TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida A&M (2-5, 1-2 SWAC) celebrates Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 24, hosting Arkansas-Pine Bluff (3-3, 1-2 SWAC) in a SWAC matchup at Bragg Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT), and the game will stream live on HBCU GO.

The Rattlers return home for the first time since Sept. 26 after a 27-17 loss at Jackson State, where they led 17-12 entering the fourth quarter in front of 44,173 fans.

Saturday is the first of three home games in a four-week stretch, and with five SWAC games remaining, FAMU sits one game behind East Division leaders Jackson State and Alabama A&M in the loss column.

GAME INFORMATION
Matchup: Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Florida A&M
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 24 | 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT)
Venue: Bragg Memorial Stadium | Tallahassee, Fla.
Occasion: Homecoming
TV/Stream: HBCU GO (James Hadnot, play-by-play; Steve Wyche, analyst; Lawrencia Morton, sideline)
Radio: Rattler Sports Network (Bryan Fulford, play-by-play; Al Chester, analyst)
Live Stats: FAMUAthletics.com
X/Twitter: @FAMUAthletics | @FAMU_FB
Facebook: /FAMUAth
Instagram: @FAMUAthletics | @FAMUFB
YouTube: /GoFAMUAthletics
Game Day Hashtags: #FAMUvsUAPB | #FangsUp | #FAMUly

Hailey Breaks Loose, Rattlers Find Their Ground Game
Running back Jamal Hailey ran for 111 yards on 12 carries (9.2 average) at Jackson State, including an 81-yard touchdown on the first snap of the third-quarter drive that put FAMU ahead 17-12. It was the Rattlers' first 100-yard rushing game of the season, and the team finished with a season-high 164 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in a game for the first time this year. Hailey leads FAMU with 254 rushing yards.

Parker, Burris Lead a Big-Play Passing Attack
Quarterback Armond Parker has thrown for 925 yards and eight touchdowns with a 136.9 efficiency rating, fifth among SWAC passers. He ranks fourth in the league at 185.0 passing yards per game. Wide receiver Armand Burris has 249 receiving yards and two touchdowns on nine catches, a 27.7-yard average that includes an 89-yard score at Alabama State. As a group, the Rattler receivers average 13.7 yards per catch.

That big-play ability meets an opportunity Saturday. No SWAC defense has allowed more passing yards than UAPB, which ranks last in the league at 311.2 yards per game and has allowed opponents to complete 70.5 percent of their passes. Kieren Jackson (191 yards), Corey Petty (168 yards) and Jaquan Lee (151 yards) have all topped 150 receiving yards.

Rattler Defense Making Plays
Florida A&M's defense gave the Rattlers a chance at Jackson State, forcing a fumble that Ryan Johnson recovered to end a 14-play, 75-yard Tiger drive in the third quarter. Anthony Baxter then intercepted a pass at the FAMU 1-yard line in the fourth.

Linebacker Denzel Johnson leads the SWAC at 11.9 tackles per game and has reached double figures four times, including 11 stops against both Tennessee State and Jackson State. Antonio Camon ranks second in the league in sacks per game and has 6.0 tackles for loss. Safety Justin Bostic is second in the SWAC in interceptions per game (0.43) with three picks for 122 yards and a touchdown, and Andre Powell Jr. shares the league lead in forced fumbles (2) with Ryan Johnson sharing the lead in fumble recoveries (2).

As a team, FAMU ranks second in the SWAC in both third-down defense (32.5 percent) and red zone defense (75.9 percent). The Rattlers have kept opponents off the scoreboard on seven of their 29 red zone trips.

Special Teams Remain a Strength
Florida A&M leads the SWAC in net punting (40.3). Bobby Engstler ranks second in the league at 41.4 yards per punt, with 16 downed inside the 20 and nine punts of 50 yards or longer. Opponents have returned punts for just 37 yards all season. The Rattlers are also 5-of-6 on field goals (.833, second in the SWAC). Emilio Bacardi is a perfect 3-for-3, and Gabriel Caison connected from 23 yards at Jackson State.

Scouting the Golden Lions
UAPB is led by fourth-year head coach Alonzo Hampton and comes to Tallahassee off a 21-15 Homecoming loss to Alabama State. The Golden Lions have wins over Morehouse, Central State and Southern, and are averaging 32.8 points and 395.2 yards per game. They rank third in the SWAC in rushing (208.3 yards per game), led by Za'Marion Webber, who averages 7.6 yards per carry. Wide receiver Demetric Whitlock Jr. has 448 yards and five touchdowns, and D'Avery Robinson has six touchdown catches. Quarterback Garrison Davis has thrown for 709 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Jalen Williams leads the SWAC at 35.4 yards per kickoff return, and kicker Trey Glymph is 8-for-8 on field goals. UAPB has converted only about 35 percent of its third downs, a number that runs into the league's second-best third-down defense.

Series History
Florida A&M is 3-0 all-time against UAPB and has outscored the Golden Lions 95-41. The Rattlers won the most recent meeting 31-28 in Pine Bluff last season, and Saturday is the second meeting in Tallahassee after a 27-6 FAMU victory on Oct. 29, 2022.