TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- A quick look at the facts surronding Saturday's football game against North Carolina Central in Bragg Stadium. Kickoff is 5:00 p.m.
OPENING BITES
@ Florida A&M (0-5, 0-2 in MEAC) returns to Bragg Stadium to open a three-game home stretch with the Eagles of North Carolina Central (1-3, 0-1 in MEAC).
@The Rattlers are off to a second straight 0-5 start, and hope that they can repeat last year’s feat of winning back-to-back games after a rugged start.
@ FAMU dropped their first-ever game to Savannah State last week, scoring 27 points - the most in a game this season.
WEATHER FORECAST: Accuweatherpredicts Saturday’s weather in Tallahassee will be clear, with a high of 87, and a low in the mid 60s.
*LAST TIME OUT: FAMU dropped a 37-27 road decision at Savannah State, while North Carolina Central lost a 28-26 home heartbreaker to Bethune-Cookman.
THE COACHING MATCHUP: * FAMU’s Alex Wood (Iowa, 1978) is in his first season at FAMU... He has a 25-29 career record as a head coach at James Madison (23-22), Buffalo (2-2) and FAMU (0-4).
*N.C. Central’s Jerry Mack (Arkansas State, 2003) is 8-8-0 in his 2nd season at NCCU.
The MEAC Right Now: Heading into the second week of October, the 2015 MEAC title chase and the Run For Atlanta (champion gets berth in the newly-minted Celebration Bowl) continues with five games on tap being of the league variety…. After the first month, the five teams that tied for first in the 2014 standings are either in first or a half-game out...
Bethune-Cookman, Norfolk State and Morgan State – are all 2-0, with South Carolina State and North Carolina A&T a half-game back at 1-0…. This week’s action begins with a critical Thursday nighter, as South Carolina State visits Bethune-Cookman (7:30 ESPNU)...
Saturday’s slate features Delaware State at Hampton, 2:00; North Carolina A&T at Norfolk State, 2:00; Savannah State at Morgan State, 4:00 and N.C. Central at FAMU, 5:00.
The Final Six: The Rattlers were stung in Saturday’s 37-27 upset loss at Savannah State, leaving them focused on making a Run To Redemption in the final six games of the 2015 regular season – all conference games…. Although technically, the Rattlers are ineligible for the MEAC title due to the APR penalties from the NCAA, their league games count in the standings, meaning they can have a say on who wins the title….
FAMU opens the final stretch at home this week for a rare three-game homestand to close October, against North Carolina Central (Oct. 10 – 5:00 p.m.); Delaware State for Homecoming (Oct. 17 – 3:00 p.m.) and North Carolina A&T (Oct. 31 – 5:00 p.m.)…. FAMU closes the season in a familiar vein, on the road, with November travel dates at Hampton (Nov. 7 - 1:00 p.m.); Morgan State (Nov. 14 - 1:00 p.m.); and Bethune-Cookman (Nov. 21 - 2:30 p.m.) in Orlando….
Year of the Long Play: The Rattlers have despite their struggles, made some big, long plays (40 yards or longer) in the first five games – four of them scoring plays (See above chart):
FAMU’S LONGEST PLAYS OF 2015
90 yards – Kashawn Butler, fumble return vs. Samford, 9-12-15.
84 yards – Devondrick Nealy, punt return TD vs. Tennessee State, 9-26-15.
73 yards – Devin Bowers, TD run from scrimmage vs. Samford, 9-12-15.
65 yards – Akil Blount, TD Interception return vs. Samford, 9-12-15.
62 yards – Carson Royal to Kevin Troutman pass vs. S.C. State, 9-17-15.
56 yards - Kenneth Coleman to Montavious Williams pass vs. Savannah State, 10-3-15
51 yards – Carson Royal to Montavious Williams pass vs. TennState, 9-26-15.
46 yards - Devondrick Nealy kickoff return vs. Savannah State, 10-3-15.
45 yards – Carson Royal to Kareem Smith pass vs. Tennessee State, 9-26-15.
Nealy Mr. All Purpose: Devondrick Nealy has made the most of his touches of the pigskin so far this year, leading the Rattlers in all-purpose yards… The senior from nearby Monticello, Florida, who transferred in to FAMU from Iowa State, is averaging 103.2 all purpose yards per game…. Through five games, Nealy has 516 combined yards (103 rushing, 77 receiving, 148 on punt returns and 188 on kickoff returns)….The scintillating speedster brought the huge Bragg Stadium crowd to their feet two weeks ago against Tennessee State, with his 84-yard TD punt return in his first home game in a Rattler uniform… He had a 46-yard return Saturday to set up a score for FAMU against Savannah State.
FAMU’s Leading Men:
@ Defensively, the Rattlers have been put to the test by opposing defenses far, but the GanGreen Defense has held its own for the most part… Preseason All-MEAC safety Jacques Bryant now tops the tackle charts with 40 stops (26 solos) and an interception… Linebackers Akil Blount (35 tackles, 2.5 for loss, INT for TD) and Kashawn Butler (37 tackles, 3 recovered fumbles) , have been big hitters too, along with secondary aces Braxton Brown (33 stops) and John Boston (22 stops, INT)…. Junior Curtis Alexander (23 tackles, 3.0 for loss) is the other member of the Three Hitmen at linebacker….
@ Offensively, freshman Devin Bowers still holds the club rushing lead with 144 yards on 12 carries, followed byDevondrick Nealy (103) and Gerald Hearns (85)…. QB Carson Royal has passed for 597 yards and a score on 52 of 108 passes (3 INTs), while backup Kenny Coleman (306 yards, 1 TD on 28 of 57 passes, 3 INTs) has seen increased playing time of late…. Sophomore Brandon Norwood tops the team with 23 receptions for 189 yards, followed byMontavious Williams’ 236 yards on 14 grabs….
@ Special Teams: Nealy is averaging 21.5 yards per punt return, highlighted by his electrifying 84-yard TD runback Saturday against TSU… He is also averaging 17.8 yards on kickoff returns, sharing those duties with Jairockeis Jones(16.1) and Kenyan Foster (13.9)…. Junior Colby Blanton is the Rattler kicking game, averaging 41.0 per punt (39 attempts), with a 61-yard boot, five kicks over 50 yatrds, and eight (8) downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line… He is 8-of-8 on PATS and 3-of-6 on field goals, in this his first collegiate season punting, placekicking and kicking off, where he averages 59.4 yards on his kickoffs…
*WHAT’S NEXT: The Rattlers will continue their three-game homestand against Delaware State in the Homecoming game. Kickoff will be 3:00 p.m.
COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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