FAMU Rattler football team suffered a 56-9 defeat, Saturday night to the 12th ranked Miami Hurricanes on the road. Despite the loss, the Rattlers showed moments of resilience but ultimately could not overcome the Hurricanes' dominant performance.
The Hurricanes improved to 2-0 on the season, maintaining their strong start, while the Rattlers dropped to 2-1, suffering their first loss of the year.
On the offensive side, Dorian Collier led the Rattlers' rushing efforts with 31 yards, averaging an impressive 6.2 yards per carry. Kelvin Dean contributed 27 yards on the ground, averaging 4.5 yards per carry, demonstrating the team's attempt to establish a running game against a tough Miami defense.
Through the air, Jamari Gassett was the standout receiver for Florida A&M, securing five catches for 57 yards, providing a reliable target for the Rattlers' passing attack.
Defensively, Simion Hines made an impact with 1.0 tackle for loss (TFL) and a sack, showcasing the team's effort to disrupt the Miami offense. Deco Wilson led the team with eight tackles, underscoring his consistent presence on the defensive side of the ball.
How it happened
The game unfolded with Miami taking an early 15-0 lead, but Florida A&M managed to get on the board before the end of the first quarter, reducing the deficit to 15-3. The Rattlers responded with a field goal after Miami extended its lead to 25-3, making it a 25-6 game. Miami continued to score, widening the gap to 39-6 before Florida A&M narrowed it to 39-9 with 7:29 remaining in the third quarter. However, the Rattlers were unable to score again, and Miami added 17 more points to seal the victory.
Statistically, Miami outgained FAMU significantly, with a total of 549 yards compared to the Rattlers' 190. The third quarter was FAMU's highest-scoring period, with three points. The Rattlers converted only 3 of 13 third downs, while Miami was successful on 8 of 12, highlighting the difference in offensive efficiency.
Trey Wilhoit's punting was a bright spot for FAMU, averaging 45.3 yards per punt and pinning Miami inside their own 20-yard line once. Daniel Richardson completed 76.5% of his passes, going 13-for-17 and averaging 7.7 yards per attempt, showing his accuracy in the face of pressure.
For Miami, Cameron Ward led the passing attack, completing 20 of 26 attempts for 304 yards and three touchdowns, demonstrating exceptional precision. Xavier Restrepo was the Hurricanes' leading receiver with 104 yards and a touchdown, making him a key player in Miami's offensive strategy.