Sept. 3, 2007

Final Stats

Southern 33, Florida A&M 27 (MEAC/SWAC Challenge - Birmingham, Ala.)

The third time proved to be the charm as the Southern Jaguars downed the Florida A&M Rattlers 33-27 to claim the 2007 MEAC/SWAC Challenge. The win gives the SWAC its first win in the series and brings the challenge series to 2-1 for the MEAC.

Florida A&M coach Ruben Carter congratulates Pete Richardson after Southern's 33-27 win.

Southern used its first play from scrimmage to jump on the board as Darren Coates took the pitch up the right side and after several moves along the sideline - scampered 90 yards for the opening score.

Trailing 6-0, FAMU's Leon Camel scored on a nine-yard run, following a fumble recovery with just over four minutes left in the opening period, to put the Rattlers ahead, 7-0. Rattler RB Phillip Sylvester would score on a 45-yard run to push the lead to 14-6, midway through the second period.

Both teams would trade scores with failed PAT tries as Florida A&M carried an eight-point lead, 20-12, into intermission. Southern closed to within two points, 14-12, when Bryant Lee connected with Gerard Landry on a 46-yard scoring play with 4:26 left. FAMU countered with a 40-yard scoring strike from Camel to Javares Knight with 2:14 left in the half.
In the second half, the Jaguars took control of the contest, outscoring FAMU, 21-7. The next 16 minutes of play would see Southern score on three running plays: a 14-yard run by Brian Threat, a 3-yard run by Bryant Lee and a 1-yard plunge by Darren Coates. With the score 33-20 late in the final period, Florida A&M would get a late 4-yard run from Sylvester for the final point total.

For Florida A&M (0-1), Sylvester finished with 14 carries for 101 yards and two rushing touchdowns and added five catches for 40 yards. Rattler QB Albert Chester completed 14-of 23 passes for 150 yards and one interception while backup signal caller completed 7-of-21 passes for 94 yards, one touchdown and one interception. LB Dannel Shepard and DT Lymon Reed led the Rattler defense with ten tackles (each had six solo stops). Reed had 1.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss.

Bryant Lee wasd named SU's MVP by passing for 215 yards and throwing for a TD, while rushing for 50 yards and scoring a rushing TD.

For Southern (1-0), LB Johnathan Malveaux led the charge with nine tackles (six solo) while DBs Jarmaul George and Glenn Bell each had seven tackles and an interception. RB Darren Coates finished with 10 carries for 142 yards and two touchdowns while QB Bryant Lee finished with 265 total offensive yards (50 rushing, 215 passing), throwing for one touchdown and rushing for another.

Both Southern's Lee and Florida A&M's Sylvester were named the game's Most Outstanding Players.