Daniel Richardson led FAMU to victory behind big night passing the ball
ATLANTA, Ga – This year’s Mideastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) versus Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) challenge lived up to the hype. The game featured both the Florida A&M Rattlers (FAMU) and the Norfolk State University Spartans (NSU). Both teams came out and showcased their trust in their star players. Attendance at the game reached 22,210 people (about the seating capacity of Madison Square Garden).
On the opening kick-off, NSU started inside their own 10 after a sloppy return. On a third and one, the game’s leading rusher, Kevon King took a handoff out the backfield and made an 82-yard house call to get the game’s first points. FAMU then got a chance to answer but the drive stalled due to an illegal formation penalty which resulted in a punt.
NSU got the ball and once again got possession of the ball and capped off a 73-yard drive touchdown drive with a quarterback sneak from Jaden Daniels to go up 14-0 early in the game. FAMU responded with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Daniel Richardson to Thad Franklin to cut into the 14-0 lead. FAMU was finally able to get its first stop of the game with 13:25 left in the second quarter. A 39-yard punt return by Jamari Gassett and a 26-yard reception by Jacquez Jones helped set up the Rattlers in field goal to make the score 14-10 going into the half. NSU fed their three headed monster of Kevon King, X’Zavion Evans, and Kiron Benjamin to get into field goal range late in the second quarter. The field goal snap was fumbled and resulted in no points for the Spartans.
Coming out of the half, the Rattlers clearly adjusted with Daniel Richardson connecting with Jamari Gassett for a 55-yard touchdown on the opening drive of the second half. NSU tied the game with help from a 49-yard Kam’ryn Thomas reception. FAMU scored again on their next possession, with Richardson again connecting Gassett for a touchdown to take a 24-17 lead late in the third quarter.
Midway through the fourth quarter, FAMU’s Kelvin Dean fumbled the ball which led to a Spartan recovery. The Spartans drove the ball down the field and scored after a 41-yard reception from Jacquez Jones and a 2-yard touchdown run for Kevon King. NSU’s controversial two-point conversion call came after the touchdown which would have tied the game. When asked about the decision, Coach Dawson Odums stated, “I went for two because I felt like guys started cramping. So, I don’t know if we would have had enough gas to finish that football game.” The failed NSU two-point conversion put the score at 24-23 with NSU facing a late one-point deficit. A late offsides call on the Spartans on a third down all but sealed the deal for the Rattlers.
Although FAMU was able to get a victory, their defense struggled to stop the run allowing 247 rushing yards. Coach James Colzie III stated, “There was a lot of things that we have to work, but yes, giving up 250-plus yards a game is not going to put us in a position to be one of the teams here again in December,” when asked about the defensive struggles. The game’s leading rusher was Kevon King with 146 yards and two touchdowns on the day.
The game’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) was FAMU’s Daniel Richardson, who completed 22 of his 30 pass attempts, 286 passing yards and three touchdowns. Richardson rushed for 32 yards on 3 attempts.
Florida A&M will host South Carolina State in its matchup next week August 31 at 6 PM EST on ESPN+.
Norfolk State will head to Greenville, North Carolina next week to go head-to-head with the East Carolina Pirates at 6PM EST at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.