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How FAMU football QB RJ Johnson led a run to tame Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Week 11 SWAC game
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- How FAMU football QB RJ Johnson led a run to tame Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Week 11 SWAC game
Florida A&M football got a much-needed win on the road this Saturday, Nov. 8.
The Rattlers traveled to and defeated the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions 31-28 in a Week 11 Southwestern Athletic Conference game on Simmons Bank Field.
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FAMU (4-5, 3-2 in SWAC) narrowly outgained Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4-6, 2-4 in SWAC) 441-440 before the Pine Bluff crowd of 6,582.
The Rattlers held off a late fourth-quarter comeback effort by the Golden Lions that saw the FAMU lead trimmed to three points on three separate occasions.
"We made it interesting," FAMU head coach James Colzie III said on a phone call with the Tallahassee Democrat after the game.
"A couple of times, we had a chance to put the game away offensively and defensively. And somehow, a penalty or a big play was given up."
Quarterback RJ Johnson III led the way for the Rattlers.
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The redshirt sophomore went 17-for-25 for 235 yards, tossed two touchdowns, and had an interception. Johnson's touchdown passes went to wide receivers Jordan Edwards on a 15-yarder and Goldie Lawrence, who went for a 42-yard score.
It was a bounce-back performance from the FAMU signal caller after struggling versus Jackson State in a critical SWAC game last week .
The Rattlers have won three of their last four games.
FAMU football goes on 17-0 run in the middle half vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff
The Golden Lions drew first blood.
Putting together a collection of big plays, Arkansas-Pine Bluff quarterback Christian Peters connected with receiver D'Avery Robinson for a 33-yard first-quarter touchdown.
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From there, it was all FAMU until Arkansas-Pine Bluff made a late rally.
First, kicker Daniel Porto made a 47-yard field goal to put the Rattlers on the board in the second quarter.
Then, Johnson had his two touchdown throws, with the first going to Edwards in the second quarter and the second to Lawrence in the third quarter.
FAMU scored 17 unanswered points on Arkansas-Pine Bluff, spanning from the first to third quarters.
FAMU football's offensive turns in a balanced attack vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Florida A&M Rattlers running back Thad Franklin Jr. makes a catch versus the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions in a NCAA Southwestern Athletic Conference Week 11 football game on Simmons Bank Field in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025.
FAMU played complimentary football versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday.
Alongside Johnson's performance, the Rattlers eclipsed 200 rushing yards for just the second time this season.
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"We were able to do some good things," Colzie said. "Predicated on what we do is running the football. When we have a chance to run the football, it opens up so many things offensively."
Running back Thad Franklin Jr. had 26 carries for a season-high 122 yards and a 47-yard touchdown. Jamal Hailey added seven rushing attempts for 76 yards and a touchdown for 28 yards.
Both of those rushing touchdowns came in the fourth quarter as the Rattlers fought off the Golden Lions.
"Those two guys damn near combined for almost 200 yards and got two touchdowns," the FAMU coach gave props to the backfield. "Being able to run the football, we were able to have success."
Florida A&M Rattlers wide receiver Goldie Lawrence (2) is brought down by a host of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions defenders during a NCAA Southwestern Athletic Conference Week 11 football game on Simmons Bank Field in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025.
FAMU's top receiver was Lawrence, with five catches for 95 yards and a touchdown.
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FAMU went seven-for-13 on third down conversions.
A drawback from FAMU's offensive performance was Johnson throwing his first interception of the season and his college football career. He attempted a touchdown pass to receiver Armand Burris in double coverage and was picked off by Arkansas-Pine Bluff defensive back Azayvonne Stribling in the endzone.
"I wish we had that interception back," Colzie said. "If RJ takes what's given to him, Miles Campbell [FAMU tight end] was wide open in the flat. So, you know, he threw his first interception of his college career."
FAMU football defense wins first half, but allows late scores by Arkansas-Pine Bluff
After allowing an early Arkansas-Pine Bluff score, the FAMU defense held up well for a while.
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It allowed no points in the second and third quarters.
What stood out was FAMU's ability to get Arkansas-Pine Bluff off the field, especially on fourth downs.
The Rattlers forced three turnovers on downs in the first half. Those were Arkansas-Pine Bluff's lone three fourth-down conversion attempts.
Florida A&M Rattlers defensive lineman Amari Williams lines up for a play versus the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions in a NCAA Southwestern Athletic Conference Week 11 football game on Simmons Bank Field in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025.
A good sequence for the FAMU defense was when linebacker Brian Norris and defensive end Antonio Camon had back-to-back sacks to halt an Arkansas-Pine Bluff drive in the second quarter.
The Golden Lions scored 21 points in the fourth quarter.
First, backup quarterback DJ Stevenson subbed in for Peters and passed a 12-yard touchdown pass to running back Jaylen Jennings.
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Afterwards, Peters returned to action and had a 31-yard touchdown pass to receiver Ellis Stewart and a one-yarder to tight end Jaxson Isaac as Arkansas-Pine Bluff inched closer to the FAMU lead.
However, it was too little, too late.
After their final touchdown, the Golden Lions kicked an onside kick, which the Rattlers recovered.
Peters, the SWAC's second-leading passer, finished the game going 26-for-36 for 333 yards, three touchdowns, and added 44 rushing yards on 11 attempts.
"We just got to do a much, much better job in the pass game," Colzie said. "We had some chances to make plays. We didn't. Blew a couple of coverages."
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Arkansas-Pine Bluff had just 95 rushing yards. Jennings, the SWAC's seventh-best rusher, led with 14 carries for 60 yards.
"We saw that their quarterback was going to do some running. But we thought it was important to make sure we took care of the running backs," Colzie explained.
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee .
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football's RJ Johnson throws 2 TDs in win vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff
