Florida A&M University celebrated a thrilling 22-18 victory over South Carolina State University on Saturday night at Bragg Memorial Stadium, improving their season record to 2-0. The Rattlers showcased resilience after falling behind early, answering back with a strong offensive performance and a solid defensive effort.
The game started with South Carolina State taking a 3-0 lead. However, Florida A&M quickly bounced back, taking a 7-3 lead midway through the second quarter. The Rattlers’ quarterback, Daniel Richardson, led the charge with a six-yard touchdown pass to Thad Franklin Jr., marking the first of three touchdowns Richardson would throw during the game.
South Carolina State fought back, scoring two touchdowns to go ahead 18-7. Yet, Florida A&M wasn’t ready to concede. The Rattlers narrowed the deficit with a touchdown to make it 18-15. With just 5:39 left in the game, Richardson connected again with Franklin, this time for the game-winning touchdown, sealing the Rattlers’ lead at 22-18.
Richardson’s performance was a standout, completing 23 of 35 passes for 282 yards without throwing an interception. He not only showcased his precision as a passer but also demonstrated poise under pressure, orchestrating crucial drives when it mattered most.
On the ground, Levontai Summersett led the Rattlers with 62 yards, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Kelvin Dean chipped in with an impressive 23 yards on just three carries, averaging 7.7 yards per attempt. The Rattlers’ balanced attack was complemented by strong receiving performances from Koby Gross and Karter Johnson, who recorded five catches for 94 yards and six catches for 68 yards, respectively, each scoring a touchdown.
Defensively, Florida A&M was equally impressive. James Gardner Jr. spearheaded the defensive effort with a tackle for loss and a sack, while Deco Wilson contributed with five tackles and also recorded a sack. The Rattlers’ defense contained the Bulldogs’ offense holding it to just 286 yards.
Florida A&M was efficient on offense converting 60% of their third-down attempts, going 9 for 15, while South Carolina State managed just 3 of 10. This efficiency allowed the Rattlers to maintain drives and control the tempo of the game which could be seen in the time of possession. The Rattlers controlled the clock for 31 minutes and 31 seconds compared to the Bulldogs’ 27 minutes and 21 seconds.
In both of their games thus far, FAMU has been able to convert third downs and keep drives alive. Richardson has turned these additional snaps into scoring opportunities.
Eric Phoenix led the Bulldogs passing attack with 132 yards and one touchdown. Backfield-mates Deondra Duehart contributed with 77 yards on 10 carries and KZ Adams added 66 yards on 11 attempts.
The Bulldogs’ defense was anchored by Diego Addison (6 tackles, 1 interception) and Jamare Benjamin (6 tackles).
Despite the loss, the Bulldogs displayed potential, especially on special teams, where punter Dyson Roberts averaged 44.3 yards per punt, and kicker Kyle Gallegos made two field goals from 35 and 37 yards.
Florida A&M will celebrate this non-conference win for the standard 24 hours before they get back into the lab to prepare for a talented University of Miami team. The Hurricanes thumped the Florida Gators 41-17 in Gainesville.
Miami is 10-1 against FAMU. It has been 45 years since the Hurricanes lost to the Rattlers and then legendary Head Coach Rudy Hubbard. To add insult to injury, ESPN’s College Game Day broadcast the Rattlers’ 16-13 win over Howard Schnellenberger‘s Canes live.
South Carolina State will look to regroup and retool before traveling to the low country to face The Citadel in an intrastate battle. The Bulldogs hammered their cross-state opponents 31-10 in 2023. The Citadel stands at 1-0 after a 22-21 opening season win over cross-town foe Charleston Southern.