Tennessee St. 17, Florida A&amp,M 14

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee State built a 17-0 lead, then survived a second-half Florida A&M rally to defeat the Rattlers 17-14 Saturday night in a nonconference opener for both teams. Behind quarterback Michael Germain, Tennessee led 17-0 in the third quarter. Germain, who completed 22 of 32 passes for 265 yards, had hit Devin Wilson for a 22-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Jamin Godfrey 's 38-yard field goal increased the lead to 10-0 early in the third and Trabis Ward scored on a 6-yard run. That's when Florida A&M mounted its comeback. Tyler Bass got the Rattlers on the board with a 17-yard scoring run in the third quarter. Then quarterback Damien Fleming pulled them within three points with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Michael Etheridge in the fourth quarter. But Tennessee State prevailed. Fleming finished with 102 yards rushing and 119 passing.