Alabama State controlled the ball for nearly 38 minutes, ran for 274 yards, and led by 13 points early in the fourth quarter. Florida A&M needed just five offensive snaps to flip the game.

Armond Parker hit Armand Burris for 88- and 89-yard touchdowns in a span of 5:10; the Rattlers’ defense forced a late fumble; and Isiah Davis blocked Andrew Abu-Akel’s 47-yard field-goal attempt as time expired to give Florida A&M a 28-27 win at ASU Stadium on Friday. Hurricane Isaias moved the Homecoming game up a day, and the early start delivered a finish worth it.

Florida A&M improves to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in SWAC play, picking up its first conference win under head coach Quinn Gray. Alabama State falls to 3-3 and 1-2.

Special Teams and Defense Put Alabama State in Front

Alabama State scored first without its offense taking a snap. On Florida A&M’s opening drive, Thad Parson blocked a 50-yard field goal attempt, and Zion Crawford scooped it up and returned it 91 yards for a touchdown.

Parker answered with a 36-yard touchdown run to tie it in the first quarter. After Abu-Akel’s 24-yard field goal gave the Hornets a 10-7 lead late in the second quarter, Dante Howell intercepted Aaron Frye, and Parker found Jamal Hailey for a 19-yard touchdown on the very next play to send Florida A&M into halftime up 14-10.

Alabama State dominated the third quarter. The Hornets opened the half with a 14-play, 82-yard drive that chewed up 7:13 of the clock and ended with Jamarie Hostzclaw’s 1-yard touchdown run. Fifty seconds later, Omari Russell intercepted Parker and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown. Abu-Akel added a 32-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, giving Alabama State a 27-14 lead.

Two Snaps, Two Long Touchdowns

Florida A&M’s comeback started from its own 12-yard line. Facing 2nd and 23 after a holding penalty and a run for a loss, Parker launched a deep ball over the middle that Burris caught at the Alabama State 46 and carried the rest of the way for an 88-yard touchdown. Nehemiah Hixon blocked the extra point, leaving the Rattlers down 27-20 with 11:13 left.

The next time Florida A&M had the ball, it started at its own 8. On 3rd and 7 from the 11, Parker hit Burris deep down the left side for an 89-yard touchdown, then found Tamez Young for the two-point conversion, putting the Rattlers up 28-27 with 6:03 remaining.

A Wild Final Six Minutes

Alabama State had chances to answer. Helped by a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the ensuing kickoff, the Hornets drove to their own 49 but were stopped on 4th and 1 when Justin Bostic brought down Frye for no gain with 4:07 left.

After a Bobby Engstler punt pinned Alabama State at its own 7, Andre Powell Jr. forced a Hostzclaw fumble that Caden Brown recovered at the Alabama State 15 with 1:35 remaining. Florida A&M could not put the game away, however, as Alabama State’s defense stuffed Hailey on 4th and 4 at the 9 with 32 seconds left.

Frye then moved the Hornets 61 yards in five plays, hitting Israel Tate for 20 yards and Kareem Keye for 29 to reach the Florida A&M 37, and scrambled for 7 more to set up a 47-yard try. Davis got a hand on it, and the Rattlers celebrated their third straight visit in Montgomery.

By the Numbers

Parker completed 13 of 20 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns, threw two interceptions, and ran for 49 yards and a score. Burris finished with four catches for 216 yards and two touchdowns, and Florida A&M averaged 9.0 yards per play on just 43 snaps. Denzel Johnson, facing his former team, led the Rattlers with 10 tackles.

Parker accounted for four touchdowns and 339 total yards, but he said the plan going in was simply to stay within the offense.

“Coming to this game, I knew I didn’t have to be a hero or anything, but I ended up kind of being one,” Parker said. “But I didn’t have to be no hero; just do what I’m supposed to do, and trust my coach to put me in the right position.”

What stood out most to the freshman was how the Rattlers responded after falling behind 27-14. “I’m most impressed by how we didn’t put our heads down when we went down,” he said. “We kept fighting and came back and won.”

Hostzclaw carried 28 times for 128 yards and a touchdown for Alabama State, and Frye completed 10 of 15 passes for 107 yards. Mitchell Robinson Jr. led the Hornets with nine tackles, and Zaquan Patterson had their lone sack. Abu-Akel made two of four field-goal attempts, missing a 45-yard attempt and being blocked at the end.

Next, Florida A&M heads to unbeaten Jackson State on Oct. 17th, and Alabama State travels to Arkansas-Pine Bluff.