Although the Tennessee State and Florida A&M have met as recently as 2015, Saturday’s meeting in the inaugural Tampa Classic was a reprisal of their series in a Classic game that last happened in 2010 in the Atlanta Classic.
A 6-play, 50-yard TSU first quarter drive proved fruitless, as it ended in fumble on the FAMU 33 yard line. Tennessee State would score on a subsequent possession on a 49-yard Lane Clark field goal to put the Tigers up 3-0.
Florida A&M would score to start the second quarter on a Devin Bowers one-yard touchdown run. The extra point was blocked by Jason Morrow due to an errant snap and hold, keeping the score at 6-3. FAMU got the ball back after penalties halted TSU drive and put themselves in position for a 33-yard field goal attempt. The FG attempt was blocked ,once again, by Jason Morrow, keeping the score 6-3.
The tigers would take the lead 10-6 on a 44-yard touchdown pass from QB Treon Harris to Steven Newbold. The game went into the half with the same score.
The third would commence with a three-and-out from Florida A&M. Tennessee State then proceeded on a 16-play, 89-yard drive that started off with eight consecutive rushing plays and chewed up nine minutes off the clock. The drive culminated in a two-yard touchdown pass from Harris to Patrick Smith.
The Tigers would score again on Seth Rowland’s second touchdown of the season, this one coming on a ten yard run, which brought the score to 24-6. The Rattlers would add a late touchdown to end the proceedings at 24-13.
TSU has one its last six meetings with Florida A&M.
The now 3-0 tigers open up Ohio Valley Conference September 23 with a trip to Martin,Tennessee to play UT Martin. FAMU kick off their MEAC play on September as they travel to Savannah,Georgia to take on the Savannah State Tigers.
