The Florida A&M football team wants to ride its three-game winning streak to another victory against the North Carolina Central Eagles.
The Rattlers will battle the Eagles at noon on Nov. 12 in Durham, N.C.
FAMU is on a three-game winning streak since losing to Howard University on the Rattler’s homecoming Oct. 8. Head coach Joe Taylor has had the team primed since then to finish the season strong.
“A win enables us to continue to move forward. It is NCCU’s senior day, so we expect a challenge,” said Taylor.
NCCU (2-7, 1-5) is a team that has nothing to lose. Junior defensive tackle Padric Scott said the Eagles are to be taken seriously.
“They’re very balanced with a 50/50 offense,” said Scott. “We must be aware of trick plays because they just want to win a game.”
FAMU (6-3, 4-2) is coming off of a win against the North Carolina A&T Aggies last week. It was senior day, and also the last home game ever for wide receiver Kevin Elliot.
“Seniors had a big impact. We were thinking how do you want people to remember you in your last game,” said Elliot.
Elliot caught two touchdown passes against NCAT and is hoping to have a big impact against the Eagles.
The Rattlers are currently tied for second place in the MEAC with Bethune-Cookman, South Carolina State and Morgan State. If the Rattlers win these last two games, they will have a great chance to make the Football Championship Series playoffs. FAMU has not been to the FCS playoffs since 2001.
Now, the top two teams in the MEAC will automatically be seeded in the playoffs. FAMU has narrowly been left out since Taylor took over the football team in 2008.
The Rattlers are not looking past the Eagles for their annual end of the season matchup with archrival BCU. FAMU plans to keep up their defensive momentum from the second half of the NCCU game.
“We posted a shutout after the second quarter against the Eagles,” said Scott. “They scored 20 points in the first quarter, and Coach Taylor really lit into us at halftime.”
NCCU features a balanced offensive attack. Running back Idreis Augustus leads the team with 80 yards rushing per game.
For more information and stats on both teams, visit http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/teams/nac.