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ORLANDO - One play should not define Florida A&M quarterback Ben Dougherty's season. But it is a play Rattler fans may never forget.
With FAMU clinging to a 35-32 lead with three minutes left at the Florida Citrus Bowl, trying to run the clock down, Dougherty took the shotgun snap, rolled right and threw to receiver Rod Miller.
Or to where he thought Miller would be. Instead, the ball flew past Miller to Bethune-Cookman's Tor-El Robinson, who was waiting at the sideline for the interception. B-CC drove to the winning score, as Tampa Catholic product Allen Suber threw an 18-yard TD to Eric Weems with 9.8 seconds left in the Wildcats' 39-35 victory Saturday night.
Afterward, Dougherty, the first white player to start at quarterback for the historically black college, took full blame for giving B-CC new life.
"Rod did the right thing," he said. "They were in a zone. Rod hooked it, and I thought he was running an out and the defensive guy was right there. Rod did the right thing. I made a bad play."
But he wasn't the only one. Five turnovers allowed the Wildcats to overcome an 18-point halftime deficit. But FAMU still had a chance to run the clock out until that interception. After the game, Dougherty sat silently at the 5-yard line on one knee until Suber came over to comfort him.
It was Dougherty's ninth interception of the season. But it shouldn't be the play that defines his season. The Rattlers started the year without the usual replenishment of talent from transfers. The NCAA declared 20 transfers ineligible, including quarterbacks from Clemson and Arkansas State, because the school was no longer a Division I-AA team - it moved up to provisional I-A status.
Without them, it fell to Dougherty to carry coach Billy Joe's quarterback-dependent Gulf Coast Offense. Despite being knocked out of the loss at Florida, Dougherty overcame injury to complete 234-of-368 for 2,497 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also rushed for 674 yards and eight TDs to help FAMU to six wins.
In the Florida Classic, the biggest game of his career, Dougherty was nearly flawless until the interception. He completed 24-of-37 for a personal-best 354 yards and two touchdowns to give FAMU a 28-10 lead at the half.
In fact, Joe said Dougherty was the only reason FAMU was competitive with B-CC that night.
"He was playing extremely well, he had a great football game," Joe said. "He threw the interception in our territory and that hurt us, but he played a great game. The difference between this year's team and last year (when FAMU lost 37-10 to B-CC) was the quarterback. Last year we had a walk-on quarterback, and this year we had a good scholarship one."
GIVING THANKS: Happy Thanksgiving, UCF.The Golden Knights still are reeling from the firing of coach Mike Kruczek and a 21-7 loss Nov.19 to Marshall at the Citrus Bowl in interim coach Alan Gooch's first game. Friday at 1 p.m., UCF (3-8) hosts No.15 Miami of Ohio (10-1), which has clinched a berth in the MAC championship. The RedHawks are 241/2-point favorites.
But Gooch said the Knights should still be thrilled to play.
"Everybody that suited up for us in August, they signed up for 12 games, so we're going to finish this season," Gooch said. "We have a good group of seniors that certainly deserve every effort by everyone on our team.
"We love what we do, so we're really excited to go out and play Miami of Ohio over Thanksgiving weekend."
HOME FOR THE PLAYOFFS: Bethune-Cookman, ranked No.15 in the Sports Network I-AA poll, will host its first home playoff game at 1 p.m. Saturday against No.14 Florida Atlantic at Municipal Stadium. Last year, B-CC made its first I-AA playoff appearance. This year FAU does.