MKRob Sports

Rattler Nation- All-American LeRoy Vann’s 51-yard punt return for a touchdown sparked a 14-point third quarter blitz, helping FAMU to hold off a determined North Carolina A&T squad, 31-27 in the Rattlers’ 2009 home finale in Bragg Memorial Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Vann’s runback capped the Rattlers’ third quarter rally that allowed them to overcome a 21-17 halftime deficit, setting and tying several school and national records in the process.

• The touchdown return shattered the single-season school record for TD punt returns set in 1988 by Howard Huckaby (4), and his 81 punt return yards Saturday, boosted his 2009 season total to 540 yards, surpassing Huckaby’s season high 478 yards, also established in 1988.

• The TD return for Vann tied an NCAA Division I FCS and MEAC single season high for returns of five (5), set by North Carolina A&T’s Curtis Deloach in 2001.

The AP reports that Vann “holds the FBS career record [for punt returns for a score] along with Texas Tech’s Wes Welker (2000-03) and Oklahoma’s Antonio Perkins (2001-04). Vann also broke the all time FCS career record, formerly held by Northern Iowa’s Kenny Shedd (1989-92) with seven.”

Saturday’s win allowed the Rattlers to remain mathematically alive in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title chase, and keep their at-large NCAA playoff hopes alive as well – should they win their final two games.

QB Curtis Pulley, who had been the leading man for the Rattlers the past several weeks, left the game midway through the third period with a groin injury, but instead of putting a damper on FAMU, the intensity level seemed to soar, as they retook the lead in a four-minute span.

The Rattler Defense, which came up big with a stand in last week’s overtime win at Morgan, stuffed the Aggies on fourth and short in the final minute, prompting a furious reaction from the A&T bench, whose demands for a measurement by the officials fell on deaf ears.

A&T’s try for first down on fourth and two yards from the FAMU 23-yard line came up a yard short thanks to a stop from safety Fabian Wilson.