Southern 17 – FAMU 14

“This is awesome. I can’t describe it,” were the only words the Jaguar’s kicker/punter Francisco Villagrana was able to utter, as he sat atop the shoulders of his teammates after kicking the winning field goal in Saturday’s game against the Rattlers of Florida A&M University.
For the first time in four years the Jaguars managed to defeat FAMU. A score of 17-14 was enough to make first time starter, quarterback Anthony Fisher drop to his knees in thanks.
Plagued by injuries before and during the game, Southern struggled to hold the Rattler offense and push their own injury ridden offense. The Jaguar defense held FAMU to 168 rushing yards and 154 passing yards for a total of 322 yards.
“The defense was phenomenal tonight,” Southern defensive co-coordinator Terrence Graves said. “They answered the bell. Every time we got in a tight situation, they played hard. They just went out and laid it all on the field.”
The Jaguars hurting offense also stepped up their game plan.
“We knew our offense was hurting. After our running backs went down, we had to step up even more,” said Cooper, who had 12 tackles.
The Rattlers posted the first score of the night after a fumble by Southern on the SU seven-yard line. A two – yard touchdown made the score 7-0 Rattlers. The Jaguars tied the game at seven with 3:31 left in the first quarter. Giving up his red-shirt season, Leroy “Bo” Jackson, in for Carl Singleton who was injured at the top of the quarter, dashed into endzone for the score.
Another FAMU touchdown brought the first half to a close, Florida A&M leading 14-7.
The Jaguars came out with a renewed will to win as demonstrated by an extremely, viciously hard tackle by senior inside linebacker Robert Chapman.
FAMU struggled offensively during the second half, not managing
get another score on the board.
A fourth quarter SU interception, led to a 35-yard touchdown by Devin Lewis, tying the game at fourteen, and driving it into overtime.
After winning the coin toss in overtime, Southern chose to defend. Two plays later the Rattlers moved to a second-and-2 at the Jaguars 3. But an incomplete pass led to a third-and-2 on which linebacker Chris Cooper and cornerback Codie-Smith Robinson sandwiched O.J. Marchbanks for no gain. On fourth down, un-successful snap skidded back to Vasquez, who flubbed a pass as the SU defense swarmed him.
Four plays later, including a career-best 8-yard run by Leon Miller, and Villagrana kicked the game-winner.
“Our game plan was solid, and we just went after them,” said senior linebacker Shannon Smith who was named the SWAC’s Defensive Player of the Week with 13 tackles, who reminded his teammates all week of the 65-18 thrashing a No. 12 FAMU team handed then-No. 3 Southern in 1999. “We talked the whole week. I asked them, if they don’t do nothing else for Southern, you all need to play 60 minutes.”
Anthony Fisher who had only thrown five passes in his entire collegiate career threw for 174 yards and one touchdown.”
“Anthony Fisher did what he had to do,” said head coach Pete Richardson. “Yes, he may have been picking himself up off the ground alot, but he did what he set out to do and that was protect the ball as best he could.”
Saturday’s game also saw several new injuries. Runningback Carl Singleton is most likely out for the season with a strained anterior cruciate ligament and Leroy Jackson will out two-three weeks with a dislocated shoulder.