SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College football team scored first and never trailed in a 31-13 win over Furman on Saturday afternoon at Gibbs Stadium. The Terriers had a 21-6 lead at the half and added ten unanswered points in the fourth quarter for the third-straight win in the series. The defense came up with three interceptions, including a pick-six by Javario Tinch, as they held the Paladins to only two touchdowns.
 
Wofford opens the season at 2-5 and 1-2 in the Southern Conference, while Furman is 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the league. J.T. Fayard, in his second career start for the Terriers, was 18-of-25 passing for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Terrance Honeywood and Colby Alexander had receiving touchdowns, while Ihson Jackson-Anderson added a rushing touchdown. The Paladins were led by Trey Hedden with 27-of-39 passing for 257 yards and a touchdown.
 
"It was a great team win," said coach Shawn Watson. "You know it took all three phases. I thought our defense was particularly awesome in the second half. The touchdown by Javario was a great play by him, and it really ignited our sideline. Then Cole Walker comes up with one on the very next series for the defense out there. It was just a really good team win. It feels good for our kids, because this season we have been so close so many times. We kept telling them to keep leveling up and keep fighting. They're great kids and they did it today."
 
The Terriers had the ball first and had one first down before punting. Furman also had one first down and punted on their opening drive. After two first downs, Ivory Aikens had a 21-yard run. The drive ended on the next play with a 29-yard touchdown pass from J.T. Fayard to Colby Alexander to give Wofford a 7-0 lead with 8:30 on the clock. Furman had two first downs before having to punt. Starting at the five-yard line, Wofford had two first downs before punting. The Paladins had four first downs and scored on a ten-yard touchdown pass, but the two-point conversion failed as Wofford held a 7-6 lead with 10:57 on the clock in the second quarter.
 
Wofford went three-and-out and punted on their next drive. Furman had a 29-yard run to move across midfield. Logan McCloud stepped in front of a pass as he intercepted Trey Hedden, and the Terriers took over. Gerald Modest Jr. had two rushing first downs, and then J.T. Fayard found Terrance Honeywood in the end zone for a 14-6 lead with 3:37 left in the first half. Wofford then forced a three-and-out and the Paladins punted. After four first downs, the Terriers had the ball at the one-yard line. Ihson Jackson-Anderson put Wofford up 21-6 with a one-yard touchdown with 42 seconds left in the half. A sack by Brandon Maina on the Paladins closed out the half.
 
To begin the second half, Furman had one first down before punting. Wofford went three-and-out and punted. The Paladins switched quarterbacks for a drive but went three-and-out and punted. The Terriers took over at the 44-yard line, and after a first down the Paladins intercepted a pass and returned it to the 18-yard line. A five-yard touchdown run made it a 21-13 game with 5:10 on the clock in the third quarter. Wofford went three-and-out, but Cavan Craig's punt was downed at the two-yard line. The Paladins were unable to gain a first down and punted. With the ball back, Wofford again went three-and-out and punted.
 
Furman had one first down before Javario Tinch intercepted Trey Hedden and returned it 66 yards for a touchdown. Wofford held a 28-13 lead with 12:06 left in the fourth quarter. The Paladins had one first down before a sack and a penalty forced a punt. Wofford had a 31-yard completion to Isaiah Scott but punted. The Paladins had a first down before Cole Walker intercepted Trey Hedden, and he returned it to the 25-yard line. A 42-yard field goal by Sam Spence pushed the Wofford advantage to 31-13 with 4:16 remaining in the game. Furman converted a fourth-and-eleven with two minutes remaining but failed to convert on fourth-and-four with 1:18 left, and Wofford took over. The Terriers took a knee twice to close out the victory.
 
Wofford had 325 total yards on offense, with 179 of those passing yards and 146 rushing yards in the balanced attack. Furman had 329 total yards, with 257 of those passing yards. Wofford had 17 first downs to 16 for the Paladins. Wofford was 4-of-12 on third down. Furman was 4-of-14 on third down and 1-of-2 on fourth down. Both teams were called for six penalties each. Furman had a 32:02 to 27:58 time of possession advantage.
 
Wofford vs. Furman Post-Game Notes
This was the 99^th meeting between the two teams. Furman holds a 56-36-7 overall lead in the series that began in 1889, but the Terriers have won the last three meetings.
 
The three interceptions were the most this season. Logan McCloud and Cole Walker had first career interceptions. Javario Tinch added his first career interception and interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
   
The defense was led by Darius Malcom, Jr. with seven tackles. Wofford had five sacks in the game, including one each by Brandon Maina, Caleb Oliver, and O'marion Brown.
 
The Wofford offensive line did not allow a sack for the first game this season.
 
Game captains were Quincy Hughes, Seth Foster, Brandon Maina, and Maximus Pulley.
 
Attendance at Gibbs Stadium was 3,086.  
 
After three straight home games, Wofford will return to the road with a visit to East Tennessee State on Saturday, October 25, at 3:30 p.m.