Furman University has won the Southern Conference and in doing so the Paladins put themselves in excellent position for a good national playoff run.

With the victory Furman takes the #1 seed out of the Southern, and will play in the bracket at their home fields in Greenville, SC. Should they win and make the final four, the Paladins host that final weekend, also.

The final against UNC-Charlotte was a tough one. A young, athletic, and well-coached UNC-Charlotte team was just five points behind going into halftime, and almost scored to take the lead.

According to 49ers Assistant Coach John Brown, not scoring that try was something of a momentum shift. 

“That was the story of the game, really,” said Brown. “They took their chances, and we didn’t. We had two or three good try-scoring opportunities where we didn’t score.”

Up 20-15 at the break, Furman exploded to score four more tries and win 44-20.

The change in the two halves wasn’t so much about attacking rugby, as it was about handling pressure.

“We weren’t making very good decisions with our kicking,” said Furman Head Coach John Roberts. “When we kicked we kicked right to their wing and he sliced us up. We spent a good deal of time in the first half fighting around in our end. In the second half we tightened up some things, scored two quick tries, and then were able to open it up.”

Roberts confessed to being somewhat relieved at the victory, saying “Charlotte is a very good team and they are going to be good for years to come.”

The Furman halfback duo of Austin Willis and Jeffrey Rein set up several scores. Willis had a good overall game and also scored a try. Both are sophomores.

Furman now takes on Tri-State champs Sacred Heart in the national Round of 16. UNC-Charlotte takes on Cardinals Conference runner-up VMI in the opening round, with the winner getting a Round of 16 date with the Coast Guard Academy.