TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Freshman Athony Philyaw rushed for a career-high 121 yards and two touchdowns and Howard controlled the line of scrimmage as the Bison defeated Florida A&M, 21-10 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at Bragg Memorial Stadium. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for Howard. The Bison (2-5, 1-3 in the MEAC) dominated the game from start to finish en route to amassing a season high 254 yards on the ground.
Howard set the tone from the beginning, taking the opening possession and going 77 yards on only five plays with William Parker capping off the drive with a one-yard plunge at the 12:47 mark. The score was set up by a 62-yard run by Philyaw, the longest of his young career.
The Bison defense held the Rattlers in check and then capitalized on their next possession. The Howard offensive line helped create the drive that went 80 yards and consumed almost five minutes off the clock. Philyaw capped off the drive with a 10-yard run as he ran through and over FAMU defenders en route to the end zone. There was a high snap on the PAT attempt, but the Bison led 13-0 at the 5:53 mark of the first quarter.
"We started the season with question marks about the offensive line," explained Howard Interim head coach Ray Petty. "But I think that they have played well all season and they were exceptional today. They came out in the first quarter and completely dominated the Florida A&M front seven. Our running backs were able to find the holes. They played a big role in keeping the chains moving and chewing up time late in the game."
FAMU threatened to score on its possession, driving 49 yards on 10 plays, but the Bison defense stood tall and forced a 33-yard field goal by Chase Varnadore with just six ticks on the first quarter clock.
The Bison countered at the beginning of the second period, this time going 75 yards in 11 plays with Philyaw scoring his second TD of the day from a yard out. The 6-1, 210-pound freshman scored untouched on the two-point conversion to make it, 21-3 with a little under 11 minutes left before halftime.
"He is going to be a great one," said Petty of his freshman running back. "We keep talking about him and he gets better and better each week. He is only a freshman and the conference is going to have a problem with him."
FAMU (2-5, 1-2 in the MEAC) put together its only drive of the day, 75 yards on 10 plays, using almost six minutes off the clock. Bruce Lemond bolted in from two yards out to close out the scoring for the half and ultimately, the game.
The Rattlers posed some mild threats in the second half, but the Bison thwarted their attempts and used the effective blocking of the offensive line and the running of Parker (20 carries for 61 yards) , Philyaw and quarterback Greg McGhee (11 carries for 57 yards) to control the clock and play keep away. Howard held the ball for almost 34 minutes while converting 50 percent (7 of 14) of its third down conversions.
"We were working consistently all week on our blocking schemes," said Howard center Joshua Matthews, the only senior on the offensive line. "They run a 3-4, so we knew if we controlled the inside, it would be a successful day."
The Bison held FAMU to 227 yards of total offense and three of 10 on third down conversions.
"It was pretty much a simple game plan," said Howard senior cornerback Ademola Olatunji. "Everybody stay in your gap and do your assignment. It proved to be very effective today." Olatunji led the team with seven tackles.
GAME NOTES: This was the first time that Howard has defeated the Rattlers three straight times in the series…McGhee had a career-low 67 yards passing despite completing 10 of 16…Fleck had the longest run of his career, a 27-yard jaunt on fourth down that set up a TD.
NEXT UP: Howard hosts Morgan State for homecoming on Saturday at 1 pm in Greene Stadium while the Rattlers host North Carolina A&T next Saturday at 2 pm.
COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY BISON SPORTS INFORMATION
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