To say Furman head coach Clay Hendrix wasn’t impressed with the officiating crew during his team’s playoff game at Montana on Friday would be an understatement. Hendrix joined SportsTalk on Monday night to recap the season and discuss his team’s 35-28 overtime loss to the Grizzlies in the FCS quarterfinals. And while he was pleased with his team’s effort on the road, Hendrix was quick to point out that the whistles didn’t quite go their way. Especially on the opening play of the game.
“If you’ll watch the tape, there’s no less than four illegal blocks right at the point of attack,” Hendrix pointed out regarding Montana’s 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Watch the tape; it’s the darndest thing I’ve ever seen. And don’t think I haven’t addressed it with the proper people.”
And before you think it’s just sour grapes on Hendrix’s part, he conceded that his team kicked the ball short and in the wrong spot. Adding to that, the Paladins should have adjusted and made the tackle because special teams played a major role in the outcome.
According to Furman, that was the first opponent kickoff return for a TD since Devin Brown of Coastal Carolina took one back 100 yards against the Paladins in September of 2015. Montana also got a 59-yard punt return for a score in the 4th quarter to give them a 28-21 lead. Both special teams plays were turned in by wide receiver Junior Bergen. The latter turned out to be his school-record fourth punt return for a score.
Aside from the disappointment of the loss to Montana, Clay Hendrix is also losing his starting quarterback, Tyler Huff, to the transfer portal.
Huff finishes his Furman career with over 4,000 yards passing and nearly 1,300 yards rushing. He accounted for 39 total touchdowns in two years with the Paladins, guiding them to the FCS playoffs both years.