By By Nick Pipitone
TIMELY MISTAKESBoth teams came into last Saturday’s game with very high-powered offenses. Furman, however, relied mostly on its ground game against the Pride. In total, the Paladins rushed for 312 yards and held onto the ball for 38:10, compared to the Pride’s 21:50.
Although the Blue and Gold scored 41 points, its longest touchdown drive was merely 3:51. Furman, on the other hand, sustained drives of over five minutes, three times throughout the game. In addition, they held onto the ball for most of the third quarter. The Pride defense appeared tired in the final quarter of the contest.
“Our defense was on the field for 107 plays in the 87-degree heat,” Pride head coach Joe Gardi said. “Our defense gave up 12-play drives and we were terrible on first down, we couldn’t stop the run.”
Senior defensive end Stephen Bowen concurred. “I don’t think we played good enough to win,” he said. “We’re supposed to be the strength of the defense, and I don’t think we stepped up. I don’t think we stepped up at all against the run.”
BACK ON TRACKAfter some early struggles in the Pride’s first two games, it appears sophomore kicker Rob Zarilli is now comfortable in his role. In last Saturday’s game at Furman, Zarilli hit two huge field goals in overtime, including a 48-yarder, to keep the Pride alive. He was named the A-10 Special Teams Player of the Week.
“I knew we had a penalty against us and I had to make a big kick,” Zarilli said, describing his field goal in the first overtime. “Honestly, it was just like an extra point. Every kick I look at the same because the mechanics have to be the same. When you go deeper, you have to use more power, but the mechanics have to be the same.”
The Lousiville transfer is starting as placekicker for the first time in his college career. At Louisville last season, he only handled kickoff duties. Thus far, he has been good for the Pride, making 14 extra points and six field goals.
“I feel a lot more comfortable,” Zarilli said. “It was just nerves early on. It was an adjustment, but now I feel better and will even more so in the coming weeks.”