Note: The following was written by Scott Keeler, who worked as a reporter at the Greenville News for more than 25 years. “Keeler’s Corner” will also appear throughout the season. Keeler can be found on Twitter @Scott_Keeler

Welcome to the in-season portion of “Keeler’s Corner.” Month by month of the football season, I’ll recap the efforts of each Southern Conference team - in order of the current SoCon standings - and look ahead to what’s on the horizon.

It’s been an opening month of high temperatures and high point totals on scoreboards throughout the league.

FURMAN (3-2, 2-0 SoCon)
In Clay Hendrix’s first two seasons as Furman head coach, the Paladins overcame 0-3 starts to make the FCS playoffs in 2017 and win a share of their SoCon-best 14th championship in 2018.
This season, Furman started 1-2 but those two losses were to FBS opponents by a combined margin of 13 points. The Paladins have come back from those with a pair of SoCon wins for their first 2-0 start in league play since 2011 and a No. 14 ranking in both the FCS coaches and STATS polls.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Darren Grainger leads an offense that averages 33.4 points and 429.2 yards per game. While Devin Wynn (84.4 yards per game; 6.8 yards per carry) headlines a talented group of running backs, Grainger is fourth in the SoCon in total offense at 195 yards per game. Grainger’s thrown seven touchdowns (and two interceptions) and run for four more.
Furman’s defense has stood out thus far in SoCon play, allowing just 10 points in each game. It limited Mercer to 283 yards of total offense and held ETSU to 290. In their season-opening blowout of Charleston Southern, 31 different Paladins recorded a tackle and that balance has been on display since. A total of 18 different Paladins have made a tackle-for-loss, led by backup defensive end Dru Seabrook, who leads the SoCon with four sacks. Furman has a league-best 12 sacks as a team.
October game to watch: at Samford, Oct. 5. It will be a battle of the SoCon’s only 2-0 teams and an intriguing matchup of the league’s No. 1-ranked scoring offense (Samford) and No. 1-ranked scoring defense (Furman). Despite allowing 48 points and 566 total yards in Furman’s six-point loss at Georgia State, the Paladins have given up just 21 points and 373.2 yards per game this season.
MVP: Kicker/punter Grayson Atkins. Given the balanced depth on both sides of the ball for Furman and the various ways Atkins makes an impact, the junior is the pick here. Atkins ranks second in the FCS in net punting at 42.7 yards per punt. Of his 20 punts, 11 have gone inside the 20-yard line and seven have been returned for a total of minus-2 yards. Atkins is tied for fifth in the FCS with 17 touchbacks on kickoffs. Finally, Atkins is on a current school-record streak of 15 consecutive made field goals.

SAMFORD (3-2, 2-0)
Following the graduation of the leading passer in FCS history, it’s been business as usual for Samford’s offense this season. In replacing Devlin Hodges, starter Chris Oladokun is second in the SoCon in passing (232.4 yards per game) while backup Liam Welch is seventh (84).
The air attack has helped the Bulldogs lead the SoCon in scoring offense (43.4 points per game) and total (442.6 yards per game).
After losing a pair of games in August, Samford won all three of its games in September, including a wild comeback last Saturday against then-No. 25 The Citadel. Welch relieved an injured Oladokun after halftime and rallied the Bulldogs from a 38-24 deficit with less than six minutes left in regulation. Welch’s 67-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Toney tied the game with 1:43 left and Samford went on to a 61-55 win in four overtimes.
The Bulldogs showed they don’t need a ton of offense to win in their SoCon opener two weeks earlier. Oladokun’s 30-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter marked the lone score of the second half for either team in Samford’s 21-14 win at then-No. 22 Wofford.
Junior linebacker John Staton leads the SoCon with 11.4 tackles per game.
October game to watch: vs. Furman, Oct. 5. Samford goes for its fourth consecutive win in the series against No. 14 Furman. More importantly, the winner will be the lone SoCon team with a 3-0 record in league play. Since the start of the 2016 season, the Bulldogs have handed the Paladins their only SoCon losses by more than seven points - 38-21 in 2016 and 38-25 in 2018.
MVP: Quarterback Chris Oladokun. The South Florida transfer has not only put up lofty passing numbers but also been a running threat. He’s second on the team with 248 yards rushing - 10 fewer than running back Jay Stanton. Oladokun has a total of 17 touchdowns (11 passing, six rushing) this season.

CHATTANOOGA (2-3, 1-0)
After a victory over Eastern Illinois in Rusty Wright’s head coaching debut to open the season, Chattanooga suffered losses to traditional FCS powers Jacksonville State (ranked 17th at the time) and James Madison (ranked No. 2) sandwiched around a loss at the SEC’s Tennessee. The Mocs snapped that three-game skid in a big way last Saturday with a 60-36 win over Western Carolina in their SoCon opener.
Chattanooga overcame 423 yards rushing by Western Carolina with 400 yards rushing - and six touchdown runs - of its own in the win. Freshman Ailym Ford led the way with 195 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries. That rushing attack led a total offensive output of 589 yards, the most in a game for the Mocs since posting 695 against Appalachian State in 2004.
Chattanooga’s 31-point second quarter Saturday was its highest-scoring period since a 33-point quarter against Kentucky State in 2001.
When the Mocs have gone to the air this year, junior Bryce Nunnelly is still their go-to guy. Nunnelly leads the SoCon with 341 yards receiving on 24 catches.
October game to watch: vs. ETSU, Oct. 17. Finley Stadium will host some Thursday night football when the Bucs come to town this season. Chattanooga has a bye week the previous week and the Thursday game gives the Mocs a couple of extra days to prepare for a trip to Wofford the following week. Chattanooga fell at ETSU, 17-14, last season.
MVP: Running back Ailym Ford. Following his big day Saturday, Ford ranks third in the SoCon at 88.2 rushing yards per game. That figure is tops among freshmen in the FCS. He also has four touchdowns.

WOFFORD (2-2, 1-1)
After being held to 74 yards rushing on 44 attempts in a loss at Kennesaw State in round two of the 2018 FCS playoffs, Wofford opened the 2019 season with a new approach. But after throwing four interceptions out of 23 pass attempts in a stunning loss at South Carolina State, the Terriers have thrown just 23 passes total since.
While Samford controlled Wofford’s rushing attack to record its fifth consecutive win in the series two weeks after the opener, the Terriers busted out of their funk each of the past two weeks. Wofford ran for 489 yards in a 49-10 win over Gardner-Webb and rushed for 439 in a 51-36 victory at VMI last Saturday.
The six Wofford backs with at least 100 yards rushing this season average from 4.7 to 11.6 yards per carry, and four of them average at least 50 yards rushing per game.
Defensively, the Terriers were dealt a huge blow following that season-opening loss when they learned that All-SoCon linemen Mikel Horton (shoulder) and Thad Mangum (knee) each had injuries that required season-ending surgery.
Linebacker Jireh Wilson and backup defensive end Michael Mason are tied for second in the SoCon with three sacks apiece.
October game to watch: at ETSU, Oct. 5. Two of the three SoCon champions from 2018 meet Saturday in Johnson City, Tenn. and the loser could have a serious problem getting back to the top of the standings by the end of this season.
MVP: Quarterback Joe Newman. Newman has bounced back from the rough passing day in week one in a big way. He’s second in the SoCon in rushing at 101.2 yards per game and is averaging 8.8 yards per carry. Of his 46 rushing attempts, 22 have resulted in first downs or touchdowns. He’s also thrown for 82.2 yards per game and hasn’t had a turnover since the opener.

MERCER (2-3, 1-1)
Looking for a breakthrough season after three consecutive years of going 4-4 in SoCon play, Mercer came out firing this year. The Bears put up 42 points in the first half in the opener at Western Carolina. Following that 49-27 win, they won 45-7 at Presbyterian.
But Mercer has struggled with inconsistent play since and carries a three-game losing streak into October. Included in that skid was a 45-10 setback at then-No. 15 Furman, which marked the most lopsided loss the Bears have ever had against an FCS opponent. All five of the previous meetings against coach Bobby Lamb’s former team were decided by seven points or fewer.
That inconsistency can be highlighted by turnovers. No FCS team has suffered more turnovers than Mercer’s 13.
Outside of the ball protection issues, the Bears offense has performed well for the most part. Quarterback Robert Riddle has returned from last year’s broken collarbone to throw for 218.6 yards per game and 13 touchdowns. Freshman running back Deondre Johnson is averaging 8.6 yards per carry and 75.6 rushing yards per game. He had 177 yards on 13 carries in the Bears’ 34-27 loss to Campbell Saturday. That helped Mercer rush for 323 yards - its second-highest total since resuming football in 2013.
October game to watch: vs. Chattanooga, Oct. 5. Mercer hosts the Mocs this Saturday and has a bye week before hosting VMI on Oct. 19. If the Bears hope to right the ship, they will need to figure out how to win at home. Mercer has lost six of its last eight home games dating back to the 2017 season.
MVP: Wide receiver David Durden. Unfortunately for the Bears, this will likely be the only month Durden is mentioned here. The sophomore missed the Campbell game with a back injury that is expected to keep him out for at least six weeks. In the four games prior, Durden caught 22 passes for 311 yards and four touchdowns. His 33.4 yards per kickoff return average ranks fifth-highest in the FCS.

VMI (2-3, 1-1)
VMI has gone from averaging 8.8 points per game in 2017 to 23.4 points per game in 2018 to 33.6 points per game this year. That improvement has shown up in results. Its wild 34-27 overtime win at ETSU, which ended after 1 a.m. due to weather delays, marked the Keydets’ first win over a Division I opponent since Oct. 8, 2016, and its first road win since Oct. 24, 2015.
VMI’s level of play has risen thanks to an offense that averages 433.6 yards per game and a turnover margin that ranks ninth-best in the FCS. While its defense is last in the SoCon at 472 yards allowed per game, VMI has forced 11 turnovers. Meanwhile, the Keydets have only turned it over just four times.
The offense is once again a pass-happy one as Reece Udinski’s 217 attempts are the second-most in the FCS. The difference this year is the Keydets can also run it, thanks in large part to junior Alex Ramsey. Ramsey leads the SoCon with 110 yards rushing per game. His 550 yards are fourth-most in the FCS, while his eight touchdown runs are tied for No. 1 in the country.
October game to watch: at The Citadel, Oct. 5. The 75th edition of the Military Classic of the South is set for Saturday with VMI looking to end The Citadel’s 12-year run of possessing the Silver Shako. Last season, the Keydets missed a two-point conversion with 34 seconds left in a 34-32 loss to the Bulldogs.
MVP: Quarterback Reece Udinski. Udinski leads the SoCon at 265.2 passing yards per game. While he’s thrown 10 touchdowns, none of his 217 pass attempts have been intercepted.

THE CITADEL (2-3, 0-1)
Five of The Citadel’s first six games in 2018 were decided by seven points or fewer. In the early part of 2019, it’s been more of the same as all five games thus far have resulted in a single-digit margin.
After seven-point losses to then-No. 12 Towson and Elon in games the Bulldogs led or were tied in the fourth quarter, they broke through with the FCS’ lone win over a Power 5 program this year. Jacob Godek’s 37-yard field goal lifted The Citadel to a 27-24 overtime victory at Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs followed that up with a 22-13 win over city rival Charleston Southern before traveling to Samford to open SoCon play last Saturday.
In one of the more bizarre games ever, The Citadel saw a 38-24 fourth quarter lead fade as Samford came back for a 61-55 win in four overtimes. The Bulldogs lost despite taking 102 offensive snaps, possessing the ball for 42:09 and having no turnovers. Forget losing a fumble. They didn’t even put the ball on the ground once in 95 rushing attempts.
While The Citadel has rushed for 254.2 yards per game, it’s only averaging 3.7 yards per rush and it’s last in the SoCon in total offense at 334.2 yards per game. On the rare times the Bulldogs throw, they’ve found a weapon in Raleigh Webb. Of his seven receptions for 224 yards, six have gone for touchdowns. That touchdown reception total leads the SoCon and ranks fifth nationally.
Willie Eubanks III leads The Citadel on defense with a team-high 41 tackles. He also has four tackles-for-loss, including two sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
October game to watch: at Furman, Oct. 19. If the Bulldogs can get back on track with home games against VMI and Western Carolina the next two weeks, the 99th meeting of the SoCon’s oldest rivals could have plenty on the line in Greenville.
MVP: Quarterback Brandon Rainey. Rainey has taken plenty of hits this season and missed the Charleston Southern game due to an injury. Despite that, he leads The Citadel in rushing at 86.2 yards per game and is tied for the FCS lead in rushing touchdowns with eight. In addition to three rushing touchdowns Saturday, Rainey completed 6-of-7 passes for 196 yards and two scores. For the season, he’s thrown for 319 yards and five touchdowns.

ETSU (2-3, 0-2)
Following a stunning run to a share of its first-ever SoCon championship in 2018, ETSU’s going has been tougher this year. Last season, the Bucs won each of their six league games by three points or fewer. This season, ETSU’s two league losses have been by seven points apiece.
While it suffered a 17-10 setback at then-No. 15 Furman in a matchup of two of the three league champions from last season on Saturday, there was something to build on for the Bucs. ETSU returned eight starters on defense this season, but the Furman game marked the first where they were all healthy together and the Bucs held the Paladins to 268 yards of total offense. Outside of Virginia Tech, no other team has held Furman below 509 yards this season.
That loss came one week after ETSU’s 20-14 win over Austin Peay in a game where the Bucs didn’t allow a point after halftime. That victory became all the more impressive this past Saturday when Austin Peay thumped then-No. 12 Jacksonville State, 52-33.
ETSU ranks No. 1 in the SoCon in total defense (328.6 yards per game) and second in rush defense (146.8 per game), pass defense (181.8 per game) and scoring (22.8 points allowed per game).
October game to watch: vs. Wofford, Oct. 5. For the second week in a row, ETSU faces a team it split the 2018 title with as the Terriers come to town. The Bucs want to avoid an 0-3 start in league play, especially with this being their last home game until Nov. 2.
MVP: Defensive end Nasir Player. Player’s one of those ETSU defenders that have been slowed by injury a bit this season. When he’s been on the field, his presence has been fully felt. The preseason SoCon Defensive Player of the Year has 21 tackles, including 5.5 for loss with 2.5 sacks. The senior also has four quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery.

WESTERN CAROLINA (1-3, 0-2)
With preseason SoCon Offensive Player of the Year Tyrie Adams back for his senior year, there was reason to believe exciting times were ahead for Western Carolina this season. There figured to be plenty of fireworks in the season opener when the Catamounts hosted Mercer as the two teams combined for 1,286 yards and 105 points in last year’s meeting.
But Western Carolina fell behind 42-14 in the first half that day and seemingly has yet to recover. Adams broke the school’s career record for passing yards and total offense in that 49-27 season-opening loss but missed the next two games after being suspended for a violation of team rules. He returned to the field Saturday when he came off the bench in the second quarter of the Catamounts’ 60-36 loss at Chattanooga.
Western Carolina’s lone win this season came when it rallied for a 20-17 win over Division II North Greenville thanks to a touchdown with 5:04 left in the game.
The Catamounts rank last in the SoCon in scoring offense (20.8 points per game) and scoring defense (41.8 points allowed per game)
October game to watch: vs. Gardner-Webb, Oct. 5. It’s this month’s game to watch simply because it’s the next one and a chance for Western Carolina to get on track before SoCon play resumes the following week at The Citadel.
MVP: Running back Connell Young. Young has rushed for 306 yards this season and is averaging 6.8 yards per carry. He’s coming off a career-high 217-yard rushing performance at Chattanooga.