FAMU football takeaways as win streak over Southern snapped in blowout

No trick-or-treat candy was handed out to the Florida A&M football team on Saturday.The Rattlers lost Saturday's Halloween matchup to Southern 42-14 in the Week 9 Southwestern Athletic Conference rivalry matchup on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium.Southern outgained FAMU 424 to 367 before a Tallahassee crowd of 10,224. FAMU's top player was quarterback Armond Parker. He went 18-for-31 for 263 yards, threw two touchdowns, against two interceptions, including a pick-six. Rattlers wide receiver Corey 'Deuce' Petty II also was productive with seven catches for 118 yards and a touchdown.Southern running back Trey Holly was the star of the show. The SWAC's leading rusher finished with 25 carries for 204 yards and scored two touchdowns.Saturday was FAMU's third straight loss and snapped a six-game head-to-head winning streak over Southern. Beforehand, the Jags last beat the Rattlers in the 2012 Atlanta Football Classic.OffenseRun game woes continued for the Rattlers.They only mustered 87 rushing yards. Parker led with 27 yards. Jamal Hailey led running backs with 20.Turnovers also doomed the Rattlers. Parker threw two interceptions, with one being a 98-yard pick-six to cornerback Michael Williams II. The Rattlers had moved the ball to the two-yard line and called a play action, and Williams made a jump on the football intended for tight end Lawrence Wright IV. The Southern pass rush was coming in hot, as Parker was on the receiving end of a big hit as he threw.On Parker's other interception, the first one of the game, to be exact, receiver Jamar Taylor couldn't get ahold of the reception, and Williams nabbed that one also.FAMU also struggled to extend drives, going 5-for-12 on third down.DefenseWhen teams face FAMU, the key to victory is simple.Run the football.Southern went for 312 yards total. The Jags rarely had to throw the ball, only having nine attempts for 112 yards by quarterback Christian Johnson. Running the ball, Holly was helped primarily by Champ Davis, who had 13 carries for 62 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The Rattler defense couldn't get off the field. Southern converted 11 of 15 third downs.Florida A&M football scores and full 2026 scheduleCurrent record: 2-7, 1-4 in SWACAll times are EasternSaturday, Aug. 29: FAMU 20, Albany State 7Sunday, Sept. 6 (Orange Blossom Classic): South Carolina State 31, FAMU 13Thursday, Sept. 10: Miami 77, FAMU 7Saturday, Sept. 19: Tennessee State 29, FAMU 26Saturday, Sept. 26: Alabama A&M 40, FAMU 21Saturday, Oct. 3: BYEFriday, Oct. 9: FAMU 28, Alabama State 27Saturday, Oct. 17: Jackson State 27, FAMU 17Saturday, Oct. 24 (Homecoming): Arkansas-Pine Bluff 31, FAMU 28Saturday, Oct. 31: Southern 35, FAMU 14Saturday, Nov. 7: at Alcorn State (SWAC), 3 p.m., SWAC TVSaturday, Nov. 14: vs. Mississippi Valley State (SWAC), 3 p.m., SWAC TVSaturday, Nov. 21: vs. Bethune-Cookman (SWAC/Florida Classic), 3:30 p.m., ESPN+Gerald Thomas, III, is a multi-time national award-winning reporter for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat under the USA TODAY Network.Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football takeaways as win streak over Southern snapped in blowout