ATLANTA FOOTALL CLASSIC: Fantastic finishes for FAMU, Tenn. State

By STAN AWTREY, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The series between Florida A&M and Tennessee State has produced final-quarter theatrics for the past four years. Each of those games, all FAMU victories, has been decided by six or fewer points. Last year FAMU kicked a field goal to win in overtime.

"Those are great for the fans, but they're hard on the coaches," laughed FAMU coach Rubin Carter. "The overall atmosphere — the alumni from both schools, the venue, the bands — makes for an exciting game."

The excitement should continue Saturday in the 19th Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic. That's partly because both schools start quarterbacks who can generate a buzz throughout the Georgia Dome.

FAMU starts Albert Chester, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior from Miami, who threw for 1,986 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2006. A preseason All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference choice this year, Chester has thrown for 502 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed for 52 yards.

Tennessee State starts Antonio Heffner, a 6-2, 195-pound junior from Memphis, who originally signed with South Carolina. He threw for 1,668 yards and nine touchdowns last year and was first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference.

Heffner threw for a career-best 316 yards and three touchdowns last week against Southern, but also had two interceptions and lost a fumble. He has passed for 954 yards and leads the OVC.

"When you have a balanced attack it puts a lot of pressure on the quarterback," said Tennessee State coach James Webster. "We're like [FAMU]; so goes the quarterback, so goes us."

Both teams have exciting backs. FAMU freshman Phillip Sylvester averages 120.7 yards per game and has twice been named the MEAC's rookie of the week. He rushed for 221 yards against Howard. Tennessee State's Tavarris Williams, a junior who gained 1,233 yards in 2006, averages 106 yards per game. Williams rushed for a career-best 229 against FAMU last year.

"I think both teams match up well through all the personnel groups," Carter said. "The quarterbacks, the tailbacks ... you take that equality across the board with all the different parts of the game."

That could mean a continuation of the recent dramatics:

• 2006: Tennessee State scored 15 points in the final seven minutes to send the game to overtime. FAMU won on Wesley Taylor's 34-yard field goal.

•2005: After a turnover, FAMU stopped Tennessee State from point-blank range near the end of the game and preserved the win with a fourth-down interception.

•2004: FAMU took the lead with 2:12 left and stopped Tennessee State's last-minute effort with an interception.

•2003: FAMU blocked a field goal in the waning minutes and returned it for a touchdown to stun the Tigers, who had led most of the day.

"We're in the entertainment business," Webster said. "We want the people to enjoy themselves and have a good time. But this year we want our fans to be the ones jumping up and down at the end of the game."