MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (Sept. 3) – The FAMU Football Team opened their 2016 season under the literal big top at the newly-minted Hard Rock Stadium, dropping a 70-3 non-conference decision to the University of Miami Hurricanes Saturday evening.
The home team rode a record 42-point third quarter surge to score the most points in the 11-game series against FAMU, with their 70 points tying South Florida's 2011 game total for the second most points allowed by a Rattler squad in a game.
The Rattlers (0-1) managed one scoring drive, a nine-play, 61-yad march resulting in a 31 field goal by Austin Miller with 4:47 left in the second quarter, with FAMU down 28-0 before the fielder by the sophomore from Tampa.
FAMU was very much in the game early and seemed on the verge of making things fairly competitive until the third period, when the game got away from them.
The Rattlers used two quarterbacks Saturday, going most of the way with senior Kenny Coleman, who started the bout, lasting until midway of the third period, when he was shaken up during a second down collision even though he finished the possession.
Redshirt freshman Ryan Stanley came on in relief, working the remainder of the third and all of the fourth periods.
FAMU struggled to generate any sustained offensive drives, throughout the game, but a Coleman interception on the game's third play set Miami up with a short field, one of many they got off Rattler miscues and kick coverage lapses.
The Rattlers trailed 28-3 at the half and owned a huge edge in possession time (20:18 to 9:42), but one turnover and a blocked punt, set the table for the 'Canes to get easy scores, including a 64-yard TD gallop by Joe Yearby, which staked club to a 28-0 lead late in the half.
Yet the Rattlers' fleeting hopes of remaining in contention Saturday evening faded completely under the 42-point Miami run, as the 'Canes scored six times on the ground, through the air, via a punt return to put the game away.
Mark Walton got the surge going with a 37-yard run early in the third, before UM starter Brad Kaaya tossed a pair of scoring strikes to up the 'Canes margin to 49-3.
Braxton Berrios dashed 41 yards with a Rattler punt for a 56-3 lead, then UM closed the scoring with a 19-yard keeper by reserve quarterback Malik Rosier, followed by a 74-yard scoring dash by Gus Edwards as time ran out in the third period.
UM actually began to grind down the clock, but got within striking distance of the end zone, when fumbled at the 10 with the pigskin scooting into the end zone to be recovered by FAMU for a touchback.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Hans Supre led the FAMU ground game with 32 yards on 14 tough carries…. QB Kenny Coleman passed for 135 yards, hitting nine of 16 passes with one interception, while Ryan Stanley went six for 11 fir 40 yards with one pick… Montavious Williams finished with a team-high five receptions for 45 yards, while Elijah Price led the FAMU defensive effort with five tackles, one sack and two tackles for loss…. UM outgained FAMU, 523 to 197 offensively, with Mark Walton, Gus Edwards and Joe Yearby each rushing for over 100 yards.
WHAT'S NEXT: The Rattlers continue their three-game, season-opening road tour next Saturday in Conway, S.C., against FBS transition squad Coastal Carolina (7:00).
