Game recap: FAMU Rattlers down Southern Jaguars, 30-16, improve to 7-2
Florida A&M football is playing its final regular season home game against the visiting Southern in a SWAC divisional crossover showdown.
Tonight is also Senior Day for FAMU where graduating players will play their final game at Bragg Memorial Stadium to attempt to extend the FCS-second longest home winning streak to 15.
The Rattlers (6-2, 4-1 SWAC) won convincingly in last week's homecoming game, beating Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 27-6. They are now on a six-game winning streak.
The Jaguars (5-3, 3-2 SWAC) fell to SWAC East leaders Jackson State, 35-0 in Week 9.
FAMU prevailed over Southern in Baton Rouge last season, 29-17. The Rattlers also beat the Jaguars, 27-21 from a game-winning pass from then-quarterback Ryan Stanley to receiver Xavier Smith the last time the teams met in Bragg in 2019.
FAMU owns the all-time head-to-head lead over Southern at 34-26-1.
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► Grand (home) finale: FAMU football's Willie Simmons encouraged by team's progress, expects a large crowd for Southern
9:21 p.m. | FAMU running away against Southern
FAMU has extended its lead to 30-16 and has scored 10 unanswered on Southern.
McCray is utilizing his legs with 125 rushing yards on the night.
FAMU 30, SU 16
8:20 p.m. | McCray breaks free of FAMU
McCray's passing has been neutralized tonight, completing 7 of 16 passes for 61 yards and an interception.
It seemed as the Rattlers will force McCray to beat them with his legs as he's rushed 10 times for 89 yards.
He broke away for a 35-yard rushing touchdown.
3Q | 9:26 | FAMU 20, SU 16
7:18 p.m. | FAMU making big plays, outpacing Southern
After an interception by Javan Morgan, FAMU offense's hurried the Southern defense.
Two plays later, Moussa threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Davis.
FAMU cornerback Winsome Frazier Jr. forced a fumble by Cassius Allen. It amounted in a field goal for the Rattlers.
2Q | 5:50 | FAMU 17, SU 6
7:08 p.m. | Dark Cloud Defense trying to keep Southern QB one-dimensional
Southern quarterback BeSean McCray is a dual-threat quarterback that looks to pose problems for the FAMU defense.
So far, the Rattlers have done a good job of forcing him to pass or run.
McCray has completed 4 of 8 passes for 37 yards and three rushing attempts for seven yards.
2Q | 8:25 | FAMU 7, SU 6
6:39 p.m. | Rushing game decent against strong Southern defense
FAMU continuing its balanced offense.
The Rattlers picked up 25 rushing yards on their first drive.
Willie Simmons showing that he's not afraid to pull out some tricks as FAMU audibled on a perceived field goal attempt that forced Southern to jump offsides.
Receiver Xavier Smith finished the drive on a nine-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Jeremy Moussa.
1Q | 5:09 | FAMU 7, SU 3
6:21 p.m. | Southern offense posing a challenge early
The Jaguars returned the first kick to FAMU's 40.
The offense captilized on the short field and gain 35 yards on a mixture of runs and passes.
1Q | 11:42 | Southern leads 3-0
4:55 p.m. | Teams warming up
FAMU threads: White helmets, green jerseys, white pants
Southern threads: Gold helmets, Columbia blue jerseys, yellow pants
4:04 p.m. | Initial updates
Weather: 82 degrees, partly cloudy
Things to watch:
FAMU defense's containment of Southern quarterback BeSean McCray
Southern's pass rush/run-stopping ability
FAMU wide receiver Xavier Smith
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Rattlers live score updates vs Southern Jaguars football
