GeeQ Sports: FAMU Orange and Green Game Recap

The annual orange and green game took place Saturday, April 19, where the orange (offense) defeated the green (defense) 30-27 in a scrimmage-style scoring system. Points were distrupited in the same fashion as a usual collegiate football game, touchdowns, field goals and extra points. But, the defense gained three points for each three-and-out, interception and fumble recovery.

Montavious Williams' 35-yard TD rec Courtesy, FAMUathletics

With the presumed starting running back Demond Buice resting, Willie Oralus was FAMU's leading rusher with 77 yards on nine carries. Returning walk-on running back Omari Albert was right behind Oralus, rushing for 60 yards on eight carries and Willie Thomas had 50 on eight.

The big receiver Casey Glines had a productive day with three catches for 41 yards and a touchdown. Local product, Montavious Williams of Godby High school, burst onto the scene with 69 yards on three catches with a TD.

Head coach Earl Holmes was pleased with his team this spring. He got the opportunity to see everyone in game-like situations, and he believes he found the answers to some serious questions.

“Anytime you’re going out and competing against each other… it’s going to make the team better,” Holmes said. “(We) gave everybody a fair look and evaluation, and we (saw) who really wants it."

One answer Holmes does not have is who is going to be the team’s starting signal caller.

After staring quarterback Damien Fleming concluded an unimpressive season with a foot injury, redshirt freshman Carson Royal stepped in the last two games finishing 1-1 as a starter.

With Fleming still nursing his injury, Royal got the start in the spring. Royal completed 6 out of 11 for 115 yards and a TD

“Carson led us (today), of course we miss Damien, but we can’t repeat what happened last year, this year,” Holmes said.

But, the starting quarterback position is still up for grabs as the team acquired two transfer quarterbacks, Shazzon Mumphrey and Brian Blackburn, and the Rattlers are still anticipating Fleming’s return.

After seeing Royal and his two new guys in action, I'm sure Holmes values all of his quarterbacks, but he, probably, values the competition even more.

“He (Royal) finished on a good note, but at the same time we got some guys behind him, and they’re inching to play too,” Holmes said. “Everybody is only one play away from playing so it’s good to have depth.”

In addition to the competition at QB, Holmes’ defense has a few positional battles, with the game tied at three, the green broke away with a fumble recovery that was housed by Neal Cunningham, a redshirt freshman safety.

“When I seen that ball come out, I was thinking score, score, score,” Cunningham said.

Although Cunningham made a big play from a position that lost three top players to graduation, John Ojo, Jonathan Pillow and Devan Roberts, he is still fighting for FAMU’s starting safety position.

“I’m still working on solidifying my position, that’s my first main goal,” Cunningham said.

Sean D - Preseason 2013