TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The FAMU Rattlers fall to 0-4 after a 30-14 loss to Tennessee State in the Rattlers home opener. Lincoln's Ronald Butler threw three touchdown passes. The Tennessee State defense forced a safety in the 2nd half and then it closed the game on a 14-0 run to close out FAMU.
"That wasn't the outcome that we desired," FAMU Head Coach Alex Wood said. "We still have an optimistic outlook and expectations for sure," Wood added.
Butler was 16 of 34 for 194 yards. Smith had seven catches for 109 yards and Telvin Hooks had 117 yards on the ground.
Florida A&M scored first on an 83-yard punt return from Jefferson County High School's DeVondrick Nealy. Tennessee State (3-1) answered with Ronald Butler's 12-yard touchdown pass to Mahlon Medley with 17 second to go before halftime to tie the game at 14.
Early in the third quarter, The Rattlers (0-4) took a 14-7 lead with a 46-yard touchdown pass from Carson Royal to Kareem Smith.
Smith caught a 38-yard score to tie the game at 14, and Colby Blanton's punt pinned A&M on their own 1, resulting in a safety to make it 16-14.
Tennessee State shutout FAMU the rest of the way. Smith added another touchdown pass for 32 yards and Erick Evans finished off the Rattlers with a 1 yard touchdown run with 31 seconds remaining in the game.
Smith caught another touchdown pass - this one for 32 yards to give TN State a 23-14 lead. Erick Evans' 1-yard touchdown with 31 seconds to go finishing off the Rattlers 30-14.
**Associated Press Contributed to this Report.
