FAMU Dominates Early and Cruises to a 29-7 Win over Texas Southern; Edward Waters Falls to Bethel (Tn) 19-13 After Interception Ends Late Comeback

 By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

FAMU's Vincent Jeffries throws a pass against Texas Southern (Photo by FAMU Athletics)

Ryan Stanley threw for 217 yards and touchdown and ran for another score while the Florida A&M defense shut down the Texas Southern offense to carry the Rattlers to a 29-7 victory in the inaugural Jake Gaither Football Classic in Tallahassee, Fla., Saturday.

In the first game of the 125th season for black college football, Florida A&M (1-0) grabbed control early.  Stanley had a short touchdown scamper in the first quarter, followed by a Devin Bowers 6-yard TD run to go up 13-0 midway through the second quarter.  The TSU defense's problems in slowing down the FAMU offense persisted, with Stanley tossing a 35-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Norwood as Florida A&M took a 20-0 lead into the half.

FAMU out-gained Texas Southern 268 yards to 41 by halftime.

Even receiving the second-half kickoff was a problem for Texas Southern as their returner scooped up the kick at the 2-yard line, stepped into the end zone and downed the ball, which actually was a safety and gave FAMU two more points.

Five minutes later, FAMU backup quarterback Vincent Jeffries ran a 12-yard TD to put the Rattlers up comfortably 29-0.

While FAMU approached 400 yards of offense early in the fourth quarter, Texas Southern just got to a little more than 100 when TSU's Jay Cristophe got it going.  Cristophe, who was playing for the first time since injuring a knee in the first game last season, threw a 30-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter and drove his team inside Rattlers' territory late.  But he was picked off in the end zone with 4:55 left to pretty much end the game.

"I think we have to do a better job of coaching," TSU head coach Michael Haywood said afterwards. "Everything can be corrected and we can do a better job moving forward."

Ricky Henilus rushed for 81 yards for FAMU while Norwood finished with three catches for 63 yards and a TD.   TSU finished with 202 yards of offense, with Cristophe throwing for 140 yards and a TD and leading the Tigers in rushing with 29 yards.

FAMU won't have much time to celebrate.  They have a Wednesday night bus trip to Fayetteville, Ark., where they play FBS Arkansas of the Southeastern Conference on Thursday, Aug. 31.  Texas Southern takes on rival Prairie View A&M Sept. 2 in the Labor Day Classic in Houston.

Bethel (Tn) 19, Edward Waters College 13

Freshman quarterback Christian Hayes, in relief of starter Tyler Mahla, threw a late touchdown and engineered a potential game-winning drive with just over two minutes remaining.  But late in the drive after Hayes lost his shoe, Mahla came on and threw an interception, ending a comeback as Bethel (Tn) held on for a 19-13 win over Edward Waters College Saturday.

Bethel (1-0) had jumped out to a 16-0 lead.  But Hayes came on late and led an eight-play, 84-yard drive late in the fourth quarter, capped by a Hughes touchdown pass to Jamal Hughes to pull Edward Waters (0-1) to within six at 19-13 (they missed the extra point).

The Tigers defense held Bethel to a three-and-out on the next possession and got the ball with 2:33 remaining.

Hayes, mainly off two big passes to Hughes and a big run, drove the Tigers inside the Bethel 40 with a little over a minute remaining.  Mahla went back into the game with 53 seconds left, but threw an interception that ended the comeback attempt.