at the Furman 33-yard line. The Bulldogs looking for a fast score and a onsides kick to get back to at least an overtime game chance. The Bulldogs on third and 13 get a huge running first down and the time keeps running off the clock, as the Bulldogs keep getting holding penalties costing them yards, and finally Stoneking #95 gets a huge, sack fumble, and Furman gets the ball back and #24 comes up with the ball. Furman will win this game 24-14 over the Citadel Bulldogs.

