How FAMU football can escape big game troubles in Florida Classic vs Bethune-Cookman
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Florida A&M football will be under the bright lights again this weekend.
But will they overwhelmingly glare onto the Rattlers once again?
This Saturday, Nov. 22, the Rattlers will face longtime foes, the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, in Week 13’s Florida Classic at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium.
The Southwestern Athletic Conference matchup will kick off at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+. Additional commentary will be on Tallahassee radio station 96.1 JAMZ.
The Florida Classic is one of college football’s longest-standing rivalries, dating back to 100 years ago in 1925. FAMU is ahead of Bethune-Cookman in the all-time Florida Classic head-to-head 54-24-1.
The Rattlers have won four straight Florida Classics over the Wildcats, dating back to 2021. Last year, FAMU outlasted Bethune-Cookman 41-38 behind the game’s Most Valuable Player, Thad Franklin Jr.’s 195 rushing yards, a Florida Classic record.
“Got to be able to play well in this type of environment. We excelled in this type of environment last year more than we have this year,” FAMU’s head football coach James Colzie III said of the upcoming Florida Classic.
“It’ll be a big-time environment to get a chance to continue to show the maturation of our football team.”
The Rattlers haven’t lived up to the hype in key games this season.
The Orange and Green have consistently shrunk in games that could’ve made statements; Howard in the season-opening Miami Orange Blossom Classic, and against HBCU powers Alabama State, North Carolina Central, and Jackson State.
Moreover, the latter three games mentioned were all home blowouts, with the most recent loss to Jackson State ultimately ending FAMU’s hopes of competing in the SWAC and HBCU postseason.
Those shortfalls placed FAMU in a situation where it’s playing for pride and a winning record in its final four games.
And do it all away from Tallahassee.
Since Jackson State, FAMU has gone on a two-game winning streak, beating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 31-28 two weeks ago and Alabama A&M 26-23 last week.
Two down, two to go, as the Rattlers (5-5, 4-2 in SWAC) look to move their season winning streak to three versus nemesis, the Wildcats (5-6, 4-3 in SWAC).
After the Florida Classic, FAMU faces Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 29 for a makeup game.
“We had to do all four of those things on the road ― not in the friendly confines of Bragg Stadium,” Colzie said.
FAMU football’s offense can stay hot vs low-ranking Bethune-Cookman defense
Heading into the Florida Classic, FAMU ranks sixth in SWAC total offense out of 12 teams. The Bethune-Cookman defense is last in the SWAC.
Something FAMU has excelled at lately is “getting the ball to our playmakers,” the FAMU coach said.
Winning four of their last five, the Rattlers average 33.25 points per game in the victories against Alcorn State, Southern, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and Alabama A&M, all low-ranking SWAC teams this season.
Quarterback RJ Johnson III just had his best college football game at Alabama A&M. The redshirt sophomore went 20-for-24, 83 percent, for 299 passing yards, and four total touchdowns, three passing, one rushing.
Johnson was named the BOXTOROW’s HBCU National Player of the Week and the SWAC’s Co-Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Rocket City.
That comes after Johnson experienced periodic struggles and inconsistent play as a first-year starting quarterback.
“You talk about the first game of the year to how we are now, I think it’s safe to say RJ has probably played a lot better now than he may have early in the year,” Colzie said.
FAMU football to be presented challenges vs Bethune-Cookman’s electric scoring
The Rattlers are eighth in SWAC defense. Meanwhile, the Wildcats have the league’s fourth-best offense, averaging 28.9 points per game.
FAMU’s pass and run defense has both left much to be desired, as both are in the bottom half of the SWAC.
“We know what we do well. We know what we don’t do well,” Colzie said.
Bethune-Cookman’s offensive strength is its SWAC-leading passing attack.
Wildcats quarterback Cam Ransom has completed 133-of-209 passes, 64 percent, for 1,743 yards, 13 yards against six interceptions. Maleek Huggins is Bethune-Cookman’s top receiver with 56 catches for 808 yards and seven touchdowns.
“Being able to just keep things in front and making these offenses drive the length of the field as opposed to getting big plays in one play,” Colzie explained. “If we’re able to do that, we put ourselves in a good spot.”
The Wildcats also have a “knack for the big play” to score in other avenues.
Kick returner Javon Ross scored a 98-yarder in last week’s 28-13 loss at Jackson State. It was his second kick return touchdown this season.
Can FAMU football get elusive big game win vs Bethune-Cookman in Florida Classic?
The stage is set.
And for the first time in years, the talent level between FAMU and Bethune-Cookman is evened.
So, how can the Rattlers live up to the big game hype of the Florida Classic and upend the notion that they can’t perform in pivotal matchups?
“We’re going to have to attack the football game. We cannot let this game come to us,” Colzie laid out the keys to victory.
“We’re going to have to continue to push the envelope and continue to apply the pressure. And if we do that, I think we’ve got a very, very good chance.”
Florida A&M (5-5, 4-2 in SWAC) vs Bethune-Cookman (5-6, 4-3 in SWAC) ― Florida Classic
- When: Saturday, Nov. 22 at 3:30 p.m.
- Where: Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida
- TV/Radio: ESPN+, 96.1 JAMZ
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football hopes to live up to expectations at Florida Classic vs B-CU
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