NEW YORK (Interstat) — Thad Franklin Jr. rushed for 122 yards and a game-sealing touchdown with under two minutes to play as Florida A&M survived a furious fourth-quarter rally by Arkansas-Pine Bluff to escape with a 31-28 victory on Saturday at Skidelsky Field at City Park Stadium.

The Rattlers, who led for the entire contest, saw a comfortable 24-7 advantage evaporate in the final period before Franklin’s 47-yard scoring run with 1:46 remaining provided the decisive margin.

Florida A&M improved to 4-5 overall, while Arkansas-Pine Bluff fell to 3-6.

The game was a tale of two halves, dominated early by the Rattlers’ ground game and defense before a dramatic shift in the final 15 minutes. The Golden Lions, held to a single touchdown through the first three quarters, exploded for 21 points in the fourth.

Florida A&M established control with a methodical offensive approach. After Arkansas-Pine Bluff opened the scoring on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Christian Peters to D’Avery Robinson late in the first quarter, the Rattlers responded with 24 unanswered points.

Daniel Porto connected on a 47-yard field goal in the second quarter, and quarterback RJ Johnson III found Jordan Edwards for a 15-yard touchdown pass to give the Rattlers a 17-7 lead at halftime.

Johnson extended the lead in the third quarter, hitting Goldie Lawrence on a 42-yard scoring strike to make it 24-7. Johnson finished an efficient 17 of 25 for 235 yards and two touchdowns.

The momentum swung violently in the fourth quarter. Arkansas-Pine Bluff coach Alonzo Hampton made a quarterback change, inserting DJ Stevenson for a key red-zone play. Stevenson delivered, finding Jaylen Jennings for a 12-yard touchdown pass.

After a Florida A&M punt, Stevenson was back under center and immediately connected with Ellis Stewart on a 31-yard touchdown pass, pulling the Golden Lions within three at 24-21 with 2:54 to play.

The Rattlers appeared to answer on the ensuing drive, but Jamal Hailey’s 53-yard touchdown run was nullified by a holding penalty. The drive stalled, and the Golden Lions took over with a chance to tie or take the lead.

Instead, Franklin broke free for his 47-yard touchdown run, seemingly putting the game out of reach at 31-21.

Peters, who re-entered the game, led a frantic final drive for Arkansas-Pine Bluff, engineering a 69-yard march in just over a minute. He capped it with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Jaxson Isaac with 24 seconds left, cutting the deficit to 31-28.

The Golden Lions’ onside kick attempt was recovered by Florida A&M, allowing Johnson to take a knee and end the game.

Peters was brilliant in the losing effort, completing 26 of 36 passes for 333 yards and three touchdowns, adding 34 yards on 11 carries. His top target was D’Avery Robinson, who caught six passes for 95 yards and a score.

Franklin’s workhorse performance for the Rattlers included 26 carries. Hailey added 76 rushing yards and a late fourth-quarter touchdown on just seven attempts. Lawrence led all Florida A&M receivers with five catches for 95 yards and a touchdown.

The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat, which had simulated a 37-36 Arkansas-Pine Bluff victory, though its ELO system had given Florida A&M a 78.5 percent probability to win.

Florida A&M travels to face Alabama A&M next Saturday. Arkansas-Pine Bluff heads to Prairie View for its next contest.