FAMU football holds first fall scrimmage

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) - For the first time this fall, the Florida A&M Rattlers got under the lights of Bragg Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Coach Quinn Gray put his team on Ken Riley Field for the first of two scrimmages before the season begins.

It was a back and forth day for the orange and green with both offense and defense having its moments. The Rattlers offense struck on the opening drive as QB Isaiah Knowles found running back Jamal Hailey who dashed into the end zone on a screen pass.

Not to be outdone, the front of the “dark cloud defense” made its presence known on the ensuing drive as Xavier Perkins and a host of FAMU linemen recorded a sack at midfield.

“We do all our hard work during the week and usually on Saturday’s we just react and have fun,” continues Knowles on the high energy and celebrations of Saturday’s scrimmage. “We’re going to be very well prepared, the coaches are going to have us ready to go on Saturday’s so we’re smiling, out here having fun, celebrating and letting loose because at the end of the day, it’s just a game. It’s football.”

Of course, the man the Rattlers needed to impress was Coach Gray himself, who seemed pleased overall with his team. The former Florida A&M great is hoping that the offense showing flashes in a first scrimmage which is traditionally dominated by the defense shows signs that the unit is ahead of schedule. Still, the first year coach of the Rattlers wants to see some things improve by next scrimmage, including pre-snap penalties.

“We can’t have those drive killers especially when we’re moving the ball, having drives going and then have a false start,” said Gray of what he considers unwarranted penalties. “I can accept aggressive penalties. Holding to keep the quarterback from getting hit, a block in the back by mistake or something like that, but a false start when you know what the snap count is? I can’t take that.”

Florida A&M opens the season for real at Bragg on August 29th hosting the Albany State Golden Rams.

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