After weeks of controversy and armchair coaching by fans on social media, the FAMU football team seemed to catch fire in their Homecoming game vs. Texas Southern University.
The Rattlers opened the game on defense and forced TSU to punt on 4th and 16 from the TSU 27-yard line.
The Rattlers first possession put six on the board when Daniel Richardson found Quan Lee for a one-yard touchdown to kick off the rattler scoring after 12 plays and 70 yards. FAMU again held Texas Southern to a four and out series and they punted again. TSU returned the favor and forced the Rattlers to a four and out. The first quarter ended with the score 7-0 FAMU.
The second quarter saw FAMU use just six plays to go 31 yards for the score and Daniel Richardson found Koby Goss for a 6-yard strike and the Rattlers were up 14 – 0 after Cameron Gillis added the extra point. Texas Southern again stalled out in four plays as did the Rattlers on their next possession. Texas Southern Just couldn’t put it together as they were called for intentional grounding on 3rd and 4 from the TSU 27-yard line. Another 4 and out, put FAMU in great field position at the FAMU 42-yard line. Daniel Richardson wasted no time and 6 plays and 58 yards later he found Jeremiah Pruitte up the middle for a 17-yard touchdown pass. At this point the Rattlers still had not rushed for a touchdown all season.
The FAMU defense showed signs of old as the Dark Cloud Defense again forced the Texas Southern offense to punt on their next possession after just 6 plays. But the Rattlers could not capitalize as Richardson was intercepted at the FAMU 43-yard line. But again the Rattler defense came up big with another interception with 0:03 on the clock to end the first half.
The second quarter was abysmal for Texas Southern and they only amassed a total of 33 yards, 21 by air and 12 rushing. This was an improvement over the first quarter where they only gained a total of 18 yards in 10 plays. The FAMU defense which has taken a beating on the ground most of the season seemed to be up for the challenge on Saturday.
The third Quarter proved to be an exciting game with both sides putting up more points than they had in the first half. The Rattlers opened the 2nd half with a three play 75 yard drive to go up 28 – 0 on a 3 play 25 yard drive that consumed only 1:28 off the clock. Not to be outdone, Texas Southern kick returner took the ensuing kickoff back 57 yards to the FAMU 24-yard line. Four plays later, they were in the end zone when Qunitell Quinn split the middle of the line for a 25-yard touchdown on a 2nd and 16 to go play. The score was 28 – 7 after a Gustavo Romero PAT.
FAMU’s next possession was a disaster as quarterback Daniel Richardson was picked off at the 25-yard line by Jayden Williams. That put Texas Southern in business and they wasted little time as QB Jace Wilson found Donald McKinney for a 28-yard score after FAMU had just sacked Jace for a 9-yard loss on 3rd and 4 for the first down.
TSU cut the once comfortable lead to 28 – 14. The ensuing kickoff would find the speedy Robert Lockhart at the 9-yard line and he would take it to the house for a 91-yard kickoff return to put FAMU up 35 – 14.
Again, not to be outdone, Texas Southern’s Chaunzavia Lewis returned FAMU’s kickoff 90 yards for the touchdown and again sliced the score at 21 – 35 FAMU. FAMU came right back with a 7 play, 75-yard drive taking up 3:08 to again create a comfortable 42 – 21 lead.
That would end the scoring for the 3rd quarter and the fans stayed because the excitement was just too much not to.
The fourth quarter opened with FAMU getting its first rushing touchdown of the season as Thad Franklin Jr. rushed up the middle for a one-yard touchdown and put FAMU up big at 49 – 21 with the PAT. Texas Southern managed one more touchdown but it would not be enough. FAMU added a field goal to take the score over the half-century mark (52 -28) for the first time this season.
FAMU led in every important statistical category. FAMU had 25 first downs and limited TSU to 7. FAMU ran for 236 yards and limited TSU to 111. Quarterback Daniel Richardson threw for 267 yards and backup Junior Muratovic added 28 more yards. TSU could only manage 164 total yards on 47 plays while FAMU racked up 531 yards on 72 plays.
FAMU will travel to Texas this week to play Prairie View A&M University. PVAMU is coming off a close victory over Mississippi Valley State University 17 – 16 and is 4 – 5 on the year and 2 – 3 in the conference. They are next to last just above a 1 – 4 Grambling State squad.
