Armond Parker threw three touchdown passes, but Florida A&M fell to Alabama A&M 40-21 on Sept. 26 at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee. The Rattlers rallied from a 21-7 deficit and pulled within 23-21 with 5:19 remaining in the third quarter. Alabama A&M scored the game’s final 17 points to secure the Southwestern Athletic Conference victory.
Florida A&M dropped to 1-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play. Alabama A&M improved to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The loss was Florida A&M’s first conference game of the season.
Florida A&M rallies behind Parker
Alabama A&M scored three consecutive touchdowns after Florida A&M took a 7-0 lead on the opening drive. The Rattlers answered with two touchdowns to cut the Bulldogs’ advantage to 23-21 late in the third quarter. Parker threw all three of his touchdown passes during the stretch that brought Florida A&M back from a 14-point deficit.
Parker finished with 168 passing yards. Kieren Jackson was Florida A&M’s leading receiver with six catches for 89 yards and a touchdown. Corey Petty and Lawrence Wright IV also caught touchdown passes, while Petty completed a successful two-point conversion pass after Wright’s one-yard touchdown reception.
The comeback stopped at 23-21. Byron Perrilliat scored on 15-yard and 22-yard runs in the fourth quarter, and David Faulk added a 26-yard field goal. Alabama A&M’s closing scoring run produced the final margin.
Alabama A&M controls production
Alabama A&M finished with 543 total yards, including 283 rushing yards and 260 passing yards. Florida A&M produced 173 total yards, with 171 passing yards and 2 rushing yards. The Rattlers converted their only fourth-down attempt.
Perrilliat led the Bulldogs with 223 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Cornelious Brown passed for 198 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with Jarel Williams for one score and Jaylan Bean for two. Chase Gillespie led Florida A&M’s rushing attack with 21 yards, while Jamal Hailey added 17 yards.
Florida A&M defense creates chances
Florida A&M forced two turnovers and turned the takeaways into six points. Justin Bostic recorded four tackles and an interception, while Daylyn Diston recovered a fumble. Andre Powell Jr. led the Rattlers with eight tackles.
Bobby Engstler punted eight times for a 45.5-yard average. He pinned Alabama A&M inside its 20-yard line twice. Alabama A&M’s scoring also included four extra points by Faulk and a PAT return by Nacari Johnson, while Gabriel Caison made one extra point for Florida A&M.
FSB Take
Florida A&M responded to a 14-point deficit with three touchdown passes from Parker and two takeaways that became six points. The Rattlers reached 23-21 with 5:19 left in the third quarter but could not produce another score. Alabama A&M’s 543 total yards and 17 unanswered points after the comeback secured the 40-21 result.
Source: Original report