Rattlers spoil Delaware State homecoming with 41-27 victory

Orlando McKinley had two interceptions including a touchdown on a 100-yard return

Redshirt freshman quarterback Ryan Stanley was electric in his third collegiate, accounting for 322 yards and four scores leading the Florida A&M Rattlers to a 41-27 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football victory over Delaware State here at Alumni Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Stanley, rushed 118 yards and three scores, while passing for 204 yards and another score, sparking the Rattlers to a 13-0 lead, by leading three straight scoring drives to start the game.

After FAMU (2-5, 2-2) took the opening kickoff, ending the 16-play drive, with a 39-yard Colby Blanton field goal for a 3-0 lead, Stanley capped the Rattlers next possession with a 17-yard scoring dash and a 10-0 with under four minutes left in the opening stanza.

Blanton booted an 18-yard fielder to cap the Rattlers next possession, pushing their lead to 13-0.

A quarterback duel ensued between Stanley and Delaware State's Daniel Epperson who scored on a pair of one-yard runs, while Stanley barged in from nine yards out, to make it a 20-14 game at the half.

Delaware State (0-6, 0-3 MEAC) tied the game at 20-20 on Brycene Alleyne's 13-yard run, the only score in the third period. But the point after try was blocked, leaving the score deadlocked heading into the final frame.

Stanley converted an interception into a one yard TD run for a 27-20 lead with 13:32 left, then on the next possession, he sprinted 54 yards to the Hornet two, then he tossed a strike to Montavious Williams for a 34-20 edge.

The Hornets drove into FAMU territory, but Epperson's end zone throw was picked off by sophomore Orlando McKinley, who dashed 100 yards for the clinching score with 6:33 left.

Brycene Allyne's 42-yard TD gallop closed out the scoring for DelState with 5:10 to go.

McKinley, a sophomore from Atlanta, finished three interceptions, one shy of the single game school record of four. Curtis Alexander, Terry Jefferson and Ronald Harris each had nine tackles, with Alexander adding 1.5 tackles for loss, and Jefferson getting one stop behind the line.

Brandon Norwood led the Rattler receivers with six catches for 115 yards.