Tallahassee, Fla. (Oct. 17, 2015) ---On a day in which one team was going to pick up its first victory of the season, Florida A&M would do the celebrating after a 41-13 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win over Delaware State before a joyous homecoming crowd at Bragg Stadium on Saturday.
The Rattlers improved to 1-6 overall and 1-3 in the MEAC, while the Hornets are now winless in six games, including three league contests.
Delaware State was plagued by a season-high five turnovers and 14 penalties for 137 yards, also season-highs. The Hornet turnovers included an interception that was returned for a touchdown and another that was run back 50 yards to the DSU six. The Rattlers scored 31 of their points following Delaware State turnovers.
Florida A&M scored 20 unanswered points to take control of the game after the Hornets tied the score at 7-7 on a second quarter touchdown.
The Rattlers scored first when Carson Royal and wide receiver Kareem Smith connected on an 18-yard touchdown pass to cap off a five-play, 72-yard drive with 8:30 left in the first quarter.
Delaware State answered with a well-executed touchdown drive of its own to even the game. Jamaal Jackson finished off the 13-play, 64-yard drive by scoring on a three-yard touchdown run with 4:19 left in the opening quarter.
The Hornets converted four third downs during the drive, three on pass plays. Gil Rivera completed third down passes for first downs to Aris Scott for seven yards, Jackson for 16 yards and Scott again for 15 yards to the Florida A&M three. Rivera started in place of No. 1 quarterback Esayah Obado, who sat out the game due to injury.
Scott had a career-high 12 catches, one shy of the Hornets' single game record, for 89 yards. He has 19 receptions for 229 yards in the last two games.
Florida A&M used a big play to regain the lead in the second quarter.
Jairocki Jones took a short pass from Royal near the sideline and avoided several would-be Hornet tacklers en route to a 76-yard touchdown. The extra point kick by Colby Blanton gave the Rattlers a 14-7 lead with 3:00 to go before halftime.
On Delaware State's first play from scrimmage after the FAMU touchdown, Rivera fumbled the ball on a sack. The Rattlers recovered at the Hornet 23, putting them in good position to pad their lead.
Royal connected with Jairocki Jones on a 21-yard pass to the DSU 2 on the first play after the turnover, but the Hornet defense kept the Rattlers out of the endzone on the next three plays, including a run stop from the half-yard-line. Florida A&M settled for a 35-yard field goal by Blanton to open up a 17-7 lead with 36 seconds left in the second quarter.
Blanton added his second field goal of the game, a 27-yarder, to give the Rattlers a 20-7 lead with 9:42 left in the third quarter.
Florida A&M took advantage of another DSU turnover to open up a 20-point lead in the third quarter. Five plays after getting the ball on the Hornet 31 following Rivera's second fumble on a sack, Devondric Nearly's five-yard touchdown run and Blanton's extra point gave the Rattlers a 27-7 lead with 4:44 left in the third quarter.
Delaware State put together another impressive touchdown drive late in the third quarter to keep its hopes alive.
Jackson capped off the seven-play, 60-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter. The drive was highlighted by Rivera completions of 16 yards to Scott and 21 yards to Jeremiah Williams. Rivera also connected with Scott on a seven yard completion on a fourth-and-seven play to keep the drive going. The extra point kick was blocked, leaving the Hornet in a 27-13 hole.
Jackson has a team-high four rushing touchdowns this season, and his in his DSU career.
Whatever momentum the Hornets gained on the touchdown drive and subsequent defensive stop was lost when Florida A&M linebacker Akil Blount intercepted a Rivera pass and ran 75 yards for a touchdown to give the Rattlers a 34-13 lead with 9:04 left to play.
The Rattlers closed out the scoring on another touchdown set-up by a Hornet turnover. Two plays after Kashawn Butler returned an interception 50 yards to the DSU six, Royal completed a seven yard touchdown pass to Desmond Noird with 3:15 to go in the contest.
Rivera completed 23-of-39 passes for 198 yards, but was intercepted three times. The Hornets had 90 yard rushing for a total of 288 yards from scrimmage.
Florida A&M tallied 374 total yards, 229 by the pass and 145 on the ground.
Safety Terrick Colston, playing in his home state of Florida, tied for the DSU lead with 10 tackles, including seven unassisted. He also recorded his eighth career interception.
Linebacker Malik Harris also collected 10 (five solo), including two behind the line-of-scrimmage.
Delaware State returns to action next Saturday against South Carolina State in the Hornets' annual homecoming contest. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Alumni Stadium.
STINGERS
Scott's 12 reception were the most by a Hornet since 2012 … Delaware State also played without wide receiver Kamal Abrams (injury), the team's second leading receiver entering the contest … defensive back Gary Melton had his first career interception for the Hornets .
