Florida Classic: FAMU ends nine years of misery with 46-21 rout vs. rival Bethune-Cookman

Florida A&M’s emphatic 46-21 victory over state rival Bethune-Cookman Saturday in the Florida Classic was important for two reasons.

First, the Rattlers (9-2) snapped their nine-game losing streak to B-CU as the Classic returned after a missed season in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Second, FAMU may have also punched a ticket to the FCS playoffs as it ended the regular season on an eight-game win streak.

Though stunned by the Wildcats on a long touchdown pass on the game’s opening play, the Rattlers quickly recovered and used a 30-point outburst in the third quarter to fuel the route at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

It was an emotional victory for the FAMU program and its passionate fans.

B-CU had been an underdog in the past few meetings against FAMU, only to upset the Rattlers late each time. The Wildcats (2-9) also opened the season 0-8 but had won their last two games entering the game.

FAMU, however, answered every challenge with an exclamation mark.

FAMU finished with 473 total yards, quarterback Rasean McKay completed 15 of 23 passes for 175 yards and one score and running back Bishop Bonnett had 128 rushing yards and a touchdown.

FAMU's defense got into the act, scoring a pair of touchdowns off turnovers in the third quarter.

The Rattlers forced four turnovers in the game.

FAMU coach Willie Simmons didn’t shy away from the game’s importance, saying, "A lot is at stake. This game is huge for many reasons."

The Rattlers – ranked No. 23 in the STATS PERFORM FCS Top 25 and No. 25 in the FCS Coaches Poll - will find out Sunday if they’ve done enough to advance to the 2021 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoff.

The 24-team field will be announced Sunday at 12:30 p.m. on ESPNU.

Here are three takeaways from the Rattlers’ win over the Wildcats.

1. Dark Cloud Defense shines bright vs. Wildcats

FAMU's defensive strategy limited B-CU to 316 yards of total offense. It got the bulk of this when the game was well out of reach.

The lone touchdown for the Wildcats was an 89-yard pass from Devin Black to Darryl Powell in the first quarter.

FAMU had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. It scored twice on these turnovers.

Defensive back BJ Bohler had an interception return and defensive lineman Gentle Hunt stomped his way across the goal line.

B-CU was held in check with 35 yards on the ground.

2. Runway score boosted by power and speed in the backfield

FAMU rushed for 267 yards in the Florida Classic.

The trio of Bishop Bonnett, Terrell Jennings and Jaylen McCloud all had touchdowns.

Bonnett had a game-high 128 yards in his final outing as a student-athlete in the Florida Classic.

McCloud had 77 yards and Jennings ended the game with 68.

FAMU's triple threat in the backfield all hail from Jacksonville.

3. "Leave No Doubt" matra holds true-to-form

FAMU's motto for 2021 was "Leave No Doubt." It has done just that in the return from the canceled 2020 season.

It was the first season for the program in the SWAC. The Rattlers proved they belonged in the league.

They swept through schools from Alabama and Louisiana. FAMU culminated the year with this crushing win versus B-CU.

The only blemish on the conference record was a 7-6 loss to Jackson State in the Orange Blossom Classic. This was during Labor Day weekend to open the year.

Jackson State won the SWAC East Division and is nationally ranked alongside FAMU.

Did FAMU do enough to reach FCS playoffs?

The Rattlers’ strong finish and national ranking should merit a spot in the FCS playoffs.

FAMU’s brass, at least behind the scenes, is expecting to be included in the 13 at-large selections.

The field for the 2021 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoff bracket is scheduled to be announced Sunday at 12:30 p.m. on ESPNU.

There will be 24 teams selected for the NCAA FCS playoff bracket.

This includes 11 conference champions that qualify automatically with 13 at-large selections.

The top eight seeds will receive a first-round bye.

Teams that earned top seeds will need to win four games to claim the national title; others five games.

Postseason action starts with opening-round games is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 27. The national championship game is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 8 in Frisco, Texas.

Sam Houston is the reigning NCAA FCS national champion. It defeated South Dakota State 23-21 in the national title game on May 16, 2021.

The last time FAMU made the NCAA playoff was in 2001. It lost to the reigning NCAA I-AA national champion Georgia Southern Eagles in Statesboro, Ga.

Scoring Summary

B-CU 7 0 0 14 - 21

FAMU 13 0 30 3 - 46

First Quarter

B-CU: Devin Black pass to Darryl Powell Jr. for 82 yds (D. Moghaddam KICK) 1 play, 89 yards, 0:20

FAMU: Rasean McKay pass to Xavier Smith for 48 yds (J. Romo-Martinez PAT BLOCKED) 1 play, 48 yards, 0:11

FAMU: Jaylen McCloud run for 2 yds (J. Romo-Martinez KICK) 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:38

Third Quarter

FAMU: Terrell Jennings run for 9 yds (Two-point Conversion failed ) 11 plays, 72 yards, 4:10

FAMU: Jose Romo-Martinez 21-yd FG GOOD 11 plays, 47 yards, 5:57

FAMU: Fumble recovery by BJ Bohler for 56 yds 3 plays, 23 yards, 1:14

FAMU: Bishop Bonnett run for 38 yds (J. Romo-Martinez KICK) 1 play, 38 yards, 0:07

FAMU: Fumble recovery by Gentle Hunt for 46 yards 1 play, 6 yards, 0:25

Fourth Quarter

B-CU: Devin Black pass to Kemari Averett for 9 yds (D. Moghaddam KICK) 5 plays, 63 yards, 2:16

FAMU: J. Romo-Martinez 29-yd FG GOOD 12 plays, 69 yards, 7:50

B-CU: Devin Black pass to Kemari Averett for 4 yds for a TD, (D. Moghaddam KICK) 7 plays, 74 yards, 3:35

Follow FAMU beat writer Rory Sharrock on Twitter @married2game1.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida Classic: FAMU ends nine years of misery with 46-21 rout vs. rival Bethune-Cookman