The Florida A&M University football team (6-2), succeeded over Norfolk State (2-6) 31-28, after a close game that some team members said was a result of FAMU turnovers.
“It was close because we had five turnovers,” said Anthony Collins, offensive lineman from Miami. “We won because we pulled together as a team and stop making mistakes.”
Curtis Holcomb, defensive back from Miami, said that although FAMU had too many turnovers, the team made a couple of plays to stay in the game and come out with the win.
“We basically were beating ourselves at first and then we start coming together as a defense and a offense and start really playing Rattler football, and the defense forced turnovers and start stopping them, which allowed the offense to go down and score,” Holcomb said.
FAMU was sacked four times, while Norfolk did not get any.
Curtis Pulley, transfer quarterback, had 27 pass attempts and 13 completes.
Eddie Battle, quarterback, had three completes and seven pass attempts with two interceptions.
FAMU also had eight penalties for a total lost of 67 yards, compared to NSU’s five penalties with a loss of 50 yards.
FAMU also lost 50 rushing yards compared to NSU’s six lost yards.
Robert Okeafor, offensive lineman from Jacksonville, said the team underestimated NSU.
“The reason the game was so close because we didn’t take the team serious and they came to play, and we really didn’t come out ready,” Okeafor said. “But we came together and made more plays.”
Even though FAMU had more turnovers than NSU, FAMU had more offensive yards, 464, compared to NSU’s 371.
FAMU was also 8 of 15 in third-down conversions and NSU was 2 of 12.
In fourth-down conversions, FAMU was 3 of 4 and NSU was 1 of 1. FAMU also had more first downs than NSU with 25 first downs.
FAMU’s net rushing yards was 202 while NSU had 179 net rushing yards.
Phillip Sylvester gained 109 rushing yards and lost only four yards. He also had one touchdown.
His longest rush was 44-yards.
Javier Wallace, offensive lineman from Austin, TX, said the Rattlers started off slow, but came through at the end.
“Nolkfolk state fought and played real hard, and at the beginning of the game we were playing their record and not the team,” Wallace said. “We won because we made more plays than they did and we played together as a team.”