September 14, 2002

WEATHER DELAY FAILS TO SLOW FURMAN
IN 57-7 ROMP OVER ELON

Scoring Summary, Game Statistics

GREENVILLE -- A two-hour lightning delay didn’t faze NCAA I-AA seventh-ranked Furman as quarterback Billy Napier threw for 237 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Paladins to a 57-7 romp over Elon, handing head coach Bobby Lamb his first collegiate victory.

Napier, a senior from Chatsworth, Ga., connected with split end Issac West on three of his four touchdown strikes, including a 78-yarder on the Paladins’ first offensive play to give Furman a quick 7-0 lead. The duo later hooked up on scoring tosses covering 71 and 11 yards to help put the Paladins ahead 35-0 after the first quarter.

“I told the guys in the locker room that we should start every game at 9:00 p.m.,” said Lamb after his team was forced to wait two hours before kickoff due to lightning and heavy rains. “I was really proud of the defense after what happened last week (Furman’s 49-18 loss to Vanderbilt). Offensively our plan was to go up top. When Billy hit Isaac striding, that really got us going and jump started us for a big first half.”

“It was bang, bang, bang so quickly in the first quarter that we really didn’t have much of a chance to get in the game,” said Elon coach Al Seagraves. “They gashed us and took us to the wood shed early.”

Furman’s 35-point first quarter matched the highest scoring quarter in school history, and West’s three touchdown receptions tied a school record held by two others. Napier, who completed 8-of-10 passes, exited the game along with many of Furman’s offensive starters early in the second quarter after fullback Al Means’ 1-yard touchdown plunge put the Paladins ahead 42-0 at the 12:11 mark.

The Paladins closed out their first half scoring outburst when backup quarterback Bo Moore connected with Brian Bratton on a 9-yard touchdown pass with 0:36 left to make it 49-0.

Elon avoided the shutout when James Murdaugh hit Kyle Belkoski on a 23-yard touchdown pass with 1:32 left in the game.

Furman rolled up 542 yards in offense, including 327 through the air. West’s three receptions went for touchdowns and accounted for 160 yards, and redshirt freshman tailback Brandon Mays paced all rushers with 88 yards on 15 carries.

Furman returns to action next week when it takes on Richmond in Richmond. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Elon hosts Johnson C. Smith next Saturday in a 2:00 p.m. contest.