MOMENTUM
Going into Thursday’s football game, Winston-Salem State University has more momentum than Florida A&M University.
WSSU is fresh from a win against Howard University, 34-10. That is their first win this season, so their confidence is high going into Thursday’s face-off against FAMU, who just lost to South Carolina State University, 28-21.
Even though FAMU won the last two games before playing SCSU, the game was quite close. They made an extraordinary comeback in the early third quarter of the SCSU game, but lost all momentum at the end of the third quarter and in the fourth.
Advantage: WSSU
OFFENSE
The FAMU Rattlers will have a clear advantage on offense heading into Thursday’s game.
FAMU has a total of 919 passing yards compared to WSSU’s 851. FAMU also leads WSSU in rushing yardage by 719 compared to WSSU’s 600 yards on the ground.
Both teams are proficient on third down conversions. WSSU has converted 28 of 73 in third downs and FAMU has converted 29 of 65 third downs.
FAMU’s receiving core should have a good game after posting a season average of 12 yards per catch and Winstom Salem will have to try and stop sophomore running back, Philip Sylvester who is averaging over four yards a carry.
Advantage: FAMU
DEFENSE
Overall, the FAMU Rattlers have permitted their opponents to score a total of 128 points compared to the WSSU Rams’ 109.
The Rams’ secondary defensive core is statistically less vulnerable to their opponents passing, allowing them to gain 895 yards in five games.
At this point in the regular season, the Rattlers run-stop defense has allowed 90 more rushing yards than the Rams.
Compared to WSSU, FAMU players have individually accumulated more defensive solo tackles and interceptions. Although the teams’ defensive statistics are close on paper, the gridiron will prove their differences.
Advantage: FAMU
X FACTOR
The x-factor lies in the offense who gets the best help from the quarterback.
Both systems use two quarterbacks regularly.
Jarrett Dunston of WSSU has a 108.69 passing efficiency and Tienn Jefferson has 103.44 in efficiency. For FAMU, Eddie Battle is at 113.4 and Curtis Pulley is 100.3 for passing efficiency.
Dunston and Jefferson have a total of nine interceptions.
Combined Battle and Pulley have only thrown three interceptions in this season’s five games.
Battle and Pulley have proven to be impressive on their feet with a total of 416 rushing yards.
Advantage: FAMU