TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) LeRoy Vann's punt return for a score
tied two NCAA records to lead Florida A&M to a 31-27 win over North
Carolina A&T on Saturday.
Vann's 51-yard touchdown on a punt return in the third quarter
was the senior's fifth of the season and his eighth career punt
return for a score. He tied both the NCAA single-season and career
records, along with setting the Football Championship Subdivision
record for career returns.
Vann now shares the Football Bowl Subdivision and FCS records
for single-season punt return touchdowns with Hawaii's Chad Owens
(2004) and North Carolina A&T's Curtis DeLoatch (2001).
He holds the FBS career record 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.
The record-setting return gave Florida A&M (7-2, 5-1 Mid-Eastern
Athletic Conference) a 31-21 lead that they wouldn't relinquish in
the final frame. Vann finished with 81 punt return yards and 51
yards on kickoff returns.
Rattlers quarterback Curtis Pulley threw a 16-yard touchdown
pass and scored on a 22-yard run before leaving the game in the
third quarter with a groin injury.
Pulley finished 9-for-17 with 145 yards and added 79 yards
rushing on seven carries. The Rattlers' Isaac West caught six
passes for 111 yards.
Lewis Kindle threw two touchdown passes and scored on a 7-yard
run for North Carolina A&T (5-5, 3-4). He finished 16-for-30 with
206 yards and an interception. Dontavious Payne rushed for 59 yards
on 22 carries and one touchdown for the Aggies.
Florida A&M won despite committing six turnovers, missing two
field goals and having another kick blocked.
The Rattlers have now won five straight in the all time series,
which they also lead 41-11-2.
(Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)