42 
6 Florida A&M dominated from start to finish, rolling to a 42–6 victory over Bethune-Cookman in the 2009 Florida Classic at the Florida Citrus Bowl. With a relentless rushing attack and a swarming defense, the Rattlers controlled the game in all phases and never allowed the Wildcats to establish momentum.
Running back Philip Sylvester delivered an MVP performance, rushing for 121 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. His effort anchored a FAMU ground game that piled up 268 rushing yards and consistently wore down the Bethune-Cookman defense.
Sylvester opened the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, and the Rattlers blew the game open with a dominant second quarter. Mykel Benson added a 3-yard score, followed by quarterback Martin Ukpai’s 11-yard touchdown run. Ukpai then connected with Kevin Elliott on a 1-yard touchdown pass to give FAMU a commanding 28–0 halftime lead.
The Rattlers continued to apply pressure after the break. Sylvester broke free for a 42-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter, extending the lead to 35–0. Bethune-Cookman finally got on the board in the fourth quarter when Androse Bell punched in a 1-yard touchdown, but the extra point was blocked and the Wildcats’ momentum was short-lived. Eddie Rocker capped the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown plunge late in the game.
Ukpai efficiently guided the FAMU offense, completing 8 of 11 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown while adding a rushing score. Javares Knight led the Rattlers through the air with 64 receiving yards on two catches.
Bethune-Cookman struggled to create sustained offense, finishing with just 83 rushing yards. Maurice Francois led the Wildcats on the ground with 68 yards, while Jevaughn Reams posted 83 receiving yards.
Florida A&M’s powerful run game, balanced offense, and aggressive defense delivered a decisive rivalry win, closing the decade with one of the Rattlers’ most complete performances in the Florida Classic series.