Florida A&M football is your victor.
The Rattlers traveled to Alabama A&M Bulldogs and spoiled their Senior Day with a 26-23 Southwestern Athletic Conference victory at Louis Crews Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 15.
FAMU quarterback RJ Johnson III dazzled the Huntsville crowd by going 20-for-24 for 299 yards and four total touchdowns, three passing, one rushing. Wide receiver Kenari Wilcher was named SWAC TV’s Gatorade Player of the Game for his four-reception, 91-yard, and two-touchdown performance.
FAMU has won consecutive games for just the second time this season. The Rattlers also evened their record to 5-5 with a 4-2 mark in the SWAC and won four of the last five contests.
The Rattlers will next face the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats in Orlando’s annual Florida Classic rivalry game next Saturday, Nov. 22.
FAMU football strikes Alabama A&M quickly to retake lead
RJ Johnson III with another touchdown.
The FAMU quarterback tossed his third touchdown of the day versus Alabama A&M. This time, it went to Jalen ‘Speedy’ Rogers for a 27-yard score.
Johnson is currently 18-for-22 for 256 passing yards and has three touchdowns through the air. He’s also added a rushing touchdown.
4Q | 8:56 | FAMU 26, AAMU 23
FAMU football allows Alabama A&M to regain lead with crucial TD
The Bulldogs are back on top.
AAMU quarterback Eric Handley hit receiver Daveon Walker, a former FAMU commit, for a 36-yard touchdown pass to move past the Rattlers on the scoreboard.
FAMU hasn’t been able to stop anything the AAMU offense has done. The Bulldogs have 420 total offensive yards, 231 rushing and 189 passing.
4Q | 10:09 | AAMU 23, FAMU 19
FAMU football at Alabama A&M score after third quarter
FAMU 19, AAMU 16
The Bulldogs are outgaining the Rattlers 356 to 274.
FAMU football QB RJ Johnson and WR Kenari Wilcher connects again vs Alabama A&M
The RJ Johnson III to Kenari Wilcher connection is on another level this game.
The FAMU quarterback threw his second touchdown pass to the receiver for 16 yards. It was their second time scoring versus Alabama A&M.
The touchdown pass helped FAMU regain the lead.
3Q | 1:39 | FAMU 19, AAMU 16
Alabama A&M extends lead vs FAMU football
The Rattlers got the opening drive of the first half ― no dice.
Alabama A&M then got the football and drove 48 yards on 13 plays before stalling out. David Faulk made a 29-yard field goal to extend the Bulldogs’ lead.
3Q | 5:24 | AAMU 16, FAMU 12
FAMU WR Goldie Lawrence “fine” after knee injury vs Alabama A&M
The SWAC TV broadcast announced that FAMU head coach James Colzie III says Goldie Lawrence is “fine.”
The receiver went down with an injury during the second quarter after making a 21-yard reception. He returned to the game in the third quarter.
FAMU football vs Alabama A&M halftime score
AAMU 13, FAMU 12
The Bulldogs’ kicker David Faulk made a 23-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter.
Alabama A&M got in field goal range on an Eric Handley completion to Donovan Payne for 36 yards.
The Bulldogs are outgaining the Rattlers 292 to 191.
FAMU football QB RJ Johnson uses his feet to retake lead vs Alabama A&M
Posted up inside the 10-yard line, RJ Johnson III couldn’t find a receiver to throw to.
So, he elected to make a run for it himself. Johnson scrambled and was hit hard, but was able to get the football across the plain for FAMU to retake the lead over Alabama A&M.
FAMU’s PAT was no good.
2Q | 0:11 | FAMU 12, AAMU 10
FAMU football WR Goldie Lawrence down with injury after big gain vs Alabama A&M
One of the Rattlers’ top receivers Goldie Lawrence has left the game with an injury.
After catching a pass for a 21-yard gain from RJ Johnson III, Lawrence was tackled on the Alabama A&M 34-yard down and began holding his knee.
Lawrence as helped off the field by FAMU’s trainers and was able to put a little pressure on his leg.
FAMU football now trails Alabama A&M after allowing big run by Ryan Morrow
The Rattlers’ run defense has been getting gashed all season.
Alabama A&M running back Ryan Morrow just exposed that again. The sophomore ran up the gut through FAMU’s first line of defense and dusted the Rattlers for an 80-yard touchdown.
The touchdown gave Alabama A&M the lead over FAMU in the Week 12 SWAC game.
Alabama A&M has 149 rushing yards on 17 attempts versus the Rattlers.
2Q | 1:50 | AAMU 10, FAMU 6
FAMU football allows Alabama A&M to get on scoreboard
The Bulldogs are on the scoreboard.
To end a eight-play, 45-yard drive, Alabama A&M kicker David Faulk knocked in a 47-yard field goal to trim its deficit to FAMU to three points.
2Q | 5:19 | FAMU 6, AAMU 3
Alabama A&M linebacker Arenza Davis ejected from game
FAMU and Alabama A&M were assessed unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in the second quarter of the Week 12 SWAC game.
Officials ejected Alabama A&M freshman linebacker Arenza Davis for “throwing a punch,” the SWAC TV broadcast commentators said.
FAMU football vs Alabama A&M first quarter score
FAMU 6, AAMU 0
The Bulldogs are outgaining the Rattlers with 85 yards to FAMU’s 83.
FAMU football hits first vs Alabama A&M
The Rattlers have reached the endzone.
To cap off an eight-play, 80-yard drive, RJ Johnson III found receiver Kenari Wilcher beating a defender for a 27-yard touchdown pass.
It’s FAMU’s first first-quarter touchdown in 10 games this season.
The Rattlers went for a two-point conversion, but was stopped short as reserve quarterback Tyler Jefferson tried to punch it in.
1Q | 0:49 | FAMU 6, AAMU 0
FAMU football’s defense continues to struggle on third downs vs Alabama A&M
Still scoreless from Huntsville.
But the Rattlers must fix their defensive third down woes immediately.
FAMU has allowed Alabama A&M to convert on four out of five third down attempts.
Bulldogs quarterback Eric Handley has completed six out of nine passing attempts for 50 yards and threw an interception. Running back Isaiah Nwokenkwo has three rushing attempts for 16 yards.
FAMU offense can’t get movement on first drive; ends with no points
The FAMU offense only mustered three yards on its first drive versus Alabama A&M on Saturday.
Running back Thad Franklin Jr. rushed for six yards on a play, then lost three on the next. FAMU quarterback RJ Johnson then threw the football down field to Ace Cobb, but it fell incomplete.
The Rattlers set up for a 51-yard field goal, but the kick was missed by Daniel Porto.
FAMU gets an early interception on Alabama A&M
The opening drive didn’t last long.
Alabama A&M quarterback Eric Handley tossed an interception to FAMU cornerback Ah’Mare Lee, who snagged the football before stepping out of bounds.
The Rattlers are set at the Bulldogs’ 35-yard line.
FAMU at Alabama A&M Team Threads
FAMU: White helmets, White jerseys, White pants
Alabama A&M: White helmets, Maroon jerseys, White pants
FAMU at Alabama A&M weather report
74 degrees, Sunny in Huntsville for 3 p.m. kickoff time
What time does FAMU vs Alabama A&M start?
What TV channel is Florida A&M vs Alabama A&M on today?
FAMU vs Alabama A&M predictions
FAMU vs Alabama A&M injury updates
FAMU right guard Ashton Grable is set to return to the lineup, head coach James Colzie III said in his Nov. 10 press conference.
The All-American performer and HBCU Legacy Bowl selection was a late scratch before the Rattlers’ Week 12 SWAC game at Arkansas-Pine Bluff last week.
“He will be back for us this week,” the FAMU coach said.
FAMU schedule 2025
Here is Florida A&M’s schedule and results. All times Eastern.
*- SWAC game
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football’s RJ Johnson, Kenari Wilcher shine in Week 12 SWAC win at Alabama A&M
Reporting by Gerald Thomas III, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
