After an unprecedented spring season for first-time head coach Deion Sanders, Jackson State fans waited 148 days to see what Sanders staff would do in Year 2.
However, for Florida A&M, the Rattlers graced the gridiron for the first time in 652 days to face Jackson State on Sunday at the Orange Blossom Classic at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida—a game that hasn't been played in 43 years. has been played.
Between 1933 and 1978, the Orange Blossom Classic, considered the unofficial Black National Championship game, involved FAMU and another HBCU. The game was initially scheduled for the fall of 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The FAMU-Jackson State leaning was highly anticipated with the coaching matchup of Willie Simmons versus Sanders, the shader Sanders' college debut as well as the highest-rated recruiting class in FCS and HBCU history, and the prospect of exciting offensive performances.
Instead, there were 12 punts, 20 penalties and five turnovers (three for Jackson State), 8-for-31 on third-down conversions, and 13 points between the two teams.
But, as in any sport, it's not about which team averages the most yards, but rather who plays the key when it matters most. And on Sunday afternoon, in front of fans and former NFL wide receivers Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson, it was Jackson State that came out on top, beating FAMU 7-6 in a contest that came down to the final seconds.
After the Tigers' victory, Sanders and JSU athletic director Ashley Robinson embraced with Robinson on a field filled with emotion.
"Yeah baby, yes baby, we're here, we're here," Robinson told Sanders.
Tigers win❗️#JSUinMIA @DeionSanders @JacksonStateAD pic.twitter.com/RA6ZvlXEj2
— Jackson State U. (@JacksonStateU) September 5, 2021
But, before the heartfelt embrace between Robinson and Sanders, it was a tough 60 minutes as the game had a gleam of talent as well as room for improvement.
In his debut, Shadur Sanders deepened the first snap of the game in the Tigers' field, but ended the game 18-for-24 with early game shocks and three first-half turnovers, throwing for 221 yards and playing the game. stopped running for touchdown and, until the start of the second quarter, that score did not come for the Tigers.
After Schedur completed a 32-yard pass to Trevonte Rucker (a freshman wide receiver who finished with three catches for 83 yards) to the Rattlers' six-yard line, FAMU was handed a penalty for roughing a passer-by on Schedur. was killed together. First and target for Jackson State. After a few plays, Shedoor called on his own number and punched it in the end zone to give the Tigers a 7-3 advantage and the game's only touchdown.
"Schedure was eight years old," Sanders told Clarion-Ledger. "I was in his butt, but you get the sense that I'm his father too, and I know what he's capable of. He was trying to do it too quickly."
The Rattlers, who scored three points in their opening possession thanks to a 21-yard field goal by Jose Romo-MartÃnez, were unable to find a consistent rhythm in the offensive due to JSU's defense game and especially the play of several transfer players. . Sanders brought in an event that was not played in the spring.
Sophomore linebacker Niles Gaddy (Tennessee Transfer), who went unblocked during several plays in the second drive of the Rattlers' game, finished with two tackles. Senior defensive lineman Antwan Owens (Georgia Tech) and Schedur's older brother, Shiloh, made 10 tackles and wreaked havoc for the Rattlers' offense, which saw quarterback Russian McKay (18-for-29, 78 yards) to junior Muratovic (5- ) changed to . for-12, 47 yds) in the fourth quarter.
Even in a property that looked promising for FAMU, the Tigers' defense came with stops that forced the Rattlers into punting positions. FAMU is still detecting issues in the quarterback position and building consistency on the offense, a unit that was held to only 234 yards of the total offense.
In 2019, the Rattlers' offense averaged about 292 passing yards, including receivers David Manigo (3 catches, 43 yards in Sunday's game), Chad Hunter (7 catches, 49 yards) and Xavier Smith. (6 catches, 16 yards) and an average of 32.7 points per game.
But Simmons, believed to be an offensive mastermind, will have to go back to the drawing board to figure out which quarterback will drive the offense and which one has big shoes to fill in replacement for former FAMU quarterback Ryan Stanley.
For Jackson State, the Tigers—despite the ability to win and move the ball down the field—still have to work on special teams and convert third-downs (3-of-14 in the game) and small-yard situations. .
In an 11-play, 73-yard drive that began on his own 8, the Tigers took 4:47 in the fourth quarter and the Rattlers before falling unfinished in third to wide receiver Josh Lanier (Alabama transfer) near Shedoor. reached 20. Down and running back Peyton Pickett is stopped on the fourth down.
But, as a game-wide takeover, Sanders' defense answered the bell when its numbers were called. As the Tigers clinged to a 7-6 lead with 2:59 to play, the Rattlers faced fourth and needed six yards.
Muratovic completed a pass to Hunter but Tigers' Randall Heaney faced him a yard shy of the bottom first. And in the final seconds of the game, Tigers' Cameron Silman, who finished with seven tackles, brought up a game-winning sack to seal the win.
When Sanders became coach at Jackson State in September 2020, the Pro Football Hall of Famer noted that his team would do four things, no matter the circumstance—play smart, tough, fast, and discipline. There is no doubt that Sanders has a plethora of talent on the offensive and firm defense that will dominate the entire season.
However, those changes—the elimination of five defensive penalties that resulted in 58 yards, improved punting and converted field goals—needed to be improved before Sanders faced Eddie George and Tennessee State at the Southern Heritage Classic on September 11. Will be