ORLANDO, Fla. (Nov. 20)
- The Florida A&M University Football team extended their win streak
to six and snapped Bethune-Cookman's 10-game win streak as the Rattlers defeated the
Wildcats 38-27 in the 31st Florida Classic oresented by State Farm, here Saturday afternoon
at the Florida Citrus Bowl.
FAMU grabbed a 7-0
lead as the Rattlers scored on their first possession of the game as Philip
Sylvester scored on a nine-yard run with 12:43 to go in the first quarter, set up by a 47-yard pass to Kevin Elliott from
Austin Trainor.
Jonathan Moment cut FAMU's lead to 7-6 as he scored on a
one-yard run with 4:56 to go in the first.
Antonio “T.J” Lawrence would increase FAMU's lead to 14-6 as
he scored on a 10-yard TD pass from Trainor with 3:34 to go in the first, after
the Scott PAT.
B-CU would score 21 points in the second quarter to take a
27-14 lead in the break as they scored from one yard out on Androse Bell's run, followed
by an Isidore Jackson two-yard run with 4:56 go and then Matt Johnson would find
Eddie Poole in the end zone for a 35-yard TD pass .
The Rattlers defense would dig in and hold the Wildcat offense
scoreless in the second half.
FAMU scored their first points of the second half as Trevor Scott
connected on a 30-yard field goal with 12:51 to go in the third, cutting B-CU's
lead to 27-17.
Sylvester would score his second TD of the game on a 14-yard
run with 9:23 to in the third, cutting the Wildcat's lead to 27-24.
Lavante Page gave the Rattlers a 31-27 lead as he scored on a one yard run with 2:29
to go in the third quarter, after the
Scott made PAT.
Sylvester would score his final TD of the game on a three-yard
run with :28 seconds remaining, for the 38-27 final.
For the second time in his career, Sylvester was named the
Florida Classic MVP as he rushed for 146 yards on 26 carries with three
TDs.
Trainor in his third collegiate start of his career, passed
for a career high 261 yards. He completed 19 passes in 38 attempts with two Interceptions
and a TD.
Isaac West and Antonio “T.J.” Lawrence would lead the Rattler
receiving corps as West recorded seven receptions for 72 yards, while Lawrence
recorded 76 receiving yards on five catches.
Willie Ferrell led the Rattler defense as he garnered a
career high 10 tackles and 1.0 tackles
for a loss.
Jackie Wilson rushed for 73 yards on 10 carries to lead the
B-CU ground attack.
Johnson would lead the Wildcats aerial attack as he passed
for 209 yards by completing 11 passes in 16 attempts with a TD.
Eddie Poole was named B-CU's Florida Classic MVP as he led
the Wildcat receivers in receptions with six for 112 yards and one TD. JeVaughn Reems led B-CU's receivers in
yards as recorded 140 yards on five catches.
B-CU had four Wildcats to finish with seven total tackles in
Reggie Sandidlands, Chris Perry, Michael Williams and Ozzie Slater.
Notes:
Joe Taylor becomes the first FAMU head football coach to
record 25 wins in his first three seasons….Philip Sylvester finishes his career
with 2,998 career rushing yards, placing him fourth among the FAMU's career rushing leaders.
