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FAMU football survives fourth-quarter deficit to beat South Carolina State | Takeaways
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- FAMU football survives fourth-quarter deficit to beat South Carolina State | Takeaways
The streak lives to see another game.
Florida A&M football defeated South Carolina State 22-18 on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium to move its home winning streak to 21 games, the second longest in the nation .
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The Rattlers (2-0) outgained South Carolina State (0-1) 415-286 before a Week 1 crowd of 15,930 at Bragg.
FAMU recovered from a 18-7 fourth-quarter deficit to beat South Carolina State.
FAMU quarterback Daniel Richardson threw for two touchdowns, connecting with tight end Karter Johnson and then running back Thad Franklin Jr. in the game's final 10:32 to make the comeback.
FAMU never relinquished its lead after that.
The Rattlers' win on Saturday was their second straight this season and 13th consecutive victory dating back to last season.
Second half performance by FAMU football's offense helps comeback
Florida A&M Rattlers take on South Carolina State in first home game of the season Thursday, August 31 2024.
The Rattlers' offense tallied 161 total yards in the first half.
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Then, FAMU picked up the pace with 254 second-half yards.
More specifically, FAMU scored two touchdowns within five minutes of each other in the fourth quarter to make its 11-point comeback.
First, FAMU quarterback Richardson found tight end Johnson for a seven-yard touchdown with 10:32 left in the game. The Rattlers elected to go for a two-point conversion, where they converted on a pass from Richardson to Koby Gross to make the score 18-15.
FAMU's second fourth-quarter score came on a six-yard pass by Richardson to Franklin to take and hold the 22-18 lead.
Richardson completed 23 of 38 passes for 282 yards and threw three touchdowns.
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FAMU football's defense makes timely stops against South Carolina State
Florida A&M Rattlers take on South Carolina State in first home game of the season Thursday, August 31 2024.
FAMU's defense allowed the South Carolina State to rush for 154 yards. Of those yards on the ground, 111 came in the second half.
However, FAMU's defense made key stops.
For example, FAMU safety Deco Wilson sacked South Carolina State quarterback Eric Phoenix to end the Bulldogs ' first-quarter redzone drive.
Wilson's sack was one of the Rattlers' two, alongside defensive lineman James Gardner Jr .
In the second half, the Rattlers halted the Bulldogs on points after touchdown attempts.
First, FAMU blocked South Carolina State's PAT after the Bulldogs' third-quarter score. When South Carolina State scored in the fourth quarter, the Rattlers stopped the Bulldogs on their two-point conversion.
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Altogether, FAMU had seven tackles for loss. FAMU defensive back Michael Oppong led with two.
A look at FAMU football's mistakes vs South Carolina State
Florida A&M Rattlers take on South Carolina State in first home game of the season Thursday, August 31 2024.
FAMU missed opportunities at critical times of Saturday's game.
In the second quarter, Rattlers kicker Cameron Gillis missed a 31-yard field goal that would have placed FAMU up 10-3 late in the second quarter. Instead, the Rattlers only led 7-6 at halftime.
FAMU also had two second-half fumbles.
In the third quarter, Richardson and the FAMU center miscommunicated on a redzone snap, leading South Carolina State to recover on the Bulldogs' 18-yard line.
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Additionally, FAMU tight end Johnson fumbled after making a 12-yard gain, which South Carolina State recovered and returned to the Rattlers' 48-yard line. The Bulldogs scored on a one-yard rush by running back Josh Shaw.
FAMU had six penalties for 65 yards. South Carolina State gave up 65 yards on ten penalties.
Next, the Rattlers face the Miami Hurricanes (1-0) on Sept. 7 at Hard Rock Stadium. Miami beat Florida 41-17 in Gainesville on Saturday.
Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee .
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football erases deficit to defeat South Carolina State | Takeaways
