Slow start, Strong Finish- FAMU Rattlers win the MEAC/ SWAC Kickoff Challenge

FAMU made a strong stop at kickoff as NSU received the ball, halting them on the 15-yard line. The next down was stalled, but then a sudden breakout rush by #13 Kevon King resulted in a Spartans touchdown. They were the first to score, officially setting the tone for the game.

FAMU took the field, ready to make their mark. The opening run on special teams gained some momentum, but they were setting it at a slow and steady pace. During Tuesday’s practice, they had focused on hurry-up offense and speed drills, but they started this game slowly. FAMU’s offense seemed to struggle to find its footing with a series of poorly executed plays, including an illegal formation penalty, a sack on the QB, and dropped passes. However, it was early in the game, and the Rattlers were known for starting slow and really drilling it in during the second half.

Norfolk came out hot and fiery, determined to show they had what it took to knock off the defending champs. They wanted to prove that last year was in the past and that this year was a whole new team with a stronger foundation, attitude, and skills.

During their second possession, the Green and Gold had another long run by RB Kevon King for 82 yards. The Rattlers had to find a way to stop their run and gain control of the game. The defense tried to lock it down in the red zone with two key stops to bring up third down for the Spartans. The game really started to open some eyes when the Spartans scored again, now trailing by 14 points with 3:49 remaining in the first quarter. It seemed as if FAMU had lost everything they had worked on, leading to questions about whether the Rattlers were as good as they were last year. Had things actually changed?

The Orange and Green retook the field, looking to gain some momentum on offense. They had a 9-yard gain by #9 Kelvin Dean Jr., showing promise as they came off the blocks. Although the next pass was a miss, the following one sent the crowd into a cheer as the Rattlers finally secured a first down and made progress down the field. QB (#10) Daniel Richardson kept the ball for 17 yards for a first down, demonstrating his ability on the ground and hinting at the Rattlers' potential in the red zone. With a trick play and a hurdle over a Spartan, the Rattlers found themselves in the red zone, with a pass complete to #6 Koby Gross for 27 yards, followed by a touchdown pass to #23 Thad Franklin Jr. for 20 yards, adding their first points to the board. The crowd erupted as they scored—the game was alive again!

Heading into the second quarter, the game seemed to balance itself out. Although the Rattlers still trailed, they were working hard to pick up the tempo and score to even the game. Forcing the Spartans to punt, the Rattlers marched down the field and added 3 points to the board. There were minor struggles in the red zone as the mighty Green and Gold made key defensive stops. The score was 10-14 with 10:56 remaining in the first half.

The battle for the Rattlers' defense was keeping the run game under control, which they seemed to struggle with. Led by #3 Kendall Bohler, the Rattlers' defense showed some uncharacteristic flaws in run protection. If the defense could force the Spartans to pass the ball more, they would likely make better stops, as NSU had already shown themselves to be a rushing team.

With under 5 minutes to go, the Spartans set up to kick a field goal after three major stops by the Rattlers. Just in time, the Rattlers made a big move by blocking the kick, creating a fumble and turnover on downs. This could have been the defining momentum shift the Rattlers needed as they prepared for halftime. However, they were unable to capitalize on the turnover and were forced into a 3-and-out, followed by a 47-yard punt to put NSU on the 19.

As halftime approached, it was clear that Head Coach Colzie III would need to make adjustments—and fast—if he wanted to rally his team, take control of the game, and secure a win. The mistakes shown by the Rattlers in the first half were unexpected and needed to be addressed going into the second half. As mentioned, the Rattlers were known for being a better second-half team, so expectations were high. Halftime came with the score at 14-10 Spartans.

At the start of the third quarter, FAMU came fighting back as they were set to receive the ball. With short runs from #9 Kelvin Dean Jr. and QB Richardson, they turned what looked like a missed opportunity with a 2-yard loss into a 55-yard touchdown pass to #2 Jamari Gassett, putting the Rattlers on top 17-14 with 12:37 remaining in the third.

However, NSU was not done yet. With an explosive 49-yard pass, the Spartans managed to get themselves in the red zone. The Rattlers' defense managed three key stops, forcing the field goal unit onto the field to tie the game.

The next few minutes seemed to slow down for FAMU as they tried to regain control of the game. Their tempo slowed as Richardson looked for key targets to get the game flowing. It seemed as if the offense was becoming more aggressive with the run game, as the Spartans' defensive line provided tight pass protection. As the Rattlers found themselves in the red zone again, they caught a break with an offsides call on #21, which moved the sticks closer. This was the moment FAMU needed to capitalize on what seemed to be a rare mistake from NSU. They did just that with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Gassett, putting FAMU up 24-17.

NSU took over, trying to capitalize on an illegal hands-to-the-face penalty by #0 James Ash. However, #3 Kendall Bohler made a big stop. The third quarter ended with the Rattlers maintaining a 24-17 lead. With one quarter remaining, the question was whether they could keep the momentum going and finish on top. It was still anyone’s game, as NSU had shown they were not giving up and not stopping. The game would not be over until it was over.

A costly fumble by the Rattlers gave NSU possession, and the defense had to kick into gear. However, things did not go as planned when a pass interference call on #8 Jameel Sanders placed Norfolk near the FAMU 44-yard line. NSU used this advantage to score, making the game 23-24 with 6:29 remaining. A roar erupted from the crowd as the kick seemed blocked, but an offsides penalty was charged to the Rattlers. The Spartans got another chance and decided to go for two, but the Rattlers stopped them full force. The crowd went wild at this much-needed stop, keeping the Rattlers ahead by one.

That defensive play must have pleased Coach Colzie III, known for his defensive prowess, as it was a crucial moment to maintain FAMU's momentum. The defending champs took over with a need to score and avoid mistakes. The ball was at around the 25-yard line, and a solid drive from Richardson was essential if the Rattlers wanted to hold onto the game.

With slow progress down the field through a few run plays to gain yards and run down the clock, FAMU aimed to keep control of the game. At the 2-minute warning, FAMU still had possession, but it was 3rd down, and they needed to convert and score on this drive. The Rattlers fans grew quiet with anxiety, eager to see if their team could hold on and secure the win. They had seen it before when the team came from behind to win the Celebration Bowl. As they lined up again on Norfolk’s 35-yard line, the tension was thick.

A costly pass interference penalty on NSU moved the Rattlers 15 yards forward and gave them a new set of downs. The crowd was back in the game. A short run by Dean Jr for 4 yards moved them into the red zone. The Rattlers ran the clock down to 1 minute, and after a run, they took a knee. The second knee followed, ending the game. The Rattlers won 24-23.