Florida A&M University, better known as FAMU, had the lead. The clock was bleeding. The Rattlers were five minutes away from putting Tennessee State University, better known as TSU, away.
Then, the Tigers snatched the game right out of their hands.
TSU erased a six-point deficit in the final minutes, turning a blocked extra point, a 97-yard defensive two-point return and a last-minute touchdown drive into a wild 29-26 comeback victory over Florida A&M Saturday night, at Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
FAMU had just taken a 26-20 lead when Armond Parker connected with Jaquan Lee for an 80-yard touchdown with 5:12 remaining.
The Rattlers were in position to make the Tigers score a touchdown to tie.
Instead, Rymen Mosley got a piece of the extra point. Syncere Safeeullah scooped it up, took off, and hit his head on the goalpost. Ninety-seven yards later, the Tigers were two points heavier.
Just like that, it was 26-22.
TSU would still need a touchdown to pull this off, and they went right to work.
Quarterback Daylin Lee guided a nine-play, 75-yard drive, finding Brenton Paul for a 20-yard touchdown with 51 seconds left.
Ballgame.
The team from eight hours away had come all the way back.
The Tigers opened the night with a touchdown drive of their own, answering Florida A&M’s early score before taking a 13-7 lead. FAMU responded behind Parker and Maliek Denmark, tying the game at 13-13 by halftime.
The third quarter delivered another swing.
Parker threw an interception that Jalen LaBranche returned 61 yards for a touchdown, putting Tennessee State back in front, 20-13.
FAMU answered again, with Parker finding Jamal Hailey for a 32-yard touchdown.
Twenty apiece.
Then came the fourth quarter.
And chaos.
The Tigers appeared to take a punt 76 yards for a touchdown, only to have the play erased by a holding penalty. FAMU later turned the ball over on downs, and Gillespie fumbled on a run that gave the Tigers another opportunity.
TSU drove inside the 10 but settled for a field-goal attempt, only to have it blocked by Andre Powell Jr.
FAMU still had life.
Then Parker hit Lee for 80 yards.
Touchdown.
26-20.
The Rattlers had the lead.
The Tigers had 5:12.
That was enough.
Tennessee State finished with 390 yards of offense, while Florida A&M totaled 449. But the numbers couldn’t explain what happened when the game was hanging in the balance.
Brenton Paul was a difference-maker all night, rushing 26 times for 92 yards, and adding four catches for 36 yards and two TDs. Daylin Lee finished with 259 passing yards and two TDs.
For FAMU, Parker threw for 267 yards and two touchdowns, while Hailey caught eight passes for 83 yards and a score.
None of it mattered after that final five-minute frenzy.
TSU came to Tallahassee looking for its first win.
It left with one.
The victory moved the Tigers to 1-3, dropped Florida A&M to 1-3 and extended TSU’s winning streak over the Rattlers to seven games. The Tigers also pushed their all-time series lead to 32-24.
Florida A&M had the lead with 5:12 left.
Five minutes later, Big Blue had the win.
TSU 29. FAMU 26.
Sometimes you don’t steal a game.
Sometimes you snatch it.
Now, Big Blue gets a chance to breathe. They head into their bye week before returning to action October 3rd at Western Illinois. After a comeback like this, the timing couldn’t be better. A little rest. A little reflection. Then it’s back to work.
