In a much hyped season opener, Florida A&M defeated Jackson State 28-10 to win the annual Orange Blossom Classic. The Rattlers ended a four-game losing streak to the Tigers with the win, and won their first Orange Blossom Classic since its revival in 2021.
The Rattlers entered the locker room at halftime with a 28-0 lead. Despite an electrifying first half by the Rattlers, they failed to score a single point in the second half.
Blocked field goal attempts were responsible for points left on the board. Placekicker Cameron Gillis, a graduate transfer from Stetson, attempted a 39-yard field goal which would have tied his career long, and another from the 46-yard line. The Tigers blocked both.
After the game, head coach Willie Simmons was asked about the blocked field goals. He said that would be the first issue they would diagnose after the game.
“I’ll be taking it over to see what went wrong. We’ll see if it is a schematics issue or a personnel issue,” Simmons said.
Both field goals were blocked by Jaheem Hazel, a senior cornerback for the Tigers. This could signify a weakness in the offensive line’s core.
Placekicker Marko Dubak spoke a bit about what’s required for a successful field goal kick. Dubak, a former field goal kicker and punter at Lyons Township High School in La Grange, Illinois, said that field goal kicks are a collective effort.
“I wouldn’t say one position is more important than the other. I think the biggest thing is that everyone together does the right job,” he said.
Dubak was referring to the importance of individual tasks from the offensive line to the placekicker.
The Rattlers tried for just one field goal late in the third quarter against the University of South Florida on Saturday. That field goal was made from 27 yards. Although the attempt was completed, it was 12 yards closer than the shortest field goal missed the previous week.
Nonetheless, it seems as if the Rattlers’ kicking scares have been put behind them, for now.
Florida A&M fell to USF 38-24 in a matchup that appeared to come down to a few mental errors in the second half. Although the Rattlers were not victorious in Saturday’s bout against the Bulls, it was refreshing knowing the Rattlers are capable of scoring in a multitude of ways. FAMU finished with two rushing touchdowns, one receiving touchdown, and one field goal kick. The Rattlers look to defeat the University of West Florida this weekend in their first home game of the season.