Atlanta – Provide more space for your Galimore-Powell Fieldhouse trophy bag.
Florida A&M is bringing its Black College Football Playoff National Championship hardware to Tallahassee.
The Rattlers (12-1) defeated Howard Bison (6-6) 30-26 in the HBCU Celebration Bowl on Saturday in front of 41,108 fans here at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
According to FAMU’s media guide, the win marks the program’s 16th HBCU national championship.
“Great day to be a Rattler,” FAMU coach Willie Simmons said.
“I can’t say enough about these guys and what they endured this season. We knew we had a chance to be special this season. But we knew it wasn’t going to be given to us every season.
“Now, we are champions and no one can take that away from us.”
FAMU outscored Howard 357-187, as the teams combined for 30 points in the fourth quarter.
FAMU quarterback Jeremy Muse threw three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, including two to Kelvin Dean Jr. Moses completed 19 of 32 passes for 289 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Rattlers rallied from a 14-0 deficit in the first quarter and a 26-24 deficit in the fourth. They also squandered a 24-16 lead in the third quarter, which set up a furious final 15 minutes of the game.
FAMU regained the lead with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Moses to Dean at the 13:45 mark in the fourth quarter.
FAMU trailed 26-24 with 7:15 left in the game after Howard’s pick six.
However, Moses connected on a 38-yard strike to wide receiver Jah’Marae Sheread at 5:46 to regain the lead.
Linebacker Isaiah Major’s interception with 1:45 remaining sealed the win. FAMU finished with three interceptions, two in the fourth quarter.
Dean earned Offensive Player of the Week honors for three catches, 87 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. Major won Defensive Player of the Week honors for six tackles (one for loss) and an interception.
“He means the world,” said MVP Dean. “This is the first time I’ve won something huge in my life, so I can’t complain.
“It doesn’t seem real at all.”
FAMU is the second Southwestern Athletic Conference team to win the Celebration Bowl, joining the 2016 Grambling State Tigers as the only team to defeat a Mideastern Athletic Conference representative.
The Rattlers (12-1) ended their season on an 11-game winning streak. The Bison finished 6-6.
The Celebration Bowl payouts are $2 million, with $1 million each going to the SWAC and MEAC to distribute to their teams.
FAMU is upset with Howard for opening the game
The game started off shaky for the Rattlers.
After allowing the opening kickoff to go 63 yards by Howard returner Ian Wheeler, FAMU allowed a four-play, 27-yard drive that ended in an 8-yard touchdown run by Jarrett Hunter.
On the ensuing defensive drive, FAMU was put on another shortstop after Howard sacked Moses to take over in the 37th minute. The Bison scored on a 3-yard rush by wide receiver Casey Hawthorne.
Additionally, FAMU had two penalties negate the touchdown.
FAMU defensive lineman Anthony Dunn Jr. was sacked and Howard quarterback Quinton Williams forced a fumble before linebacker Allen Smith Jr. returned it for a touchdown. But it was recalled again because of a mask on the bag.
The Rattlers made a trick play as wide receiver Marcus Riley got on an end pitch and fired a touchdown pass to Moses. He was summoned again due to detention.
FAMU committed four penalties for 38 yards in the first half.
The Rattlers gave up a safety in the second quarter when the Bison sacked Moses in their own end zone.
“I told the team we played our worst half of football all season,” Simons said. “We came out of the tournament nervous and did some uncharacteristic things.”
FAMU begins to see opportunities, and takes them ahead of Howard
The Rattlers scored just 10 points in the first three quarters.
But FAMU began to test Howard’s top defense in the Football Bowl Subdivision Championship.
First, Moses looked for Riley as the speedy receiver beat two Howard defenders before the pass fell into his hands.
Then, Moses found receiver Nick Dixon wide open for a play that would have been a touchdown. But it was called back because the ball touched the turf before it was caught.
But the third time was the charm.
Moses connected with Dean for a 21-yard touchdown on the next play to push them ahead 17-16 with 10:58 remaining.
“We had a couple plays that we were saving,” Moses said. “All I did was my job while the rest of the guys did theirs.
“And great things happened.”
Moses and Dean found each other again for a 53-yard touchdown on the next drive.
“We’ve been in that situation many times,” Dean said of the early deficit. “It wasn’t something we had to adjust to. We had to stick to the game plan and make it work.”
Wild fourth quarter propels FAMU to crowned HBCU champion over Howard
Things started to look bleak for the Ratters in the fourth quarter.
FAMU blew a lead on a six from Moses to Howard defensive back Carson Hinton to allow the Bison to take a 26-24 lead.
But the Rattlers quickly regained the lead on Moses’ 38-yard touchdown run to Sheread.
FAMU also had two late interceptions by defensive back Kendall Buehler, who earned his first pick of the season, and Major’s game-clinching interception.
“You know what the offense is going to give you in clutch situations,” Major said. “I went with my gut and played the ball so I could intercept it.”
The Rattlers totaled three interceptions, with defensive back Deco Wilson recording one in the second quarter.
FAMU Black College Football National Championship Seasons
1938 National Champions Black College William M. Bell 8-0 SIAC
1942 Black College National Champions William M. Bell 9-0 SIAC
1950 Black College National Co-Champions Jake Gaither 8-1-1 SIAC
1952 Black College National Champions Jake Gaither 8-2 SIAC
1953 Black College National Champions Jake Gaither 10-1 SIAC
1954 Black College National Co-Champions Jake Gaither 8-1 SIAC
1957 Black College National Champions Jake Gaither 9-0 SIAC
1959 Black College National Champions Jake Gaither 10-0 SIAC
1961 Black College National Champions Jake Gaither 10-0 SIAC
1962 Black College National Champions Jake Gaither 9–1 SIAC
1977 Black College National Champions Rudy Hubbard 11-0 SIAC
1978 Black College National Champions Rudy Hubbard 12-1 SIAC
1998 Black College National Co-Champ Billy Joe 11-2 MEAC
2001 Black College National Co-Champions Billy Joe 7-4 MEAC
2019 Black College National Tournament Co-Champs Willie Simmons 9-2 MEAC
2023 Black College National Champions Willie Simmons 12-1 SWAC
*List compiled from FAMU Football Wikipedia*
Gerald Thomas III covers Florida A&M University athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
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Florida A&M University’s football team, the Rattlers, recently secured an impressive comeback victory over Howard, clinching the HBCU title. The thrilling game showcased the team’s resilience and skill as they fought back from a deficit to emerge victorious. With this win, FAMU’s football program continues to solidify its status as a force to be reckoned with in HBCU football. The Rattlers’ determination and perseverance on the field demonstrate their commitment to excellence and their ability to triumph in high-stakes situations. This historic win is a testament to the hard work and talent of the FAMU football team, and it has undoubtedly cemented their place in HBCU football history.