By: FVSU Office of Sports Information
In a football game in which many thought the Wildcats of Fort Valley State University (FVSU) had little chance of winning, the Wildcats gave the Rattlers of Florida A&M University (FAMU) all they could handle in the season opener for both teams. The pre-game speculation was based on the fact that the Wildcats are a NCAA Division II team and the Rattlers play on the FCS level (formerly NCAA Division 1AA). That differential had little to no impact on the Wildcats who came extremely close to upsetting the heavily favored Rattlers.
Played before a capacity crowd at Bragg Memorial Stadium on the FAMU campus, without question, the fans in attendance got their money's worth. In fact, an informal survey of FAMU loyalists departing the stadium produced the same general comment of, “Fort Valley won the game but FAMU got the win.”
A glance at the game statistics supports that contention. The Wildcats finished the game leading the Rattlers in almost every significant statistical category. For example, FVSU had 28 first downs compared to 13 for FAMU. The Wildcats edged the Rattlers in rushing, 55 yards to just 24 yards. And while just two yards separated the teams in passing offense (FAMU finished with 348 yards and FVSU closed with 346 yards), the Wildcats posted 401 yards of total offense compared to 372 yards for FAMU.
With that, the difference in the game came down to one, single play. After taking a 22-21 lead with 1:59 left in the game, the Wildcats appeared poised to claim the win over the Rattlers. However, with 39 seconds left, the Rattlers got a real stroke of luck. A deflected pass by the Wildcats defense landed into the hands of Rattler receiver Lenworth Lennon who scored on the play to give FAMU the winning edge.
During the game, the Wildcats gave the FAMU faithful little room to relax. FAMU's heartburn started with 7:39 left in the first quarter when the highly touted pre-season duo of FVSU quarterback Antonio Henton and wide receiver Chris Slaughter connected on a 73-yard touchdown pass for the game's first score. And while FAMU did answer with 5:51 left in the quarter on a 17 yard touchdown run by Eddie Rocker, a 24-yard field goal by FVSU's Justin Rosenbaum with 1:42 left gave the Wildcats a 10-7 lead at the end of the quarter.
A botched snap on a punt attempt by the Ratters early in the second quarter extended the Wildcat lead to 12-7. At this point, except for the jubilance of the Wildcats fans who made the trip to Tallahassee, Bragg Stadium remained silent. However, that silence would be broken after a 1-yard touchdown run by FAMU quarterback Austin Trainor followed by a 40-yard touchdown pass from Trainor to Kevin Elliott gave FAMU its first lead of the game, 21-12.
With 3:31 remaining in the third quarter, Rosenbaum converted a 47-yard field goal to cut the Rattler lead to 21-15. Then, with 1:59 left in the game, the Wildcats surged ahead after the duo of Henton and Slaughter connected again. The six yard touchdown pass and converted extra point gave the Wildcats a 22-21 lead and had many Rattler fans thinking that the unthinkable was about to happen. A Wildcats win would mean that the last two times these teams met, FVSU has won.
As luck would have it, FAMU fans would not have to make that sad admission. The “immaculate” reception on the deflection by Lennon spared FAMU the grief and secured the 28-22 win.
Henton threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns while Slaughter had a huge game with 202 yards receiving on 10 catches and a pair of touchdowns. FVSU's Courtney Daniels had a game-high 10 tackles including three for loss.
The loss in the season opener gives the Wildcats a 0-1 record as they prepare to host region rival, the Statesmen of Delta State University next Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 6 p.m. at Wildcats Stadium. Tickets are available through the FVSU Cashier's Office or online at www.wildcatticketoffice.com.
-Wildcats Athletics-
