Devin Bowers, Florida A&M running back, picked up yards in the Norfolk vs. FAMU game | Photo credit: Vaughn Wilson, FAMU Athletics
With FAMU having 13 more first downs, 243 more yards, and almost eight more minutes of possession time than their opponent, the Rattlers had more than enough chances to bring a win back to Tallahassee, Saturday Oct. 7, but fell short.
Throughout the well-fought battle FAMU fell short of the win because of excessive turnovers. Norfolk State just seemed to have an answer for every mistake FAMU made — which led to a 35-28 upset.
The loss dropped the Rattlers to (1-2) in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and (2-4) overall.
Turnovers led to the Rattlers giving up 21 of Norfolk 35 points. The play that gave Norfolk their momentum was when Bishop Bonnet fumbled the ball and allowed Norfolk to recover and take it all the way in for a touchdown, which happened in the first quarter.
“Obviously excessive penalties and turnovers did us in,” Head coach Alex Wood said. "We couldn’t overcome that and Norfolk State capitalized on each and every one of them and won the game."
Junior starting quarterback Ryan Stanley later echoed his coach’s remarks after the game
"Once again, we didn't play winning football today," Stanley said. "Way, way too many turnovers. And turnovers that went back for touchdowns. Our defense is good enough, even if we did give up a turnover, to hold it down and stop them.”
“When you give up turnovers that the defense can score on, that's not winning football at all.” Stanley continued.
FAMU wide receiver Brandon Norwood said after the game that his team has to playing with confidence.
“The team has got to start coming out strong and play with a little more confidence, once we start doing that then we’ll stat winning more.”
In the fourth quarter, with FAMU being up, they fumbled the ball and allowed Norfolk State to return it for a touchdown. It could have tremendously helped the rattlers if they could have held the ball, scored, and then hold the Spartans off from scoring the rest of the fourth.
If FAMU keeps allowing little mistakes like this to eat them up in upcoming games they will be in for a rude awakening.