Tide turns against FAMU in second quarter

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Sept. 12) - The FAMU Football team flirted with success in the first quarter here Saturday against the Samford Bulldogs, only to see their fleeting hopes dashed as the home team rallied for a 58-21 non-conference win at Seibert Stadium.

The Rattlers (0-2) built a 14-10 lead in the first period on the strength of Akil Blount's 65-yard interception return, and Gerald Hearns' one-yard scoring run. 

Hearns' lead tally came with 48 seconds left in the period on the heels of a fourth-and-three flea flicker, when halfback Tysean Holloway's jump pass went to tight end Desmond Noird, who raced 29 yards to the one.

But in the second quarter, the high-flying Bulldogs (2-0) struck back for 31 unanswered points, converting three Rattler turnovers along the way into a 41-14 halftime lead.

Down 51-14 midway in the final period, Rattler halfback Devin Bowers lifted his club's fledgling spirits with a scintillating 73-yard touchdown jaunt with 7:20 left for a 51-21 score.

Samford tacked on a late score with under a minute left to close out the scoring.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: The Rattlers piled up 400 total yards Saturday, led by Bowers with 144 yards rushing on 10 carries. Quarterbacks Carson Palmer (11 of 25, 143 yards) and Kenny Coleman (6 of 14, 42 yards).

Defensive backs Braxton Brown (12 tackles) and Jacques Bryant (9 tackles) led the Rattler defense, which got two big returns off turnovers - Blount's 65-yard scoring jaunt with a first quarter pick, and Kashawn Butler's 90-yard fumble return down inside the Samford five-yard line late in the final stanza.

Samford finished the day with 752 total yards on 98 plays, aided by five FAMU miscues, rushing for 325 yards, and passing for 427.

WHAT'S NEXT: FAMU won't have long to lick their wounds over Saturday's setback as they have a Thursday night Mid Eastern Athletic Conference road opener at perennial kingpin South Carolina State (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU).