It was a happy homecoming for FAMU, as the Rattlers erased a halftime deficit with a relentless second-half surge to defeat the Alcorn State Braves, 33-28, in a Southwestern Athletic Conference clash that was not decided until the minutes seconds.
The victory, sealed by a defensive stand that let the offense run out the clock, snaps a two-game skid for the Rattlers (2-4, 1-1 SWAC) and injects new life into their conference aspirations. For the Braves (1-6, 0-3), it was another heartbreaker in a season.
The narrative of the game flipped entirely at intermission. The Braves, led by a determined effort from quarterback Jaylon Tolbert, had successfully muddied the waters in the first half, stifling FAMU’s explosive potential and taking a 14-9 lead into the locker room.
But the Rattlers that emerged for the third quarter were a different team altogether.
“We looked each other in the eye at halftime and understood what this moment meant,” said quarterback R.J. Johnson III, who delivered a virtuoso performance. “This was Homecoming. This was for Bragg. There was no way we were leaving this field without a win.”
Johnson, a redshirt junior, was the catalyst, playing with a poise that belied the high stakes. He orchestrated the comeback with surgical precision, finishing the game 26-of-38 for 323 yards and a touchdown through the air, while adding another 33 yards and a score on the ground. More importantly, he did not turn the ball over.
“R.J. was a maestro afternoon,” said Head Coach James Colzie III. “He managed the game, he took what the defense gave him, and when the moment called for a play, he made it. That’s leadership.”
The momentum shift was immediate. The Rattlers’ offense, which had sputtered at times in the first half, came out firing. They marched downfield on their opening drive of the third quarter, capped by a perfectly thrown 17-yard laser from Johnson to his receiver to snatch a 17-14 lead—a lead they would not relinquish.
The defense, led by a disruptive effort from end Latarie Kinsler, who recorded a sack and a tackle for loss, began to impose its will, forcing punts and creating crucial stops.
Just as Alcorn State seemed to find a rhythm again, pulling within three points in the fourth quarter, FAMU delivered the play that will live in Homecoming lore. On a first down from the Alcorn 33-yard line, the call was for a reverse. The ball landed in the hands of receiver Goldie Lawrence, who turned the corner, found a seam, and raced, untouched, into the end zone, sending a seismic roar through the stadium and extending the lead to 33-21.
“We’ve had that play in the holster all week,” Lawrence said with a wide grin. “We knew it was there. The line executed perfectly, and I just ran. Hearing that crowd… there’s nothing like it.”
Though the Braves would add a late touchdown to create a final, tense moments, the Rattler defense held firm. The game ended with Alcorn State’s last-gasp heave falling harmlessly to the turf, cementing the comeback.
Complementing Johnson’s heroics was a steady ground game from Thad Franklin Jr., who grinded out 67 hard-earned yards, and the reliable leg of kicker Daniel Porto, who was flawless, connecting on all four of his field goal attempts, including a long of 51 yards.
The victory was a complete team effort, characterized by dominance in time of possession (36:10 to 23:50) and critical efficiency, converting on 8 of 17 third downs and a perfect 2-for-2 on fourth down.
As the final horn sounded, the field was flooded with a sea of orange and green, a community celebrating not just a win, but a resilient performance that embodied the spirit of Homecoming. For one night in Tallahassee, all was right.
“This,” said Johnson, still catching his breath amid the celebration, “is why we play the game. This feeling right here.”