The FAMU Rattlers used a big third quarter to pull out a 31-21 win over host Texas Southern Tigers Saturday night inside Shell Energy Stadium in Houston.
The No. 18 ranked Rattlers had to rally from a two-touchdown deficit to secure the victory and improve to 6-1 ( 5-0 SWAC), while Texas So fell to 2-5/ 1-3 SWAC. FAMU has now won 12 consecutive conference games and is 19-2 in the SWAC since joining the conference in 2021.
Jeremy Moussa led FAMU's passing attack with 180 yards through the air, tossing two touchdowns and one interception. The signal caller also added one touchdown on the ground.
Moussa hit Jamari Gassett for a 58-yard touchdown just before halftime, capped a 13-play, 65-yard drive with a 1-yard scoring run with 8:27 remaining in the third quarter. The Tigers went three-and-out before Kelvin Dean's 49-yard touchdown gave the Rattlers their first lead and, after Texas Southern again went three-and-out, Kareem Burke caught a 17-yard TD pass from Moussa to make it 28-14 going into the fourth.
Moussa was 17-of-32 passing for 180 yards with an interception and Dean finished with 89 yards rushing on nine carries.
FAMU put together a big outing on the ground, gaining 255 rushing yards while averaging 5.8 yards per carry and out-rushing Texas Southern by 124 yards. The FAMU offense did a good job prolonging drives, converting on 47.1 percent of third-down attempts. The Rattlers also went 3-for-4 on fourth down.
Defensively, FAMU allowed the Texas Southern offensive attack to gain 309 total yards.