Furman hits ground running, tops Western Carolina 28-6

CULLOWHEE, N.C. -- Antonio Wilcox ran for 202 yards and a touchdown, Kealand Dirks had 119 yards and two scores and Furman defeated Western Carolina 28-6 on Saturday. The Paladins (5-3, 4-1 Southern Conference), who remained a half-game behind front-running Wofford in the conference race with their fifth straight win, led 7-0 at the half when P.J. Blazejowski hooked up with Andy Schumpert for a 44-yard touchdown. Dirks had touchdown runs of 6 and 44 yards in the third quarter, the two drives taking five plays and covering 134 yards. Wilcox ran for 17 yards with a 15-yard penalty tacked on before going 48 yards on the next snap, for a two-play, 80-yard drive. The Catamounts (6-3, 4-2) avoided being shut out when Corey Holloway scored on a 2-yard run with 1:39 remaining. Detrez Newsome carried 26 times for 110 yards for Western Carolina.