Furman holds off Western Carolina with a 44-38 win

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Harris Roberts completed 9 of 11 passes with a touchdown and Furman scored four times on the ground to get its first win of the season against previously undefeated Western Carolina, 44-38 Saturday.

The Catamounts took their only lead of the game on their opening drive when Tyrie Adams threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Owen Cosenke. Dejaun Bell took the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown and Furman (1-3, 1-1 Big South) never trailed again.

After Furman forced Western Carolina (3-1, 1-1) to punt, Kealand Dirks ran it in from a yard out to end a 10-play, 91-yard drive for 14-7 lead. On Furman's next drive, Darius Morehead ran 46 yards to score for a two-touchdown lead. Following a Catamounts field goal, Roberts threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Bell, and a Grayson Atkins field goal with 5:48 before halftime made it 31-10.

The Catamounts drew within 38-31 when Adams completed a 9-yard pass to Cosenke with 8:47 left, but Devin Wynn's 50-yard touchdown run for the Paladins three minutes later extended the lead. Adams responded with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Connell Young to reduce the deficit to 44-38 with 1:41 left before Furman recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

Adams finished with 424 yards passing and five touchdowns.