Furman Blanks NGU

TRAVELERS REST, S.C. – Furman rolled up 589 yards of total offense and scored 45 first half points en route to a 52-0 victory over North Greenville in the season opener for both schools Thursday night at Paladin Stadium.

Graduate transfer quarterback Tyler Huff paced Furman (1-0) with 189 yards passing and 94 rushing yards, including a 56-yard touchdown run, in his first game with the Paladins. The former Presbyterian College signal caller completed 10-of-12 passes and tossed scoring strikes covering 33 and 12 yards in the first half in helping Furman to a 45-0 halftime lead.

The shutout was Furman's first at home since blanking Gardner-Webb, 45-0, in 2003 and first season opening shutout since downing South Carolina State, 38-0, in 1988 en route to its 13-2, national championship.

Huff helped open the scoring when he found All-America tight end Ryan Miller open down the middle of the field for a 33-yard touchdown strike on the game's initial possession.

Paladin cornerback Cally Chizik, who sat out the 2021 season with a back injury, made good on his return to action by stepping in front of a pass from North Greenville quarterback Bryce Fields and returning it 56 yards to make it 14-0.

Huff closed out the first quarter with a 56-yard scoring run, the longest of his career, to put Furman ahead, 21-0.

The Paladins doubled their advantage in the second period with a pair of short Dominic Roberto scoring runs and Huff's second touchdown strike of the game, a 12-yard hookup with Wayne Anderson, Jr.

Furman head coach Clay Hendrix substituted freely in the second half, as 77 players saw action in the contest.

The Paladins' 589 total yards featured 323 on the ground and 266 through the air..

North Greenville (0-1) finished with 227 yards.

Furman plays at Clemson next Saturday in a 3:30 p.m. contest.