Rattlers succumb to early miscues, penalties at Illinois, 52-13
FAMU looks impressive early against Big 10 foe, has much to build on
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Sept. 4) – The Florida A&M Rattler football team
looked like they would provide a strong challenge to the Illinois
Fighting Illini early on in Saturday evening's contest, but fell
**** to their own miscues and mishaps in dropping a 52-13 decision
in the 2004 season opener for both teams.
The Rattlers (0-1), took the opening kickoff, driving from their 20-
yard line to the Illinois 21, when three straight penalties pushed
them back to their 46, eventually leading to a punt.
It appeared that FAMU might even get out of the first quarter without
giving up a score to homestanding Illinois (1-0), but a Maurice Demps
fumble, after an eight-yard catch on their third possession, gave the
Illini great field position at the Rattler 43-yard line.
Five plays later, Illinois went up 7-0, on an E.B. Halsey two-yard
run, beginning a string of seven straight scoring drives in as many
possessions.
By the time Illinois' Kelvin Hayden picked off a FAMU pass from Ben
Dougherty and dashed 23 yards for a score, the Illini were
comfortably ahead, 52-0.
Both teams put in their second team players by late in the third
period and the Rattlers, behind junior Josh ****, scored on
consecutive fourth quarter drives.
The Fort Smith, Arkansas native capped off an 11-play, 80-yard drive
with a one-yard plunge with 10:21 left, then ended a 10-play, 79-yard
march with another one-yard run at the 5:13 mark, to account for the
Rattler points Saturday night.
BILLY JOE SOUNDS OFF: "I was very proud of the effort we got from our
players tonight. They didn't quit, they gave their all and that bodes
well for us in the future…. I think early on, Illinois couldn't get a
handle on our offense, but mistakes and miscues hurt us….
"Coach Ron Turner is an excellent coach and he had his team well
prepared today… I think he finally has the team that will be
extremely competitive in the Big 10 and our hats are off to him and
his program….
"Offensively, we moved the ball well, we just kept ****
ourselves in the foot with dropped passes, a fumble and key
penalties… We were playing Santa Claus out there and that's what
ultimately led to our demise….
"I was very pleased with the defense despite the outcome, because
of the effort they gave considering we have so many new faces on that
side of the ball…. We figured that Illinois would come out with two
tight ends and try to run it down our throats and they did that (296
net rushing yards)…
"When it became obvious that we couldn't win the game, we put our
second string players in and so did Illinois, because we realize that
we needed to preserve our starters for next week (Tulane)…. But I'm
encouraged with what I saw today."
STAT LEADERS: Both Ben Dougherty (64.7 percent • 22 of 34, 144 yards,
2 INTs) and Josh **** (71.4 percent • 15 of 21, 143 yards) came
out smoking through the air.
•Junior Ronnie Thomas led the Rattler receivers with 10 catches for
42 yards, while senior Maurice Demps had five (5) grabs for 38 yards.
•**** ended up the top rusher for the Rattlers, netting 40 yards
on eight (8) carries with two (2) TDs. Fullback Paul Sharpe had 33
yards on six (6) tries Saturday.
•Senior punter Damon Miller averaged 44 yards per boot on six (6)
tries, highlighted by a booming 51-yarder during the game. He also
downed one punt inside the Illinois 20-yard line Saturday.
•Linebacker Michael Foreman led the Rattlers with 12 total tackles (5
solos), while strong safety Sammy Doughty had 10 tackles (7 solos),
including one (1) for a loss. Safety Brandy O'Bryan had nine tackles,
with converted running back Devvin Richardson logging six (6) solo
tackles in his first collegiate game at cornerback.
GAME NOTES: Quarterback Ben Dougherty started the game on fire,
hitting 11 of his first 12 passes at one stretch (including his first
eight throws), threatening the single-game school record for passing
accuracy set by Pat Bonner (30 of 35, 85.7 percent) against Jackson
State in 1998. But a number of drops and deflections cut into his
budding numbers late in the first half and into the second half.
•The Rattler Offensive line yielded just two sacks in 55 pass
attempts Saturday against a Big 10 club, which could bode well the
rest of the year. Junior Garth McIntosh anchored the line at center
Saturday, with junior Tarell Baldwin (right) and senior Mafileo
Vakalahi (left) manning the guard spots, while sophomores Dan Parrish
(left) and Lenard Black (right) started at the tackles.
•The FAMU Defense had a number of key performers banged up Saturday,
including free safety Cardan Alexander (shoulder bruise), linebacker
Melvin Jenkins (ankle sprain) and defensive tackle Clarence Laws
(shoulder). All could see action Saturday in New Orleans.
•The FAMU "Marching 100" Band was well received Saturday at Illinois,
playing a joint halftime show with the Illinois band. Several members
of the band staff, including director Dr. Julian E. White, did
graduate studies at Illinois.
LOOKING AHEAD: The Rattlers continue their four-game, season-opening
road tour Saturday in New Orleans, as they take on the Tulane
University Green Wave (0-1), at the Louisiana Superdome. Kickoff will
be 6:00 p.m. Central Time (7:00 p.m. Eastern).
