HBCU football kicks off with FAMU winning a nail-biter

ATLANTA, GA — A lot has changed for Florida A&M (FAMU), the defending HBCU national champion, since it last took the field in Dec. 2023. One thing that hasn’t changed is its ability to come back from an early deficit.

FAMU found a way to win after going down by two scores in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge to come away with a 24-23 win over Norfolk State on Saturday night.

Florida A&M quarterback Daniel Richardson Jr. led the way in the comeback, completing 22 of his 30 pass attempts for 287 yards and three touchdowns, including two in the second half to help FAMU take control of the game. Jamari Gassett caught two of those touchdown passes, hauling in eight receptions for 110 yards.

Norfolk State made its noise on the ground, as Keyon King gained 146 yards on the night and rushed for a pair of touchdowns — including an 83-yarder early in the first quarter to give NSU the early lead. NSU ran for 237 yards as a team, scoring all three of its touchdowns on the ground as quarterback Jalen Daniels ran for one as well.

Daniels, starting in place of the suspended Otto Kuhns, was solid when he got to pass the ball — he just didn’t get a lot of chances to throw. He completed seven of his nine pass attempts for 141 yards. That total included a pair of 40 yard plus completions.

The game was ultimately put in Daniels’ hands in the defining moments. NSU had a point after touchdown that would have tied the game at 24 blocked, but FAMU was called for a penalty so it got another shot. The offense was brought out on the field and Daniels kept the ball on the read-option and was stopped, leaving NSU down by a point with just over six minutes remaining.

FAMU would hold on to the ball for the remainder of the game, driving deep into Norfolk State territory and taking a knee to end the game. The win was the first for FAMU under new head coach James Colzie III. It also extended a winning streak against current MEAC teams that dates back to 2018.

In the end, the defending HBCU national champions showed their resolve and found a way to win the game. Now it will head home to take on another former MEAC foe in South Carolina State as it looks to keep its home winning streak alive.

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