Florida A&M football has shown resolve in comeback wins, beating Norfolk State and, most recently, South Carolina State. But the Rattlers should start faster before their luck runs out.
By Gerald Thomas III
(Source: Tallahassee Democrat)
Another week.
Another nail-biting win for Florida A&M football.
On Saturday, the Rattlers were staring into the eyes of losing their first game at Bragg Memorial Stadium since 2018 to the visiting South Carolina State Bulldogs.
Instead, the Rattlers erased an 18-7 fourth-quarter deficit to outlast the Bulldogs 22-18 and extend the nation’s second-longest home winning streak to 21 wins.
FAMU quarterback Daniel Richardson passed for two touchdowns within five minutes of each other, connecting with tight end Karter Johnson then running back Thad Franklin Jr. to move the Rattlers (2-0) past the Bulldogs (0-1).
The late scores followed FAMU’s offense stalling since its initial score in the game’s first quarter.
It was the second week in a row that FAMU had to storm back against an opponent, as the Rattlers also did in Week 0 versus Norfolk State.
“It seems that when we get down, we start playing better,” FAMU head coach James Colzie III said in Saturday’s postgame press conference after his team defeated South Carolina State. “But tribute to our team and coaching staff. We’re 2-0. Enjoy this win, go through our corrections, and get ready for our next opponents.”
FAMU’s comeback wasn’t all roses and daisies, in any case.
With 8:02 left in the third quarter, FAMU quarterback Richardson fumbled a snap after the Rattlers reached the redzone, bailing the South Carolina State defense out as the Bulldogs recovered.
Then the Rattlers’ offense drove to the South Carolina State’s 38-yard line, looking to pull ahead while down 12-7 with 15 seconds left in the third quarter. However, the drive abruptly halted when FAMU tight end Johnson fumbled after a 12-yard gain on a reception from Richardson.
FAMU lost the fumble, which led to South Carolina State driving down the field and scoring on a one-yard rush by Bulldogs running back Josh Shaw to take a 18-7 lead with 12:14 left in the fourth quarter.
The turnover gave the Rattlers flashbacks to when they had a chance to put away Norfolk State late last week but fumbled the ball away.
“But I don’t necessarily want to focus on the bad. We knew we had an issue ― a problem. And the team got together, did what they normally do ― come back out and play good football afterward.”
FAMU kept faith in Johnson.
Richardson again targeted the graduate student tight end in the fourth quarter, where Johnson scored on a seven-yard reception that helped FAMU cut the deficit to 18-15 with 10:32 left.
FAMU tight ends accounted for 11 of Richardson’s 23 completions and two of the quarterback’s three touchdowns.
Johnson had five catches for 56 yards. Koby Gross had a game-high six catches for a game-high 106 yards and a touchdown.
“It comes down to being where you’re supposed to be and doing what you’re supposed to do. When your number’s called, you just got to make the play,” Johnson said.
The Rattlers did again.
They completed another comeback and showed they’re resilient.
“When it got 18-7, I never saw panic. Good teams answer. And we continue to do that,” Colzie said.
“I know everyone wants us to win pretty. But we persevered again in the fourth quarter. We won the fourth quarter, which ultimately meant we won the football game,” he added.
A win is a win.
However, having to shave deficits isn’t the way you want to prevail week in and week out. It’s playing with fire.
Especially when FAMU, the reigning Black College Football Champions, is circled on every opponent’s schedule.