MVP Wesley Taylor kicks game-winner in OT

The Atlanta Football Classic

Georgia Dome-Atlanta, GA

Wright makes sure his teammates know he just hit paydirt.

The 18^th Annual Atlanta Football Classic may very well go down as the most “classic” game in the rich tradition of this annual HBCU slugfest.  The Florida A&M Rattlers squared off against the Tennessee State Tigers in an epic overtime battle that the fans and alumnae are going to be talking about for years to come.

The way things started, a classic may have the last thing on anyone’s mind.  Early on, the game had the makings of yet another low-scoring affair that might go down to the wire like the three previous matchups between the schools.  Well, it did go down to the wire, but low-scoring wouldn’t be the issue. 

FAMU started the game off with a solid drive into TSU territory off of some nifty footwork and hands of all everything Roosevelt Kiser.  After a penalty stalled the Rattler drive, FAMU settled for three points to take the early lead.  The Tigers responded with a solid drive of their own, led by RB Javarris Williams, but came up with nothing after their effort was hindered by flags.  Williams played a key role in the Tiger running game, unfortunately, in more ways than one

The yellow laundry would be a consistent theme in the first half.  Big play after big play was called back because of penalties.  The sloppy play began to take its toll on the 57,000 plus in attendance who appeared ready to get halftime underway. 

Late in the 2^nd quarter, TSU gave their Tiger faithful a reason to roar and a good feeling going into the half.  University of South Carolina native and Memphis, TN native, Antonio Heffner led the Tiger offense on a solid 68 yard scoring drive as time winded down in the first half.  Heffner connected with WR Jeremy Stephens on a 28-yard scoring strike that put the Tigers up 7-3 with “Big Mo” in their corner going into the half.

Halftime was, well, let me say this.  It’s the Atlanta Football Classic.  You have the Tennessee State Aristocrat of Bands on one side and The Florida A&M Marching 100 on the other, so what do you think halftime was like?  I know, enough said, right?  Exactly.  Ok, let me get back to the game.

The performances at halftime may very well have lit a fire in the both teams because the scoring erupted in the third quarter.  Well, it did for the Rattlers.  On the second play of their first possession of the second half, Junior QB Albert Chester hit Gerard Morgan for an 82-yard catch and run touchdown.  Before you knew it, FAMU found themselves up 10-7 cancelling any chance of TSU coming out with any momentum. 

The Rattler D tries to bring down Williams, who finished with 204 rushing yards.

With the Rattler fans jamming in the stands and the Rattler offense putting up quick points, the Rattler defense had no choice but to step their game up as well.  Williams, who ran at will in the first half, was bottled up in the third quarter.  The Tiger offense seemed to had to hit a wall.  And when Chester hit WR Ronald Wright for the Rattlers’ second touchdown of the quarter, the game seemed all but over.

The Tigers went into the fourth quarter down 7-16.  Wesley Taylor added three more to the Rattler point total to put them up 19-7 with 10:48 left game.  Then things got interesting.  With Rattler defense apparently playing a prevent defense with entirely too much time on the clock, Heffner and Williams had their way.  After 3:20 and Williams’ returning to his first half form, the Tigers were down by only five, 14-19.   The Rattlers got the ball and had one goal in mind.  Get first downs and run out the clock.  In what would turn out to be the biggest coaching decision of the game, Coach Rubin Carter had to take a minute. 

With :58 seconds left in the game, the Rattlers found themselves on the Tigers’ 19-yard line in a fourth and one situation.  You could hear the questions being asked everywhere.  Do you go for the first down and take a knee?  Or do you take three points and force TSU to score in less than a minute AND convert for two-points.  Carter chose the latter and the Tigers concurred. 

Taylor put the Rattlers up 22-14 and Carter’s decision seemed sound.  But when Heffner hit the field in the Tigers’ hurry-up offense, all the smiling faces of those decked out in orange and green soon turned to looks of concern.  Heffner connected with WR Chris Johnson on three of the four plays on the Tiger scoring drive, including the one that brought the Tigers within two. 

Everyone in the dome knew the Tigers had to go for the two.  TSU came out in a pole cat formation with three linemen spread left with RB Maurice Young lined up behind them.  Heffner was in the shotgun and the Rattler defense was confused.   The Rattlers called a timeout and had to talk about this one.  But TSU didn’t waiver.  They hit the field in the exact same formation.  With the Rattler defense taking a timeout, surely they would be prepared for such a formation now.  They weren’t.  Heffner connected with TE Antonio Graham for the two-point conversion to send the game into overtime.

Overtime will be an overtime that tailback Javarris Williams will never forget.  After playing a stellar game gaining 204 yards on the ground and one touchdown, Williams looked to seal the deal.  Williams hit the pile at the Rattler one but LB Vernon Wilder hit Williams, and the ball.  The ball popped loose and the Rattlers jumped on it.  On their ensuing possession, the Rattlers wouldn’t take too long to finish the Tigers off. 

After two conservative running plays, Carter sent Taylor on the field on third down just to be safe.  Taylor would make his fourth field goal of the game his most memorable.  One that would send the Rattlers running across the field like kids at a Toys’R’Us shopping spree. 

Final Score:  Florida A&M 25 – Tennessee State 22