The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Rattler Football team sent a jam-packed Bragg Memorial Stadium Homecoming crowd of 26,044 home happy, sinking the visiting Hampton Pirates, 31-14 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play Saturday afternoon.
The Pembroke Pines, Florida native was an efficient 18 of 31 passing for 212 yards and a pair of scoring tosses.
Saturday’s win was FAMU’s second straight and third in four games, as the Rattlers have gotten off the mat of an 0-4 start behind the solid play of redshirt freshman quarterback Ryan Stanley, who finished his fourth consecutive start Saturday without a turnover, while boosting his record as a starter to 3-1.
The Pembroke Pines, Florida native was an efficient 18 of 31 passing for 212 yards and a pair of scoring tosses.
FAMU (3-5, 3-2 in MEAC) took the early lead when Stanley capped an 80-yard game-opening drive with a 19-yard touchdown pass to tackle Louben Polinice for a 7-0 lead with 11:53 left in the first period.
Hampton (3-4, 3-2 MEAC) answered late in the second period on a 16-yard run by Yahkee Johnson, tying the game, 7-7 at halftime.
Energized by the Homecoming crowd of 26,044, FAMU outslugged the Pirates, 24-7 in the second half, taking the lead for good with a 10-point third quarter.
Brandon Norwood put the Rattlers on the board with 8:45 left in the third with his 15-yard TD of a Stanley pass for a 14-7 lead, then Colby Blanton booted a 26-yard field goal for a 17-7 FAMU edge with 6:10 left.
Hans Supre capped a 43-yard drive less than two minutes into the fourth quarter with a two-yard run for extend the Rattler advantage to 24-7.
The Pirates were not done though, as they drove 75 yards in 12 plays, with Shakim Alonzo capping the march with a six-yard TD toss to Kentrel Richard with 9:21 left in the game for a 24-14 count.
FAMU appeared to clinch the game on Hampton’s next possession when safety Jacques Bryant picked off Jayl Williamson and dashed 32 yards for an apparent score, but penalty flags wiped out the TD, but left the Rattlers with a short field for the coup de grace.
The final cap came on Tevin Spells’ two-yard run with 1:18 left for the final 31-14 tally.
Sophomore Devin Bowers picked up 65 rushing yards on 18 carries, followed by Hans Supre with 44 yards on 10 carries and one score. Kareem Smith led the Rattler receivers with six grabs for 86 yards, while Rashawn Proctor was tops on the Pirate receiving charts with four grabs for 41 yards.
Defensively defensive backs Braxton Brown (6) and Orlando McKinley (5) led FAMU, with end Elijah Price finishing with three tackles for loss and one sack.
