Florida A&M Rattlers 48, Howard Bison 10

LeRoy Vann adds 2 more returns for TDs as FAMU blasts the Bison

Just over two minutes were left in the third quarter when the dancing began in the stands at Bragg Stadium on Thursday night. There was plenty to celebrate by then, as FAMU was well on its way to a 48-10 victory over Howard University that insured the Rattlers would win three straight games to start a season for the first time in nine years. A national television audience saw this one on a night that LeRoy Vann returned two punts for touchdowns and quarterback Curtis Pulley connected with receiver Kevin Elliott twice in the first half to give the Rattlers a commanding 34-10 lead at halftime. Trevor Scott punctuated the first half with a near-record 51-yard field goal.

Attendance: 7,668 Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, FL (ESPNU Live)

Florida A&M easily handles Howard 48-10

LeRoy Vann scored on two punt returns for the second straight week and Florida A&M beat Howard 48-10 on Thursday night. Vann, who scored on returns of 40 and 66 yards, ran back two punts for touchdowns against Winston-Salem State last week. The senior has returned seven punts for touchdowns during his career, tying a Football Championship Subdivision record set by Northern Iowa's Kenny Shedd between 1989-1992. The Rattlers (3-0, 2-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) built a 34-10 halftime lead, highlighted by Curtis Pulley's touchdown throws to Kevin Elliott of 46 and 35 yards. Pulley finished with 182 yards passing.

Penalties still plaguing Rattlers

As much as FAMU football coach Joe Taylor and his staff tried all week to get the Rattlers to cut down on penalties, there were plenty of whistles against both teams Thursday night at Bragg Stadium. Coming into the game against Howard University, the Rattlers had been penalized 18 times for 166 yards in two games. The Rattlers were called for six more infractions for 55 yards against the Bison, who had five for loss of 35 yards halfway through the game. One of the most glaring penalties was a 15-yard penalty that put the Bison on FAMU's 23 after Fabian Wilson was whistled for a late hit. The Bison ended the drive with a 38-yard field goal by Denis Wiehberg.

Photo Galleries:
FAMU 48, Howard 10
FAMU vs. Howard first half
FAMU Pre game photos
FAN CAM - FAMU vs. Howard University
FAMU 21 Delaware State 12

Transfers finding a home at FAMU

Offensive lineman Brandon Curry couldn't have been happier. The big day had finally come for him to sign a college scholarship. He was off to Marshall University. Just like he'd been made to believe — a Division I school was where he belonged. But Curry didn't play one down in a game and he is now at FAMU, a much smaller school. He understands now that a small school might not have been a bad choice at first. The voices wouldn't let him, though, when he came out of Boyd Anderson High School.

"It's the hype," he said. "In high school, everybody is praising you for going to that big school. People don't understand that's it's D-I but that might not be the fit for you." Each year, hundreds of football players make the same move like Curry after signing with a big school. Why they leave depends on who you ask, but most would say it's over a lack of playing time. A philosophical difference with a coaching staff also is another popular reason.

FAMU's Vann running through records

Last season, Florida A&M University football return man LeRoy Vann (Blake High) was named first-team All-American. How could he top that for his senior season? Well, his performance last Thursday night was all-world. When the Rattlers defeated Winston-Salem State 34-10, Vann scored on punt returns of 95 and 80 yards, while continuing to rewrite the record books. It was the first time a FAMU player had two punt-return touchdowns in a game. It gave Vann the FAMU career mark for punt-return touchdowns with five, surpassing All-American Howard Huckaby (1986-89), who had four punt returns for scores (all in 1988). Vann's 95-yarder tied the FAMU record for longest punt return (Leroy Hardee against South Carolina State in 1958).

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FAMU Marching 100 Half-Time Show vs. Howard Bison 9/17/09