Florida A&M 36, Norfolk State 33 - OT

October 21, 2006

NORFOLK, Va. – Wesley Taylor connected on 4-of-5 field goals, including the game-winning 42-yarder in overtime to lift Florida A&M to a 36-33 win over Norfolk State on Saturday afternoon at Dick Price Stadium.

The win improved the Rattlers (4-3 overall, 2-2 MEAC) to 9-0 all-time against the Spartans (3-4, 1-4), who lost their third straight game overall and had their five-game home win streak snapped.

Taylor had a chance to win the game with a 34-yard field goal attempt with one second left in regulation, but he missed wide left.

The Spartans got the ball first in overtime, but their three plays lost eight yards. Antonio Gomez (Chesapeake, Va.) had his 50-yard field goal try blocked by Donovan Johnson.

The Rattlers’ three offensive plays on their possession gained no yards before Taylor ended it.

In a see-saw game, NSU took a 33-25 lead on a 2-yard TD run by Daryl Jones (Richmond, Va.) with 6:28 left in regulation. It was Jones’ second score of the day. But the Rattlers responded with a nine-play, 62-yard drive, capped by a 2-yard TD run by quarterback Albert Chester, to draw within 33-31 with 2:21 left. Chester then found Roosevelt Kiser for the tying 2-point conversion pass.

FAMU jumped out to an early 12-0 lead. A bad punt snap sailed over Gomez’s head, resulting in a safety for FAMU with 11:01 left in the first quarter. Kiser returned the ensuing free kick 50 yards into NSU territory. Deitric Henry capped the short 40-yard drive with a 1-yard run, giving FAMU a 9-0 lead.

Taylor extended the Rattlers’ cushion to 12-0 with a 37-yard field goal with 14:44 left in the second quarter, capping a 70-yard drive.

But the Spartans responded with two long TD drives before the half to take the lead. Monte’ Anthony (Winston-Salem, N.C.) capped the first, an 11-play, 72-yard march, with a 3-yard run. Another botched snap resulted in a failed conversion try for NSU.

Jones finished the next scoring drive of 79 yards with a 1-yard TD run, and the extra point put NSU ahead 13-12 going into the half.

NSU built on its momentum with a 2-yard TD run by DeAngelo Branche (Norfolk, Va.) on the first possession of the second half, but yet another botched snap kept NSU’s lead at 19-12.

The Rattlers quickly tied it on an 86-yard TD pass from Chester to Kiser on the next drive, but NSU regained the lead at 26-19 on a 66-yard TD pass from Casey Hansen (Corona, Calif.) to Derrick Baker (Miami, Fla.) with 7:29 left in the third quarter.

Taylor kicked field goals of 33 yards in the third quarter and 23 yards in the fourth to set the stage for the dramatic final seven minutes.

FAMU gained 479 yards of offense. Chester was 14-of-24 for 266 yards, and Henry rushed for a season-high 149 yards on 15 carries before leaving in the fourth with an injury.

Kiser accounted for 206 all-purpose yards, 137 receiving and 69 in returns.

NSU had 311 yards of offense. Hansen was 14-of-27 for 218 yards. Emery Sammons (Willingboro, N.J.) tallied 222 all-purpose yards. He had 70 receiving yards on six catches, and had 152 yards on seven kickoff returns.

Branche was NSU’s leading rusher, with 10 carries for 61 yards. Jones gained 41 yards on 12 carries.

Dontae Anderson (Norfolk, Va.) led NSU’s defenders with 10 total tackles, one for a loss.

Vernon Wilder had 12 stops, including a sack, for the Rattlers.

The Spartans play their final road game of the year next Saturday at Howard. Kick-off is at 1 p.m.