TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Coach Mike London and the Howard University Football team erased a 10-point deficit to knock off the Florida A&M (FAMU) Rattlers, 37-26, at Bragg Stadium. With the victory, HU secured its first winning season since 2012.
Howard (6-3, 5-1 MEAC) compiled 565 total offense while holding the ball for more than 34 minutes. HU kept the Rattlers’ offense off the field, converting 9-of-15 on third and fourth down situations.
Freshman quarterback Caylin Newton led the balance attack, throwing for 294 yards while rushing for 141 yards on the ground. The Atlanta native accounted for four total touchdowns, three passing (career-high) and one rushing.
Florida A&M scored on its opening drive, capped off by a 2-yard run by Ricky Henrilus, 7-0.
HU’s first possession saw Newton connected with sophomore Kyle Anthony for a 24-yard touchdown and tied the contest, 7-7.
FAMU responded and claimed the lead after a 25-yard pass from Ryan Stanley to Kareem Smith, 13-7.
A 24-yard field goal by the Rattlers’ Yahia Aly extended Florida A&M’s lead, 16-7, but HU fought back.
Howard highlighted its seven-play, 89-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run by senior Anthony Philyaw.
Under the five-minute mark, Florida A&M increased their lead to double-digits after a 3-yard run by Stanley, 23-13.
With time dwindling before halftime, Newton launched a Hail Mary to the end zone where sophomore Jequez Ezzard grabbed over defenders to pull the Bison within three, 20-23.
In their opening drive after intermission, Newton found Ezzard on a screen pass, which resulted into a 37-yard touchdown and gave the Bison its first lead of the game, 27-23.
After a stop by the defense, HU’s momentum continued as they went eight plays for 66 yards, highlighted by a 6-yard touchdown run from Newton, 34-23.
FAMU’s only points in the second half came on a 42-yard field goal by Aly early into the fourth, 34-26.
Kicker Dakota Lebofsky drilled a 37-yard field goal to make the contest a two-possession game, 37-26.
Ezzard had 205 all-purposes yards, including 153 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Anthony added 93 yards on five catches and a touchdown in the victory.
Defensively, Leland Lassiter recorded a team-high nine tackles (six solo) while Aaron Walker added eight solo tackles, including a tackle for loss.
For FAMU (3-7, 2-5 MEAC), they were held to only three points after halftime. Ricky Henrilus led the Rattlers with a game-high 153 yards on the ground.
On Nov. 11, Howard hosts Norfolk State for Senior Day. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Greene Stadium.
