A Rivalry Renewed: Jaguars Claw Back But Come Up Short to FAMU

A record-breaking crowd of 27,191 was in attendance at Bragg Stadium as the Jags renewed their rivalry with FAMU. 
The first game between rivals Florida A&M University and Southern University since 2012 saw the game starting off just how FAMU wanted, and unfortunately, ended just how they needed it.
Southern received the ball to start the game, hoping to get off to a fast start. FAMU’s defense however, had different plans as they answered every call they received from the Southern offense early on. 
FAMU’s offense got acclimated to the Southern defense early. Getting in rhythm on offense especially, Rattlers QB Ryan Stanley took Southern’s defense right down the field on their first drive. The first score of the night  was from Stanley who connected on a 26 yard pass to WR George Webb to put the Rattlers up 7-0 early in the game.
Late in the first quarter, Southern’s defense was still struggling to find answers against the FAMU defense. FAMU’s offense on the other hand,  continued to move down the field with the help of WR Xavier Smith, whom Southern’s secondary had no answer for much of the night. A touchdown run by Azende Rey saw the Rattlers go up 17-0 to end the quarter. 
Coach Odums and the Jaguars were completely shutout in the first quarter, and coming into the second quarter knowing that it couldn’t be the same result, the Jaguar offense came out in the second quarter firing on all cylinders. 
LaDarius Skelton was only 2-of-6 for 24 yards in the first half, but Glendon  “Bubba” McDaniel saw first half snaps as well as he went 3-of-7 for 63 yards and a touchdown run. The Jags managed to bring the deficit to 17-7 before the FAMU safety. 
McDaniel took the Jaguars 99 yards down the field, while finishing the long drive with a QB keep for 2 yards and the Jaguars finally scored halfway through the second quarter.
As the Jaguars start to feel some momentum going their way, FAMU goes down the field again, but misses a 52 yard field goal.
McDaniel overthrew his receiver and the Rattlers intercepted the ball late in the second quarter, but fortunately, the Jaguar defense stepped up and forced a three and out.
More errors by Southern include a mishandled snap on fourth down that turned into another safety for the Rattlers as SU punter contained the ball in the Rattlers endzone.
The Jaguars ended the first half of the game with no real offensive rhythm ever being established with the. defense playing flat and giving the opposing team points off of silly mosques with all momentum in Rattlers favor.
In the third quarter the Jaguars started to wake up and get that rhythm on both sides of the ball going, something that they couldn’t get consistently all first half. 
Quarterback LaDarius Skelton threw a touchdown pass to WR (Jr) Jamar Washington which led to a huge momentum shift for the Jaguars, who were finally able to get their feet back under them and make the Rattlers sweat.
On an early 2nd half possession for the Rattlers, Jaguars defensive back (Jr) Jakoby Pappillion intercepts the ball and brought Jaguar Nation to their feet.
At the start of the fourth quarter,  the Jaguars had the Rattlers backs against the walls. Skelton used  his feet and took the ball nine yards to the endzone to give Southern their first lead of the game after the FAMU interception. 
The Jags defense couldn’t weather the storm however as Xavier Smith scored late and gave the Rattlers a 27-21 lead after the Rattlers converted the two-point attempt. 
Southern tried to answer back one more time,  but were unsuccessful after a tough comeback to get back into the game fell just short.
The Jaguars look to bounce back in their first SWAC matchup against Arkansas Pine-Bluff in Pine Bluff, Arkansas on Saturday September 28 @6pm.