8:00 pm, December 16, 2023
Three minutes after taking the lead vs. Howard, FAMU QB Jeremy Moussa throws a deep 53-yard touchdown pass to Kelvin Dean Jr. So far in the fourth quarter, the Rattlers have scored 14 points and accounted for 109 total yards in comparison to Howard’s five.
7:47 pm, December 16, 2023
After a scoreless third quarter, Florida A&M put up a fight in the fourth as QB Jeremy Moussa threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to running back Kelvin Dean Jr. This is Florida A&M’s first lead of the game.
4th | 13:45
TOUCHDOWN RATTLERS!!
Moussa finds Kelvin Dean Jr. up the seam for six!
FAMU – 17
HU – 16#FAMU | #Rattlers | #OurTime pic.twitter.com/sR3YmHkIi7— Florida A&M Football 🏈 (@FAMU_FB) December 16, 2023
7:40 pm, December 16, 2023
6:32 pm, December 16, 2023
Florida A&M forced its first turnover of the game, intercepting Howard quarterback Quinton Williams on a 4th-and-12. The Rattlers take possession at its own 38-yard line with 2:08 remaining in the second quarter.
6:23 pm, December 16, 2023
Howard’s defense got its third turnover of the game and first interception as defensive end Ian White dropped back in coverage to intercept Jeremy Moussa.
6:19 pm, December 16, 2023
Howard defensive end Darrian Brokenburr sacked Jeremy Moussa in the endzone to add two points to its lead. The score is the first safety in the eight-year history of the Cricket Celebration Bowl.
🚨HOWARD SAFETY!!!🚨 #CelebrationBowl pic.twitter.com/v6EuOgNjXc
— Video from: @TSV__1 (@TSV__1) December 16, 2023
6:05 pm, December 16, 2023
After a scoreless first quarter Florida A&M scored its points of the Celebration Bowl as running back ran in for a three-yard touchdown. The Rattlers scored in nine plays after great field position because Howard shanked a 32-yard punt.
2nd | 13:20
TOUCHDOWN RATTLERS!
Terrell Jennings runs right up the middle through the defense for six.
FAMU – 7
HU – 14#FAMU | #Rattlers | #OurTime pic.twitter.com/KbOw911UIV— Florida A&M Football 🏈 (@FAMU_FB) December 16, 2023
5:53 pm, December 16, 2023
Howard leads Florida A&M 14-0 after a strong first quarter. The Bison scored quickly after a 63-yard kickoff return from Ian Wheeler set them up with great field position. Shortly after, Jarett Hunter ran in for an eight-yard score to get the Howard on the board.
Howard strikes 1st in the @CelebrationBowl pic.twitter.com/UClHsbm0OV
— Marcus Matthews (@GOOCHAVELI) December 16, 2023
Howard’s defense has been flying around the ball in the first quarter constantly getting pressure on SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, Florida A&M quarterback Jeremy Moussa, That included a sack-fumble that led to Howard’s second score. Florida A&M had a sack-fumble of its own, but the play was overturned after a facemask.
FAMU with the scoop and score but there’s a face mask on the Rattlers pic.twitter.com/fQ1I0omjkm
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) December 16, 2023
Despite Florida A&M’s offensive struggles in the first quarter, the Rattlers will open the second quarter with the ball at the Howard 14-yard line facing 1st-and-10. Click or tap here for stats from the game.
5:25 pm, December 16, 2023
The Bison score again five minutes into the first quarter after Howard’s Kasey Hawthorne avoids the Dark Cloud Defense for a three-yard rushing TD.
Five minutes in and the Bison take a 14-0 lead pic.twitter.com/dV8aqNMt1e
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) December 16, 2023
5:17 pm, December 16, 2023
After FAMU’s QB Jeremy Moussa is taken down by the Bison defense, Howard’s Carson Hinton finds an opportunity and recovers; placing the ball back in the hands of the Bison.
WHAT A START FOR THE BISON pic.twitter.com/X70Uz5lts7
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) December 16, 2023
5:10 pm, December 16, 2023
After running back Ian Wheeler returned the opening kickoff 63 yards, Howard scored the first points of the Celebration Bowl as Jarett Hunter ran up the middle for an eight-yard rushing touchdown.
Howard strikes 1st in the @CelebrationBowl pic.twitter.com/UClHsbm0OV
— Marcus Matthews (@GOOCHAVELI) December 16, 2023
4:58 pm, December 16, 2023
3:34 pm, December 15, 2023
The Celebration Bowl is a day away. The teams have arrived in Atlanta and graced the field for one last practice.
Famu football touched down at Mercedes Benz Stadium for their last practice before the Celebration Bowl tomorrow 🎉 pic.twitter.com/wL73WEnhjE
— Maya Ellison (@themayaellison) December 15, 2023
Howard football hits the field for its final practice before the Celebration Bowl tomorrow 🏈 pic.twitter.com/7N6Ib4MeCe
— Maya Ellison (@themayaellison) December 15, 2023
1:17 am, December 5, 2023
1:04 am, December 5, 2023
Here are some of the top storylines and players to watch entering this year’s Celebration Bowl.
Storylines
- First-time winner
- We’ll have a first-time Celebration Bowl champion in 2023 as Florida A&M and Howard are both making their first appearance in the game.
- Old Rivals
- Former MEAC rivals Florida A&M and Howard are meeting for the first time since 2019 after the Rattlers left for the SWAC. Florida A&M leads the all-time series 29-11, dating back to 1993.
- Elite
- The 2023 Celebration Bowl features the top-two dual-gender HBCUs (per US News and World Reports) in Howard and Florida A&M, respectively. Both schools are top-five HBCUs by enrollment and have large, wide-spread alumni bases, making the schools two of the biggest brands in all of HBCU football.
- Coaching
- Florida A&M enters with the 2023 SWAC Coach of the Year Willie Simmons. Howard enters with head coach Larry Scott, winner of back-to-back MEAC titles with only three full seasons at the helm.
- Jordan vs. LeBron
- One of the top debates in sports adds a new chapter in the Celebration Bowl. Howard, a Jordan Brand sponsored school, faces Florida A&M, a LeBron Brand sponsored school.
2023 Games: 2023 MEAC/SWAC Challenge | Orange Blossom Classic | History of every HBCU classic
Players to Watch
Here are some players to watch from Florida A&M.
- SWAC Offensive Player of the Year: QB Jeremy Moussa | Florida A&M
- SWAC Defensive Player of the Year: LB Isaiah Major | Florida A&M
- 1st Team | QB Jeremy Moussa
- 1st Team | OL Cameron Covin
- 1st Team | DL Anthony Dunn Jr.
- 1st Team | LB Isaiah Major
- 1st Team | DB Kendall Bohler
- 1st Team | DB Eric Smith
- 1st Team | K Cameron Gillis
- 2nd Team | OL Ashton Grable
- 2nd Team | WR Jah’Marae Sheread
- 2nd Team | WR Marcus Riley
- 2nd Team | DL Gentle Hunt
- 2nd Team | LB Johnny Chaney Jr.
- 2nd Team | DB Lovie Jenkins
All-HBCU: The top HBCU football players, by position, from the 2023 season
Here are some players to watch from Howard.
MEAC Defensive Player of the Year: S Kenny Gallop Jr. | Howard
- 1st Team | WR Kasey Hawthrone
- 1st Team | OL Anim Dankwah
- 1st Team | OL Da’Metrius Weatherspoon
- 1st Team | DL Darrian Brokenburr
- 1st Team | LB Terrance Hollon
- 1st Team | DB Kenny Gallop Jr.
- 1st Team | P Aaron Bickerton
- 2nd Team | QB Quinton Williams
- 2nd Team | RB Eden James
- 2nd Team | RB Jarett Hunter
- 2nd Team | OL Darius Fox
- 2nd Team | DL Jamel Stewart
- 2nd Team | DB Carson Hinton
- 2nd Team | K Aaron Bickerton
- 2nd Team | RS Ian Wheeler