Football 9/18/2015 11:09:00 AM Florida A&M Sports Information

Rattlers Shut Out By SC State 36-0 In Orangeburg

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (sept. 17) - The FAMU Rattler Football team dropped their third straight decision in the 2015 season Thursday night, as they fell 36-0 to home standing South Carolina State in the nationally-televised Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener for both schools.

FAMU (0-3, 0-1 in MEAC) allowed over 500 total yards for the third straight week, as South Carolina State (2-1, 1-0 in MEAC) dominated on the ground, rushing for 454 yards en route to a 625 total yard performance.

The Rattler defense kept the game from being an early runaway, as they held SCSU to just 16 first half points despite them out gaining the Rattlers, 355-122.

SCSU added a touchdown in the third period and closed the scoring with 13 points in the fourth.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Thursday's shutout was the first in the series since a 19-0 blanking by the Bulldogs of FAMU in Tallahassee in 2010.... Jalen Simmons led all rushers with 190 yards on 16 carries for SCSU, while Devondrick Nealy led FAMU with 55 yards on 13 carries.... FAMU finished with 261 total yards (119 rushing, 142 passing)....

Junior QB Carson Royal was 12 of 31 passing for 142 yards, going the distance under center Thursday night, while freshman Caleb York passed for 171 yards on 15 completions (34 attempts) and a score.... Freshman Kevin Troutman led FAMU with two catches for 65 yards.

Defensively for FAMU, Rashad Guyton, Akil Blount and Kashawn Butler each had eight (8) solo tackles, followed by Jacques Bryant, John Boston and Orlando McKinley, who each had seven (7) solo stops on the night.

The announced crowd for the Thursday night bout was 14,987, many of whom stayed for the traditional battle of the bands between FAMU's famed "Marching 100" and SCSU's "Marching 101".

WHAT'S NEXT: The Rattlers will host their 2015 home opener next Saturday against Tennessee State in the 40th Sports Hall of Fame Game at 6 p.m. at Bragg Stadium.

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Players Mentioned

#47 Akil Blount: LB; 6' 3"; Freshman

#56 Kashawn Butler: LB; 6' 1"; Sophomore

Rashad Guyton: DB; 5' 8"; Freshman

#14 Carson Royal: QB; 6' 2"; Freshman

#34 John Boston: DB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore

#18 Jacques Bryant: DB; 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

#10 Orlando McKinley: DB; 5' 8"; Freshman

#1 Devondrick Nealy: RB; 5' 11"; Graduate Student

#21 Kevin Troutman: WR; 6' 2"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#47 Akil Blount
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: LB

#56 Kashawn Butler
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: LB

Rashad Guyton
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: DB

#14 Carson Royal
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: QB

#34 John Boston
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore
: DB

#18 Jacques Bryant
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore
: DB

#10 Orlando McKinley
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: DB

#1 Devondrick Nealy
: 5' 11"; Graduate Student
: RB

#21 Kevin Troutman
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: WR