TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | Rattler football returns to Bragg Memorial Stadium with their sights on extending their home winning streak to nine Saturday night versus South Carolina State after shutting out Alabama State last weekend.
"We're excited about last week's win. It was great to get a win in our home opener as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)," said head coach
Willie Simmons. "It was a great turnout, and I thought the student section did a phenomenal job energizing the team and energizing the crowd. I thought the Marching 100 did a great job as well.
"We have a very tough South Carolina State team coming to town. We're playing a team that could win the MEAC."
Where can you watch or listen?
Watch: FAMU Athletics Facebook
Listen: Rattler Sports Network, WANM 90.5 FM
Coaches in the game
Willie Simmons
Career Record, Conference Record: 38-20, 32-10
FAMU Record, Conference Record: 17-9, 13-4
Buddy Pough
Career Record: 137-77
SCSU Record: 137-77
Series History
The two teams met for the first time in 1930, which SCSU won 21-7.
FAMU and SCSU have played each other 58 times, and the Rattlers lead the all-time series 30-26-2. The Rattlers won the last meeting 42-38 (2019).
Elite Rattlers Defense
The Rattlers come into the game with one of the best defenses in the nation (FCS), allowing only 52 points through four games. The defense also ranks top 30 in the following categories:
• Rushing Defense (28)
• 1st down defense (25)
• Team Sacks (24)
• Turnovers Gained (22)
• Passing Yards Allowed (20)
• Defensive TDs (18)
• Total Defense (14)
• 3rd Down Defense (13)
• Scoring Defense (9)
• Red Zone Defense (7)
• Team Passing Efficiency Defense (5)
• 4th Down Defense (5)
• Fumbles Recovered (3).
The Rattlers also look to extend their 13-game forced turnover streak.
"Defensively, we will have our hands full. This is probably the most complete passing football team that we have played all season."
Sack Masters
The Rattlers have two players coming into tomorrow's game ranked among the nation's best.
Isaiah Land is the team's leader with five sacks and ranks seventh in the nation averaging 1.25 sacks per game.
Deonte Williams is second on the team with three sacks and ranks 38th, averaging .75 sacks per game.
Quarterbacks
The Rattlers have seen three different quarterbacks receive game time in both games and two different quarterbacks start through three games, but head coach
Willie Simmons will roll with
Rasean McKay to start the game this Saturday versus the Hornets.
McKay will make his third straight and fourth start of the season following the game versus the Hornets, in which he went 12-24 for 149 yards and threw one touchdown.
Ground Attack
The Rattlers have been at their best offensively when running the ball, and they look to continue their strong rushing attack following the Alabama State game, in which they recorded their season-high 144-yards.
Bishop Bonnett leads the way with 195 yards and two touchdowns, but
Terrell Jennings is not far behind with 166 yards and two touchdowns. Jennings has been the most explosive back thus far, averaging 7.2 yards per carry.
Xavier Smith Among Nation's Best
The Rattlers has one of the nation's best playmakers in
Xavier Smith as Smith ranks top 40 in the following career leader categories:
• 1st in receptions per game for his career with 6.19
• 3rd in receiving yards per game with 83.7
• 10th in receptions with 161
• 11th in receiving yards with 2,175
• 18th in all-purpose yards per game with 101.31
• 22nd in receiving touchdowns with 16
• 28th in yards per catch with 13.5
• 37th in all-purpose yards with 2,634
Smith also ranks top 40 in the nation this season in the following categories:
• 3rd in receptions per game (8)
• 27th in yards per punt return (7.5)
• 36th in all-purpose yards per game (111).
----
Follow Florida A&M Athletics
For complete coverage of Florida A&M athletics, please follow the Rattlers on social media at @FAMUAthletics(Twitter), FAMUAth (Facebook), @famuathletics (Instagram), or visit the official home of Florida A&M Athletics at famuathletics.com.
