Florida A&M stumbled out of the gate in coach ’s debut Saturday, but the first-time head coach was pleased with the way his team finished. The reigning Black national champions rallied from a 14-0 deficit to take a 24-23 win over Norfolk State in the SWAC/MEAC Challenge in Atlanta. “I asked for a little adversity to see how our team would respond, but I wasn’t really expecting that,” Colzie said with a laugh.
“We saw some things we didn’t necessarily prepare for. But I loved the way our guys came to the sidelines and made the proper adjustments. "Down 14-0, our offense went down and scored.
You know the saying, good teams answer." The Rattlers found themselves trailing Norfolk State, coached by former Southern coach , 14-0 but rallied to take a 17-14 lead on a 55-yard touchdown pass from to . The biggest play of the game came after Norfolk scored with 6:30 left to pull within 24-23, but FAMU’s blocked the extra point but was flagged for being offsides.
With another chance at the 1-yard line, Odums elected to try for the two-point conversion, but quarterback was stopped short of the goal line on an option keeper. The FAMU offense then held the ball for the remainder of the game to secure the victory. Richardson was named the game’s MVP after completing 22 of 30 passes for 286 yards and three touchdowns.
Gassett caught eight balls for 110 yards and two scores. Kevin King rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns, including an 82-yard TD run, but Norfolk State completed only 7 of 9 passes for 142 yards. This week, Colzie and the Rattlers will face Southern Carolina State and coach , the former Jaguars offensive coordinator.
Berry went 11-1 at Benedict College last season. Houston area rivals Texas Southern and Prairie View continue their tradition of playing each other in a conference game to start the season but have moved the event to a home-and-home setup. The Labor Day Classic was played at Shell Energy Stadium last season and now moves to Prairie View’s Panther Stadium.
It could have a big influence on the SWAC West Division title. The game will match former Houston Oilers teammates , in his third year at PVU, and , who makes his debut for Texas Southern. “I don’t mind the game being a home-and-home game,” Dishman said.
“I like getting this one out of the way instead of ‘When are you going to play, when are you going to play.’ “It’s going to be my first game and a rivalry game. The team that wins third down, wins in the red zone, makes the fewest mistakes and wins special teams is the team that’s going to win.
” The Thursday games involving SWAC teams are Alcorn State at UAB; Jackson State at UL-Monroe; and Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Arkansas. On Saturday, Texas Southern is at Prairie View; Southern at McNeese State; Bethune-Cookman at South Florida; Mississippi Valley State at Tennessee State; Grambling at UL; South Carolina State at Florida A and Alabama A&M at Auburn. Alabama State and North Carolina Central will square off Sunday in Miami.
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