On Saturday, 55,257 spectators watched as Florida A&M defeated Bethune-Cookman 41-20 in the Florida Blue Florida Classic at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
Here at Sports Club Florida we love the picture the stats give us. B-CU performance wasn’t all bad. In fact, the score doesn’t fully show how dialed in this Wildcat team was on this pass Saturday. They really fought hard the entire game. The Wildcats completed more 1st downs, had more rushing yards but allowed two crucial turnarounds that ultimately cost them good positioning in the game. It was a hard loss to watch considering just how good this team was playing throughout the game. The Wildcats just couldn’t lock in fully putting all the pressure on their QB1 Jones.
The Wildcats (2-9, 2-6 Southwestern Athletic Conference) turned the ball over twice in the first quarter, which resulted in 13-0 Rattlers (9-2, 7-1) runs courtesy of Jaylan McCloud.
Florida A&M faked a punt to keep a drive alive late in the game, and Jalon Jones connected with Kemari Averett for a 27-20 Florida A&M lead. But Jeremy Moussa found Kemari Young for a 34-20 lead and an insurance touchdown on the next possession.
In the second quarter, a 75-yard drive ended with a 13-7 Rattlers’ Que’Shaun Byrd touchdown run, but Bethune-Cookman answered with a 32-yard Jeremy Moussa touchdown pass to Xavier Smith.
With 1:01 remaining in the first half, FAMU built a 27-7 lead by scoring on a Philly special from Smith to Moussa.
On B-CU’s first possession of the third quarter, Jalon Jones ran a 15-yard touchdown over the middle to Daven Ellington, reducing the score to 27-14.
A Game Lost by Lack of Offense Pass Game
Jones completed 19 of 33 for 172 yards and also rushed for 58 yards, setting up a score on a scramble. If it wasn’t for Jones running abilities, the game would have been lost a lot sooner. Jones seemed to be the only factor keeping the Wildcats active when it mattered, converting on 3rd downs when it mattered.
Byrd had 39 yards on nine carries. Marcus Averett had four receptions for 46 yards, and Riley had six catches for 46 yards.
The problem the B-CU offense has had this season cost them the game yet again. Dropped passes at crucial moments in space were ultimately the reason the Wildcats weren’t able to go point for point against the Rattlers.
FAMU Unbothered by Wildcat Defense
Jeremy Moussa was a man on a mission. While the Rattlers have an efficient running core, they excel in passing. There was nothing the Wildcats defense could do against the dominating throwing performance of Moussa. This kid was really something special out their on Saturday.
Moussa completed 282 passing yards with 18 of 22 passes completed. Every attempt received an average 11.5 yards. The Rattlers only attemped 24 rushing plays each time only gaining about 1.3 yards for a total of 30 rushing yards. This game could have been won by the defense if they could only defeat the air performance of the Rattlers.
Bragging Rights Go to Rattlers
Another year has passed and bragging rights for the year goes to the Rattlers. I’m sure Jae Fortune our chief FAMU writer is happy about that. Thanksgiving Dinner is going to be awkward for the Wildcats fans. Don’t put them down to bad this year Rattlers !
