FAMU football's Dark Cloud Defense boosts Rattlers to first HBCU Celebration Bowl victory
ATLANTA ― There’s a celebration coming to the Highest of Seven Hills.
Led by its Dark Cloud Defense, Florida A&M won the program's first HBCU Celebration Bowl, beating Howard 30-26 Saturday to claim the Black College Football National Championship.
With FAMU’s offense getting off to a slow start, the defense kept the game close until a fourth-quarter offensive explosion.
A interception from Southwestern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, All-American linebacker Isaiah Major with less than two minutes remaining sealed the victory for the 12-1 Rattlers.
The win is the Rattlers' first outright Black College Football National Championship since 2001.
FAMU recorded interceptions by Major and defensive backs Kendall Bohler and Deco Wilson.
The Rattlers have forced a turnover in 12 of their 13 games.
“When you get into clutch situations, you kind of know what the offense is going to present to you,” Major said. “They got limited time, so they are trying to move the ball fast to save as much time as possible. I went with my hunch and just made a play on the ball, and God allowed me to come up with the interception.”
Major’s play earned him Celebration Bowl Defensive Most Valuable Player, with his six tackles and interception helping lead the Rattler defense that allowed FAMU to stay in the game at times.
Throughout the season, FAMU found itself in similar positions to the one it was in on Saturday, in a tight game after a slow start in the first half. Despite that, Major knew the team could handle the moment and return to its best form.
“We’ve had lulls in the season where we’ve had to fight back and make things happen,” Major said. “We’ve seen it before, and we’ve practiced and been well coached on it. It was easy to get back to who we are and play Rattler football.”
FAMU head coach Willie Simmons felt his team was prepared for the game but needed to shake off some of the “championship jitters” in the first half. After a three-and-out on the third quarter’s first drive, the Rattlers never looked back en route to victory.
“We just had to get out our own way in that first half and settle down. Once we were able to do that, we came out and played some really good football," Simmons said. "We’ve been a second-half team all season outside of the Orange Blossom Classic, but that’s the way we train. Trying to be the better-conditioned team and the team that is able to be the last team standing.”
Once the Rattlers took the lead for the final time, Simmons was confident his defense would come up with a stop and seal FAMU’s first Celebration Bowl victory.
“When we scored that last touchdown, I looked at the clock and said, ‘We put it in our defense’s hands.’ I relaxed and took a deep breath,” Simmons said. “I knew those guys would stand up and answer the call like they’ve done all season.”
FAMU Black College Football National Championship Seasons
1938 Black College National Champions William M. Bell 8–0 SIAC
1942 Black College National Champions William M. Bell 9–0 SIAC
1950 Black College National co-champions Jake Gaither 8–1–1 SIAC
1952 Black College National Champions Jake Gaither 8–2 SIAC
1953 Black College National co-champions Jake Gaither 10–1 SIAC
1954 Black College National co-champions Jake Gaither 8–1 SIAC
1957 Black College National Champions Jake Gaither 9–0 SIAC
1959 Black College National Champions Jake Gaither 10–0 SIAC
1961 Black College National Champions Jake Gaither 10–0 SIAC
1962 Black College National co-champions Jake Gaither 9–1 SIAC
1977 Black College National Champions Rudy Hubbard 11–0 SIAC
1978 Black College National Champions Rudy Hubbard 12–1 SIAC
1998 Black College National co-champions Billy Joe 11–2 MEAC
2001 Black College National co-champions Billy Joe 7–4 MEAC
2019 Black College National co-champions Willie Simmons 9–2 MEAC
2023 Black College National Champions Willie Simmons 12–1 SWAC
Compiled from FAMU football on Wikipedia
Liam Rooney covers preps sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU's Dark Cloud Defense leads Rattlers to 1st Celebration Bowl win
