FAMU jars North Carolina A&T in overtime
Florida A&M’s Marcus Williams caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Rasean McKay to seal the Rattlers’ 34-31 overtime upset of powerhouse North Carolina A&T Sunday in Tallahassee.
FAMU (6-1, 4-0 MEAC) knocked off the defending Black College National Champions despite losing starting quarterback Ryan Stanley to an injury during the contest that was postponed one day to avoid Tropical Storm Nestor.
North Carolina A&T (4-2, 2-1 MEAC) entered the game ranked No. 10 in the STATS Football Championship Subdivision poll, No. 11 in the FCS coaches’ poll and No. 1 in the black college football poll.
The intense matchup included three ejections from both teams and the ejection of one coach following a confrontation when the teams crossed paths at halftime.
FAMU’s offense stalled late in the fourth quarter and North Carolina A&T’s Noel Ruiz hit a 24-yard field goal to force overtime.
Ruiz hit a 32-yard field goal on the opening overtime drive, but the Rattlers answered with a touchdown that was reviewed for about a minute before the call on the field was upheld and triggered a boisterous celebration among the Rattlers.
FAMU is serving an NCAA postseason ban due to extensive athletic department academic violations, heightening the value of the regular season for the Rattlers.
HATTERS KEEP ROLLING: Jalen Leary had a school-record 220 yards on the ground, Gaven DeFilippo threw three touchdown passes and Stetson defeated Dayton 38-21 on Saturday.
Leary’s day was highlighted by an 81-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that gave the Hatters a 31-14 lead. DeFilippo added a 10-yard TD pass to Tony Gilotti and the Hatters (5-1, 2-1 Pioneer) led 38-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Flyers (4-2, 2-1 Pioneer) scored on a 9-yard pass from Jack Cook to Ryan Skibinski on the first play of the fourth quarter. Dayton had one drive inside the Stetson 10 later in the period but turned the ball over on downs.
Jack Cook was 29-of-57 for 382 yards with three touchdowns. He was intercepted once and the Flyers lost two fumbles.
Kickoff was delayed three hours due to heavy overnight rain from Tropical Storm Nestor.
WILDCATS WIN: Akevious Williams accounted for three touchdowns, Isaac Washington added a touchdown run with a minute remaining and Bethune-Cookman beat Norfolk State 35-22 on Saturday night.
Williams was 24-of-36 passing for 274 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and ran for a 3-yard score for the Wildcats (6-1, 4-0 MEAC). Washington finished with 104 yards rushing on 16 carries.
Norfolk State (2-6, 1-3 MEAC) pulled to 25-22 on Kevin Johnson’s 4-yard touchdown run to open the fourth quarter. Xavier McDonald’s 23-yard field goal made it 28-22 with 10:35 to play, and then the Spartans turned the ball over with a fumble on their next series.
Norfolk State moved into Wildcats territory, but its drive stalled on a penalty and a pair of sacks — the last sack from Marques Ford on a fourth-and-35. Washington scored on a 6-yard run on the next play.
Juwan Carter was 17-of-27 passing for 221 yards and threw a touchdown pass for the Spartans. Rayquan Smith ran for 103 yards and a touchdown. Johnson finished with 97 yards rushing.