HUNTSVILLE, Alabama --Florida A&M got a 27-yard touchdown reception from to with 8:50 remaining in the ballgame to give the Rattlers a 26-23 win over Alabama A&M on Saturday afternoon at Louis Crews Stadium.
The Rattlers improved to 5-5 on the year and 4-2 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play, while the Bulldogs fell to 4-7 and 1-6.
RJ Johnson III led Florida A&M's passing attack with 299 yards through the air, tossing three touchdowns without throwing an interception. The signal caller also added one touchdown on the ground.
Thad Franklin Jr. paced the Rattlers rushing attack by accumulating 65 yards over the course of the game, averaging 4.1 yards per carry. Jamal Hailey also added 34 yards on the ground, averaging 5.7 yards per carry, as well as 46 receiving yards.
RJ Johnson III's most prolific target in the ballgame was Kenari Wilcher, who caught four passes for 91 yards and two scores.
Ah'mare Lee led the Florida A&M defensive effort, recording five tackles, 0.5 TFL, and one interception. Wilcher added and Antonio Camon had 0.5 TFL and 0.5 sacks in the win.
The Rattlers won the turnover battle in Saturday's game, forcing one turnover while avoiding any giveways.
How It Happened
Florida A&M got on the scoreboard first and opened up a 6-0 lead with :49 remaining in the first quarter.Alabama A&M responded and went up 10-6 before the Rattlers got on the scoreboard again on a seven-yard touchdown run from to jump back ahead 12-10.
Alabama A&M then grabbed a 16-12 lead, but Florida A&M responded at the 1:39 left mark in the third quarter with a 16-yard touchdown reception from to Wilcher to jump back in front 19-16.Alabama A&M then took control of the lead, building a 23-19 advantage before the Rattlers responded with a 27-yard touchdown pass from to Rogers to jump back ahead 26-23. Neither team scored again in the game.
Game Notes
» Alabama A&M outgained Florida A&M 460-392 in the contest.
» Florida A&M won the turnover battle 1-0 after picking off one pass.
» Florida A&M had their highest scoring quarter in the fourth period, when they put up seven points.
» Florida A&M converted 2 of 9 third downs while Alabama A&M was successful on 11 of 18.
» Nay'Ron Jenkins led the Rattlers with 14 tackles.
» Florida A&M went 1-for-1 on fourth down, converting on 100 percent of attempts.
» Florida A&M allowed just six points in three Alabama A&M trips to the red zone.
» RJ Johnson III completed 83.3% of his passes on the day, going 20-for-24 while averaging 12.5 yards per attempt.
