FAMU quarterback Isaiah Knowles left the Orange Blossom Classic late in the third quarter after taking a hit as he threw the ball away. This is the last thing you want to see when your team is battling, and it immediately puts their comeback plans against South Carolina State in a serious bind.
Knowles Goes Down, Rattlers Need Answers Fast
The graduate student signal-caller went down with an injury to his right throwing hand, which is just brutal for a quarterback. The ESPN broadcast showed Knowles on the sideline, fully dressed, but with trainers taping up his wrist. You never want to see a guy in the tent, and watching them work on his throwing hand? That’s a gut punch, plain and simple. He was already having a tough day, going 7-for-22 for 94 passing yards before he had to leave the game. Those numbers weren’t tearing it up, but losing your starter in the middle of a fight? That changes the whole vibe.
Backup Takes Over as the Clock Ticks Down
With Knowles out, backup Dustin Fletcher was immediately subbed in at quarterback. Fletcher is another graduate student, transferring to FAMU from The Citadel this season. Talk about being thrown into the fire! He’s stepping into a tough spot, with the Rattlers looking at a 28-13 fourth-quarter deficit against South Carolina State. They’ve got to make up some serious ground, and now they’re doing it with a new guy under center who just got here. FAMU did grab a 20-7 win over Albany State back on August 29th, so they know how to get a victory, but this feels like a whole new challenge.
What’s Next for the Rattlers
This is going to be a stressful wait for FAMU fans. The team’s next game is a huge road test against Miami on Thursday, September 10th. If Knowles’ hand injury keeps him sidelined, Fletcher is going to have to step up big time, and fast. The Rattlers need to figure out their QB situation quick if they want to keep their season on track after this early stumble.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply