Incarnate Word rallies late to beat Furman in FCS playoffs

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Lindsey Scott’s fifth touchdown pass of the game for freshman Kole Wilson’s first scoring reception of his Incarnate Word career lifted the seventh-seeded Cardinals to a 41-38 victory over Furman on Saturday in the second round of the FCS playoffs.

The Cardinals (11-1) will take on second-seeded Sacramento State in the their first quarterfinals appearance.

The winning score came with just under two minutes to go after the Cardinals had blown a 14-point third-quarter lead. Furman’s final drive ended with Elliott Davison’s interception at the Incarnate Word 9-yard line.

After the Cardinals rolled up 438 yards offense and a 28-17 first-half lead behind four touchdown passes by Scott, three to Darion Chafin, Furman (10-3) rallied behind Tyler Huff. Huff had two TD runs and a scoring pass in the second half. His 1-yard keeper with seven minutes to go gave the Paladins the lead.

Huff also had an 11-yard touchdown run and a 50-yard scoring pass to Joshua Harris in the second half.

Scott and Chafin had a game’s worth of stats in the first half. Scott already had 312 yards passing with four touchdowns and two interceptions, including a pick-6, plus 76 yards rushing. Chafin had three of those TD catches and 149 yards receiving.

Cally Chizik picked off Scott and returned it for a touchdown — his second pick-6 this season — two minutes into the game. But Scott came right back to throw a 21-yard TD pass to Chafin as the quarterback was falling backward. He found Chafin again deep on a post route for an 80-yard score.

Chizik’s returned his second interception of the game 33 yards to the Cardinals 5-yard line and Dominic Roberto went in from a yard out for a 17-14 first-quarter Furman lead.

The Cardinals came back with two more Scott TD passes, a 27-yarder to Chafin, and a 42-yarder that deflected off a defender before Taylor Grimes controlled for a 28-17 halftime lead.

Scott finished 33 of 49 for 394 yards passing and 124 rushing yards. Marcus Cooper ran for 104. Chafin had 166 yards receiving and Grimes 112. Carson Mohr kicked two second-half field goals.

Huff was 16 of 28 for 171 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. He rushed for 64 yards and two scores.

Incarnate Word outgained Furman 613-332 though it was penalized 16 times for 160 yards.

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