The FAMU Rattlers played strong in a 42-7 rout of Bethune-Cookman in the 30th Florida Classic at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium.A crowd of 59,418 fans witnessed the Rattlers (8-3, 6-2 in MEAC) storm to a 28-0 halftime bulge behind the running of Classic MVP Philip Sylvester and the excellent play of redshirt freshman quarterback Martin Ukpai, who made his first collegiate start in place of senior Curtis Pulley.
Sylvester ran for 21 yards on 19 carries, scoring on runs of five and 42 yards, while Ukpai rushed for 66 yards on 10 carries and one TD, on an 11-yard run.
Ukpai, a native of Plantation, Florida, went 8-for-11 passing for 151 yards and one TD, tossing a one-yard pass to Kevin Elliott.
The Rattlers took a 7-0 lead on Sylvester’s five-yard run with 6:53 left in the first period, but used a 21-point second quarter surge to put serious distance between themselves and the Wildcats.
Bethune-Cookman (5-6, 4-4 in MEAC) got on the board with 6:57 left in the game on a one-yard plunge by Androse Bell, but the Rattlers closed out the scoring on Eddie Rocker’s one-yard run with 3:18 left.
The Rattler Defense picked off three passes Saturday - a 76-yarder by Curtis Holcomb, a 21-yarder by Michael Creary and a seven-yard pick by Qier Hall – while holding B-CU to 83 yards rushing and 176 through the air.
FAMU improved to 20-10 in the 30 Florida Classic games and is now 48-16-1 overall in the 65 games played against Bethune-Cookman since 1925.
Martin Ukpai became the first redshirt freshman quarterback to start a FAMU game since Tony Ezell in 1988.
2008 did we go to the playoffs?
ReplyDeleteFAMU had a great season and we'll pray for playoffs.
Does anybody know the name, phone# or email of who's in-charge playoffs?
The Rattlers didn't get invited to the playoffs last year. FAMU hasn't been in the playoffs since 2001. A committee of I-AA/FCS coaches selects the at-large teams. Joe Taylor is on that committee, but coaches cannot vote for their own team.
ReplyDeleteOutstanding game Rattlers!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe ole Phillip Sylvester is coming back. He did a great job but Martin Ukpai should have gotten at least a Co-MVP........
ReplyDeleteIt's a bit difficult to find information on the projected seedings, etc. And is there a campaign for the Payton award nominee?
ReplyDeleteFAMU is so excited about their season, for What? They have that high priced coach that they stole from another MEAC school and they don't think anything is wrong with that. They had a sub-par season, if they didn't win MEAC...which they didn't. What's next FAMU, to go after SC State's Coach? Winning against B-CU is nothing win the conference! You finished a notch above B-CU and that's what you call a Good Season? I would demand some of the coaches' salary back...Please, good season???!!!
ReplyDelete2:39 - What kind of medication are you taking right now?!?!?
ReplyDeleteAn 8-3 season is nothing for any team to hang their head about...make that two 8-3 seasons in a row. Yeah, we didn't win the MEAC title this year, but the football program is definitely on the right track. It really takes a few years(or more) to develop a winning football program. These young men have made improvements both on and off the field, and they need to be commended. The future looks very bright, especially with Martin Upkai, who played very well this past weekend.
Who do you think should be our head football coach right now? Don't tell me Ruben Carter?!? Joe Taylor is doing an outstanding job with the program...enough with the nonsense!
2:39 not only was it a good season, it was a great season!! We have players who garnered national attention, and all of it positive. We have a coach who taught lifelong lessons to a wonderful group of young men......and our second year coach finished second in the conference behind a coach who has been in place for darn near a decade. Yes, I call that a great season.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, people are not property. Coach Taylor was not and is not the property of any college. As such, it is impossible to "steal" him.