FINAL
29 
14 GAME LEADERS
1 TD
1 TD
1 TD
1 TD
November 20, 1982
Florida A&M capitalized on four interceptions and a dominant fourth quarter to pull away from Bethune-Cookman, earning a 29–14 victory in the 1982 Florida Classic at Tampa Stadium.
The first quarter passed scoreless before FAMU struck first in the second. Nathaniel Koonce delivered a 44-yard touchdown pass to Ray Alexander, giving the Rattlers a 6–0 lead after the missed extra point. Koonce added to the advantage later in the half with a 3-yard touchdown run, though the two-point attempt was unsuccessful. FAMU carried a 12–0 lead into halftime.
Bethune-Cookman tightened the game early in the third quarter when Collins scored on a 3-yard run, cutting the margin to 12–7 following the Dennis Daniels PAT. But the Rattlers responded with a key drive of their own, as Frank Middleton powered across the goal line from a yard out. Koonce then connected on a two-point pass to push the lead to 20–7.
FAMU’s defense quickly added to the momentum. A safety extended the advantage to 22–7, and after Bethune-Cookman closed the gap with a 14-yard touchdown pass from C.B. Collins to Darryl Crane, the Rattlers delivered the dagger. Billy Rolle jumped a route and returned an interception 13 yards for a touchdown, sealing the 29–14 victory.
Despite being outgained 258–219, FAMU controlled the game through takeaways, intercepting four passes. Jones anchored the Rattlers’ running game with 89 yards on 17 carries, while Koonce threw for 60 yards and added a rushing score.
Bethune-Cookman found most of its success through the air, with Crane posting a standout performance of 122 yards on eight receptions. Collins completed 15 of 20 passes for 162 yards and one touchdown but was hindered by multiple interceptions.
FAMU’s late surge and opportunistic defense proved decisive, giving the Rattlers another rivalry win in the long-running series.