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FAMU Continues Dominance In Florida Classic

Tribune photo by JOSEPH BROWN III

FAMU's Curtis Pulley runs for a first down on Bethune Cookman during the first quarter of the Florida Classic.

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By EDDIE DANIELS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 22, 2008

ORLANDO - If nine wins on the season was icing on the cake for the Florida A&M football team, then their domination of Bethune-Cookman University in Saturday's Florida Classic was the oversized, bright red cherry on top.

The Rattlers' defense collected six of B-CU's eight fumbles and corralled an interception en route to a 58-35 victory at the Florida Citrus Bowl.

"That's big when a defense can give you the ball. That's momentum and it also gives us a short field," said FAMU quarterback Curtis Pulley, who was named the Rattlers MVP of the game. "We didn't have many long drives this whole game. When the defense and special teams can give you a short field, we feel we like we need to score and we have to score to show them that the hard work is paying off. We just take pride in coming out and scoring after turnovers."

The combined 93 points is the second highest total in Florida Classic history.

It was clear the Joe Taylor era was off to a promising start when at the end of the game, Taylor met Wildcats coach Alvin Wyatt Sr. at midfield and Wyatt barely congratulated the winning coach, opting for a quick swipe of the hand and a beeline to the locker room.

Nonetheless, the recognition for which Taylor is searching has more to do with the NCAA's playoff selection committee. With South Carolina atop the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Saturday's victory for FAMU (9-3, 5-3 MEAC), inches them into a four-way tie in second place with Bethune-Cookman (8-3, 5-3), Delaware State (5-6, 5-3) and Hampton University (6-5, 5-3).

Taylor and the rest of the Rattlers are hoping the victory can catapult them into the playoffs via a bid from the NCAA.

"Bottom line is, you've got to get to at least second place," Taylor said. "South Carolina State, we congratulate them, they will be our representative with the automatic bid and we were fighting to end up in second [because] in multiple years, they have taken at least two representatives from the MEAC.

"We just think with a 9-3 record … they always look at the way that you play going down the stretch. Before today, we've scored 94 points in the last two games, only given up 42 yards rushing and broke some records on special teams. That plays large in some of the things they consider in terms of selection."

In front of an announced crowd of 60,712, Florida A&M jumped out to a 31-0 advantage nearly midway through the second quarter. Running back Philip Sylvester and Pulley each found their way into the end zone twice in addition to a Trevor Scott 37-yard field goal on the Rattlers' first drive.

Wildcats quarterback McKinson Souverain put his group on the board with back-to-back possessions capped by his scoring runs in the second quarter.

Following the second score by Souverain, Blake High grad LeRoy Vann scorched the B-CU kick coverage for an 83-yard kickoff return touchdown, giving the Rattlers a 38-13 advantage.

Vann's score tied him for the NCAA's Division I FCS return record of six. This season he has three punt returns and three kickoff returns for touchdowns. The junior also broke the record for combined kick returns for a season (66) and combined kick return yardage for a season (1,593).

Souverain, a senior, scored once more early in the third quarter. But his success came with a dose of reality. He was slow to get up several times after taking big hits either on the run or as he got rid of the ball passing.

"They play defense and they're out there to tackle," said Souverain, B-CU's game MVP. "Not to take away anything from the defense, they played a great game."

While accepting the winning trophy at the conclusion of the game, Taylor mentioned the word dynasty in relation to the FAMU football program. When asked about it, he didn't shy away from that seven-letter word.

"With four seniors, we had Senior Day last week and it took about two minutes to do that," he said, "so most of these guys will be back. Certainly, I'm sure the expectations are going to be high from us as well as those who follow us."

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214.

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