On a rain-soaked afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium, South Carolina State’s Mason Pickett-Hicks ran through Florida A&M’s defense with the kind of relentless force that defined the 52nd Orange Blossom Classic.
Pickett-Hicks rushed for 210 yards and two touchdowns on just 17 carries, powering the Bulldogs to a 31-13 victory over the Rattlers on Sunday before an announced crowd of 23,188. The performance earned him the game’s most valuable player award and marked South Carolina State’s first 200-yard rushing effort since 2023.
The game, a Labor Day weekend showcase has become one of HBCU newest football's tradition with roots that date back to 1933. The game was delayed nearly two hours by thunderstorms and lightning. When play finally resumed after a scheduled 3 p.m. kickoff, FAMU struck first. The Rattlers drove 62 yards in 14 plays, and Emilio Bacardi’s 30-yard field goal gave them a brief 3-0 lead.
South Carolina State answered immediately. Two plays after the delay, Pickett-Hicks burst untouched through the line for a 58-yard touchdown. Moments later, Josh Shaw scored on a 6-yard run, and the Bulldogs led 14-3. Shaw added a 1-yard score before halftime. Pickett-Hicks then broke free again early in the third quarter on a 32-yard run that made it 28-6. South Carolina State finished with 479 total yards, including 292 on the ground, and scored all four of its touchdowns by rushing.
FAMU’s offense never found the end zone. The Rattlers managed only 161 total yards — 162 through the air and minus-1 on the ground — while allowing five sacks and 15 tackles for loss. Starting quarterback Isaiah Knowles completed 7 of 22 passes for 94 yards before leaving with a hand injury; he and Dustin Fletcher combined for 13 completions in 30 attempts.
The Rattlers’ brightest moment came on defense. Justin Bostic intercepted two passes, returning the second 80 yards for a touchdown that briefly narrowed the deficit to 28-13. South Carolina State added a late field goal to seal the final margin.
The victory improved South Carolina State, the defending Black College Football national champions and ranked No. 21 in the FCS, to 2-0. FAMU, in the early stages of a new era under head coach Quinn Gray Sr., a former Rattlers quarterback, fell to 1-1. The Bulldogs return home next Saturday against Virginia State; the Rattlers face a steep test Thursday at No. 7 Miami.
For generations, the Orange Blossom Classic has stood as more than a football game, a celebration of Black culture and Black excellence was revived in Miami Gardens in 2021 after a long hiatus. On this rainy September Sunday, it also served as a stage for a dominant rushing performance that left little doubt about which team controlled the afternoon.