FAMU welcomes former MEAC rival South Carolina State to Bragg
FAMU FOOTBALL: Just the Facts
South Carolina State (1-3) at Florida A&M (2-2, 1-1 SWAC)
When: Saturday, 6 p.m. – Bragg Memorial Stadium
Live Stream/Radio: Rattler Sports Network/WANM-FM 90.5
The skinny
FAMU and South Carolina State have played 58 times since 1930. When the programs meet Saturday, it will be the first encounter in a SWAC versus MEAC affair.
The Rattlers hold the all-time lead in the series at 30-26-2. They last met on Oct. 12, 2019 with the Rattlers winning 42-38 in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
South Carolina State legendary head coach Buddy Pough is the school’s all-time leader in wins at 137-78. He’s also 8-0 at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
In their last trip to Tallahassee, the Bulldogs won 44-21 in 2018. That outcome was the last home defeat for FAMU.
The Rattlers are riding an eight-game winning streak at Bragg. Last week, they blew out Alabama State 28-0 in the home opener of their SWAC schedule.
South Carolina State earned its first victory of the season last Saturday with a 42-35 triumph over Bethune-Cookman.
Best case scenario: FAMU builds upon the momentum it established last Saturday with another hot start from the offense.
The balanced flow of a strong rushing game nullifies the Bulldogs from dropping back in coverage for fear of getting beat deep with passes.
FAMU’s healthy rotation of Bishop Bonnett and Terrell Jennings carve up yardage with their diverse running styles. Bonnett is the speedster while Jennings is the bruiser in the backfield.
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From a defensive standpoint, FAMU is eager to add to its season-long dominance.
Posting a shutout against Alabama State was a great accomplishment. But the unit is hungry for more. They want to continue to make scoring points an uphill climb for every opponent.
“We’re not satisfied. We’re still playing behind the eight ball,” FAMU safety Markquese Bell said.
“South Carolina State is on the board. We have to get this win. This could potentially help us in the playoff run. We’re not taking any team lightly. Conference or non-conference, we want to go undefeated the rest of the season.”
Bell and his defensive teammates want to take advantage of the Bulldogs quarterback Corey Fields Jr. He has thrown six interceptions this fall.
FAMU ranks 19th in FCS in turnover margin. It has six fumble recoveries with three interceptions.
“Every game we played against South Carolina State has been physical. We’re going to have to battle, fly around to the ball and play within our scheme. It’s about executing and being true to who we are and what we do,” FAMU co-defensive coordinator Brandon Sharp said.
Worst case scenario
Bragg Memorial Stadium is a tough environment for opponents. However, South Carolina State didn’t get the memo.
The Bulldogs are not intimidated by the loud fans, Marching 100 or the cannon firing after Rattler touchdowns.
They have a well-earned reputation for showcasing defensive studs. Linebackers BJ Davis and Chad Gilchrist fit into this mold. Both players are tied for eighth in the MEAC in tackles with 25.
Davis and Gilchrist lead the charge of continuing the inconsistent production for FAMU on offense.
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South Carolina State performs well in punting and kickoff return. It ranks first in the MEAC in punts with a net of 35.3 yards per game. The Bulldogs are second kickoff returns with an average of 24.0 yards.
By giving FAMU a long field to work with lends to a higher chance for the Rattlers’ drive to eventually stall without scoring points.
Rakim White is the team’s leading kickoff returner with 147 yards. If he breaks loose on a long return or scores, this could put pressure on FAMU’s offense to make up the difference.
All of this sets up South Carolina State to exit the venue with another successful visit to Tallahassee.
Who wins and why
This isn’t a conference game anymore. Nevertheless, the stakes are still high for FAMU.
The squad ultimately wants to win the SWAC and compete in the Celebration Bowl. However, if it falls short of that goal, the next best thing is a berth in the FCS playoffs.
Securing a victory over South Carolina State would go a long way toward qualifying for the postseason.
“This game has long-term ramifications as far as our postseason rankings,” FAMU football head coach Willie Simmons said.
“One of our goals is to be ranked in the FCS top-25. A win against South Carolina State – who I believe will be in the race for the MEAC championship – will go a long way in the eyes of the voters.”
Every FAMU player has pride in the home winning streak. The veterans also remember the crushing loss to the Bulldogs in 2018.
There is a mutual level of respect and dislike between these programs.
The Rattlers and Bulldogs are fairly even when it comes to offensive numbers this season. However, the glaring difference this fall and from previous years is the superiority of FAMU’s defense.
It’s the overwhelming strength of the squad. The defense’s bruit force tips the scales in favor of the Rattlers in their final non-conference game of the season.
“We want to play hard and dominate. We want to elevate our game and learn from what we did last week to be even better. We’re studying what they want to do so we can be on the same page to make plays,” FAMU safety Antwan Collier said.
The application of this approached results in the Rattlers winning their ninth straight at home.
FAMU 24, South Carolina State 9.
Follow FAMU beat writer Rory Sharrock on Twitter @rattlernews and @married2game1.
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