#image_title
0
0
Hedden Finds His Rhythm, Guides Paladins’ Efficient Offense
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Furman football made sure Senior Day felt like a celebration instead of a formality. Quarterback Trey Hedden delivered one of his most polished performances of the season, the Paladins dictated the tempo from wire to wire, and Furman rolled to a 32–14 win over VMI on Saturday afternoon at Paladin Stadium. The victory bumped Furman to 6–5 overall and 4–4 in the Southern Conference, setting up an intriguing season finale next week at Clemson.
Furman didn’t rely on explosive plays; instead, Hedden orchestrated long, draining drives that kept the Keydets on their heels for most of the afternoon. He completed 33 of 46 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns, repeatedly finding soft spots in VMI’s secondary and avoiding turnovers in a game where control mattered. His command helped the Paladins stack 448 total yards, while chewing up more than 36 minutes of possession.
James Emerges as the Go-To Target in a Breakout Afternoon
After a slow opening quarter, Hedden found a rhythm in the second. His 8-yard touchdown pass to Evan James broke the scoreless tie, capping an efficient 68-yard drive early in the period. VMI briefly responded with an 18-yard touchdown run by Leo Boehling, but the tie didn’t last long. Hedden marched Furman downfield in a crisp two-minute drill and connected with James again — this time from 17 yards out — with Jayquan Smith barreling in the two-point conversion to give the Paladins a 15–7 halftime lead.
James was brilliant throughout the afternoon, finishing with nine receptions for 70 yards and both of Hedden’s touchdown passes. His consistency on intermediate routes forced VMI to back off, opening the door for the run game to take over after halftime.
Ground Game Takes Over Behind Smith and Croasdale
With James stretching the defense horizontally, Smith and Ben Croasdale took over vertically. Early in the third quarter, the Paladins leaned on their offensive line, driving 85 yards on 12 plays before Smith sliced into the end zone from eight yards out for a 22–7 lead. Furman’s front five dominated the trenches for most of the second half, and it showed again in the fourth quarter when Croasdale finished a 69-yard march with a one-yard touchdown to make it 29–7 and effectively shut the door.
Croasdale finished with 70 yards on 14 carries, running with power and patience, while Smith’s touchdown and earlier two-point conversion gave the Paladins the kind of inside-out balance they’ve been striving for late in the season.
Williams’ 51-Yard Blast Highlights Special Teams Edge
Furman’s special teams contributed one of the game’s most impressive moments. With just over eight minutes left, kicker Ian Williams drilled a booming 51-yard field goal, extending the lead to 32–7 and bringing an extra burst of energy to the Paladin Stadium crowd. The kick symbolized Furman’s complete performance — efficient offense, aggressive defense and timely special teams.
Furman’s Defense Smothers VMI’s Momentum
Defensively, the Paladins played one of their most disciplined games of the season. While VMI rushed for 176 yards, the Keydets rarely sustained momentum. Furman’s pressure forced early-down stops and limited the passing attack to just 68 yards on four completions. Linebacker Stephen Dean III led the defense with impactful stops, while safety Taylen Blaylock added nine tackles of his own and helped prevent explosive plays. Blaylock had starred earlier this season with an interception returned for a touchdown.
Aside from a late touchdown run by Nana Utsey with 32 seconds remaining, VMI struggled to gain traction. Furman outgained the Keydets 448–244, posted 31 first downs to VMI’s 15 and consistently won the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.
Paladins Control the Tempo From Start to Finish
Every time VMI seemed close to gaining a spark, Furman answered with a long drive, a defensive stand or a momentum-shifting play in space. Hedden’s efficiency, James’ reliability and the dual-threat running game gave the Paladins a fully balanced attack — exactly the kind of formula they’ve been working toward all season.
Furman Builds Confidence Ahead of ACC Road Test
The win gives Furman exactly what it needed heading into its toughest opponent of the year. The Paladins travel to Clemson next week, but Saturday’s performance delivered a valuable blueprint: take care of the ball, win the clock, be physical up front and trust the defense to dictate terms. Against VMI, that formula produced one of Furman’s most complete efforts of the season — and a strong finish to the home slate.
About the Author
