Celebration Bowl against MEAC champs next for Rattlers

By St. Clair Murraine
Outlook Staff Writer

Coach Willie Simmons was less than an hour removed from leading the FAMU football team to its first SWAC championship, when he was asked about the last game that the Rattlers will play this season.

That comes on Dec. 16 when FAMU faces Howard University in the Celebration Bowl, a matchup of the champion teams from the SWAC and the MEAC.

Simmons was unequivocal in his response.

“I think we match up well with anybody in the country,” Simmons told a room full of reporters. “I’m looking forward to the matchup. We are looking forward to getting into the national championship game. We are going to make sure we bring it home for the SWAC this year.”

Historically, the winning team from the Celebration Bowl is considered national champion of Black college football. FAMU has had a run of those and last Saturday’s 35-14 win over Prairie View was the programs first in the postseason since 1998.

The victory extended the Rattlers’ home winning streak to 20, which is now the longest in the nation after Montana lost 35-34 to North Dakota State in a FCS playoff game to snap its 26-game home streak.

Extending the win streak means that none of the seniors played on a losing team in Bragg Stadium.

“It’s just a real good feeling and an honor to be up there and not losing any home game,” said defensive end Javan Morgan, who was named defensive MVP of the game.

FAMU got its biggest win in front of 14,628 that braved rainy conditions to witness the game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Stadium. When it was over the Rattlers outgained the Panther with 448 yards of total offense to 274.

Running back Terrell Jennings provided 113 of the 229 yards that the Rattlers had on the ground. His effort earned him the offensive MVP, an honor he took less than a month ago at the Florida Classic.

Jennings scored touchdowns in the first and last quarters on runs of 1 and 33 yards.

Rain forced a 32-minute delay of the kickoff. Fans who endured the wet conditions left the stadium due to a second rain delay in the third quarter that lasted almost 45  minutes. The inclement weather conditions also put a damper on a fan fest planned by GM, one of the game’s presenting sponsors.

Despite the wet conditions, quarterback Jeremy Moussa was 13 of 22 for 188 yards passing, including a touchdown by Marcus Riley. He finished the game with five catches for 132 yards. 

The  win marked the first time that Simmons, who was named the SWAC’s coach of the year, ever won a conference title.

“This is a great day for Tallahassee, a great day for FAMU, a great day for these young men to be able to accomplish a goal that we set for ourselves when we got together in August,” Simmons said.

The moment seemingly was still a little surreal for Simmons as he sat in front of reporters.

“I try my best to be where my feet are and not ride through the emotions,” he said. “I think one of the things I have to work on is sometimes enjoying the moment.”

Morgan’s second interception put the Rattlers in position to take a commanding 21-7 lead into the break. Early in the opening quarter, it was a Morgan interception that set up the Rattlers for a quick strike and a 7-0 lead. FAMU scored a touchdown in each of the last three quarters to secure the win.

Doing the same in the Celebration Bowl would culminate all of the team’s goals set out before the season started, Simmons said, calling the game that is scheduled for Atlanta “the new carrot.”

“That’s the last box to check,” he said. “We have checked every box that we set out for ourselves this season.”