Florida A&M (3-5, 3-2 MEAC) at *No. 12/11 North Carolina A&T (6-1, 4-0 MEAC)
Date: Oct. 29, 2016
Time: 1 p.m.
Facility: Aggie Stadium (21,500)
Series: FAMU leads, 44-17-3
Radio: 1320 AM/93.7 FM WCOG; Play-by-play – Donal Ware, Analysts – Al Swann
*FCS media poll listed first/coaches' poll listed next
LAST GAME'S OFFENSIVE STARTERS: WR Denzel Keyes (6-4, 215, Sr., 2TD receptions); LT Brandon Parker (6-7, 299, R-Jr., 3x MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week ); LG Joshua Mattocks (6-3, 332, R-Jr.); C Darriel Mack (6-2, 291, R-Jr.); RG Daquan Blake (6-3, 315, Jr.); RT Wes Cole (6-6, 335, Sr.); WR Michael Weaver, Jr. (5-7, 163, Sr.); RB Tarik Cohen (5-6, 179, Sr., went over 5,000 rushing yards for his career); QB Lamar Raynard (6-4, 176, R-So., completed 13 of 18 passes); TE Leroy Hill (6-3, 239, So.); WR Elijah Bell (6-2, 210, Fr.).
LAST GAME'S DEFENSIVE STARTERS: DE Angelo Keyes (6-1, 270, R-Sr.); DT Marquis Ragland (6-3, 277, R-Sr.); NT Julian McKnight (6-3, 291, R-So., 1.5 TFLs); DE Kenneth Melton (6-2, 220, R-Jr., 3SACKS in the past two weeks); LB Deion Jones (5-11, 207, R-So., 2.5 TFLs, 1SACK); LB Kiaundric Richardson (6-0, 207, So.); LB Jeremy Taylor (5-11, 181, R-Jr., led the Aggies with 8TFLs vs. Howard); ROV Marcus Albert (5-10, 207, R-Jr.); FS Zerius Lockhart (5-10, 175, R-Jr., 2.5 TFLs); CB Timadre Abram (5-10, 164, R-So., made 1st career start); CB Marquis Willis (5-8, 153, R-So., 5 unassisted tackles).
The Game: N.C. A&T will play in the school's 90th homecoming celebration on Saturday against Florida A&M. It will mark the fifth time the Aggies and the Rattlers have faced each other on N.C. A&T's homecoming. The Aggies are 2-2 in those games including 2014's 40-21 win over the Rattlers at the Greatest Homecoming On Earth. FAMU has dominated the overall series winning 44 of the 64 games played with the two teams tying three times. The Aggies did not beat FAMU from 1950-1968 which was a span of 18 straight games without a win. There were two ties over that period. N.C. A&T, however, has won four straight in the series, which is the longest winning streak the Aggies have ever had over the Rattlers.
The Aggies are coming off a 34-7 win over Howard and were on the verge of their third shutout of the season before the Bison scored with three minutes remaining in the game. In the game, senior Tarik Cohen surpassed 5,000 career rushing yards and became only the 10th back in NCAA FCS history to put together four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. N.C. A&T's win was their fourth straight. FAMU comes in as one of the hottest teams in the conference. The Rattlers have won three out of their last four games and have scored 72 points in their last two games. Their only loss in the past two weeks was a 17-13 loss to North Carolina Central who leads the MEAC by a half game.
News & Notes
- N.C. A&T running back Tarik Cohen comes into Saturday's having not fumbled in his last 18 games. Cohen's last fumble came on Nov. 22, 2014 at N.C. Central at the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter. Cohen has now had 440 straight touches between carries and receptions without fumbling.
- Cohen's next conquest could be the MEAC single-season rushing record. He needs 699 yards to pass Delaware State's Gene Lake. Lake broke the record in 1984.
- Six of the Aggies seven opponents have been held under 100 yards rushing. During the 64-game Rod Broadway era the Aggies have held 36 opponents to under 100 yards rushing. The Aggies are 33-3 when holding opponents to under 100 yards. They are 23-4 when holding opponents to under 300 yards of offense.
- N.C. A&T has now been ranked 37 straight weeks in the BoxToRow black college football poll and 35 straight weeks in the Sheridan Broadcasting Network black college poll. The Aggies have been No. 1 in both polls all season and they have garnered all 30 first-place votes in the SBN poll six out of seven weeks.
- N.C. A&T secured its fifth straight winning season with their 34-7 win over Howard last Saturday. It is the longest active streak in the MEAC with Bethune-Cookman unable to finish better than .500 this season.
Opposing Point of View
“When you look at them, offensively, defensively and special teams wise, they have a complete team. They also have some really good personnel to go along with that complete team. We are obviously going to go up there feeling optimistic about our chances. We're going to put together the best plan we can and see what happens.”
Florida A&M coach Alex Wood on facing N.C. A&T on Saturday
