Photo: Defense Fabian Wilson….Photo credit: Vaughn Wilson
Courtsey: FAMU Athletics
The Florida A&M University Rattlers held their own here Saturday evening, going toe-to-toe with the #11-ranked University of Miami Hurricanes before yielding a 48-16 decision on a warm and steamy evening at Land Shark Stadium.
A crowd of over 47,000 fans watched as the Rattlers (4-1) took the opening kickoff and drove close enough for a Trevor Scott 32-yard field goal to give them an early 3-0 lead.
Despite the final margin, there were a number of bright spots for FAMU, led by senior quarterback Curtis Pulley, who rushed for a team-high 81 yards and the Rattlers’ only touchdown, tallying on a 26-yard run late in the third period.
Pulley finished the night with 225 total yards, passing for 144 yards on 10 completions (25 attempts, 1 INT), to go with the 81 yards rushing yards on 17 carries. Junior Philip Sylvester finished with 24 yards rushing on 12 carries, with a 29-yard run that set up a Scott field goal.
Kevin Elliott (3 for 57 yards) and Adrian Smith (3 for 55 yards) led FAMU in receiving, while team co-leader Isaac West was held without a catch for the first time this season.
Here is a quarter-by-quarter recap of Saturday’s game:
First Quarter: The Rattlers drew first blood with a 32-yard field goal off the foot of Trevor Scott, which capped a nine-play, 59-yard game-opening drive by FAMU.
QB Curtis Pulley completed his first pass, a seven-yarder to Adrian Smith, then used his running ability to move FAMU downfield.
Pulley finished the first quarter with a team-high 32 yards rushing on five carries, including a 15-yard jaunt on the Rattlers’ opening march that led to a field goal.
Miami got near midfield on the ensuing kickoff, plus a personal foul penalty on FAMU, before using a series of short passes to move inside the FAMU 10-yard line.
The ‘Canes scored on a five-yard pass from Jacory Harris to Leonard Hankerson to take a 7-3 lead with 8:13 left in the period.
FAMU was forced to punt after three plays on their next possession, a kick which UM to the FAMU 33 yard line.
From there, the Hurricanes drove 23 yards to add a 20-yard field goal by Matt Bosher with 5:34 left in the quarter, extending the UM lead to 10-3.
After the Rattlers gained one first down, then was forced to punt, Miami returned the punt 33 yards to the FAMU 37-yard line.
From there, it took UM four plays to cover the distance, with Harris tossing a seven-yard pass to Jimmy Graham, extending the ‘Canes lead to 17-3 with 1:19 left in the quarter.
On the next FAMU possession, FAMU found it tough going on the ground against UM, instead going to air. After a first down completion from Pulley to Demitric Henry, Pulley’s next pass was picked off, giving UM the ball back in the final seconds of the quarter.
Second Quarter: On the first play of the quarter, Jacory Harris’ pass with tipped by FAMU’s Michael Creary and picked off by Curtis Holcomb. However, the Rattlers punted back to UM after three plays.
The ‘Canes quickly moved the 75 yards, in six plays, with Javarris James capping the drive with a five-yard run with 11:56 in the half, to push the UM lead to 24-3.
FAMU had another three-and-out possession, punting back to Miami with 10:42 left in the half. Miami then drove 78 yards in nine plays, with halfback Lee Chambers scoring on a two-yard run with 6:03 left in the half to cap the march,
pushing the ‘Canes further ahead, 31-3.
The Hurricanes regained possession after another Rattler punt with 2:32 to go in the half, but senior safety Fabian Wilson picked off Jacory Harris in the end zone, denying UM points on the last of six first half possessions.
The half ended with FAMU trailing, 31-3.
Third Quarter: UM took the opening kickoff but with backup quarterback A.J. Highsmith at the controls, they punted to FAMU after three plays.
FAMU moved 47 yards on seven plays, with Trevor Scott booting a 34-yard field goal for a 31-6 score with 9:58 left
in the third period.
Miami extended their lead to 38-6 when Tharon Collier dashed 61 yards with a Rattler punt for a touchdown with 5:12 left in the third quarter.
After a nifty kickoff return by Leroy Vann, Philip Sylvester ripped off a 29-yard run taking the ball down to the UM 26-yard line. Two plays later, Curtis Pulley raced 26 yards for a touchdown with 3:40
left, slicing the UM lead to 38-13.
Two minutes later, Matt Bosher booted a 33-yard field goal to push the ‘Canes ahead, 41-13 with 1:27 left.
Fourth Quarter: Trevor Scott capped a 66-yard FAMU drive with a 21-yard field goal with 10:33 left in the game, making the count, 41-16.
But UM’s Damien Berry had two runs on the ‘Canes next possession, capping an 89-yard drive with a 35-yard touchdown gallop with 9:20 left in the game extending his team’s lead to 48-16.
Post Game Notes: Return specialist Leroy Vann had nine kickoff returns for 191 yards, while running back one punt return for 15 yards…. Vann is 71 yards shy of Howard Huckaby’s single-season punt return yardage record of 478 set in 1988….. Trevor Scott booted three field goals Saturday, tying his career high for a single game, set last season against both Howard and Bethune-Cookman…. The interceptions by Curtis Holcomb and Fabian Wilson were the first of the year by the Rattler defense…. The 16 points scored by FAMU tied for the second-most points by the Rattlers in the series against UM (1979)….. UM’s backup quarterback A.J. Highsmith is the grandson of FAMU Sports Hall of Famer Walter Highsmith and the son of UM All-America halfback Alonzo Highsmith…. FAMU will open the 2010 season against UM (Sept. 4)….. Two Rattlers moved up the FAMU career rushing charts Saturday: Pulley (1,257 yards) surpassed Chuck Duffey (1,197 from 1984-88), moving into 23rd place, while Sylvester (1,683 yards) is two yards behind Hubert Ginn (1,685 yards from 1967-70), who is in 13th place.
WHAT’S NEXT: The Rattlers return to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title chase in earnest next week as they travel to Orangeburg, South Carolina for an afternoon (2:00) matinee against defending league champ South Carolina State… That game will be televised live on ESPN360.com at 2:00 p.m. and air nationally via taped delay at 10:30 p.m. Eastern
Time on ESPNU…..
