The 24^th ranked and conference unbeaten Norfolk State Spartans entered Thursday night’s nationally televised contest  boasting the conference’s top offense, number 1 scoring defense, and the conference’s best offensive player through the midpoint of the season in QB Chris Walley. But it was the Wildcats who dominated both sides of the ball and exited Dick Price Stadium with a convincing 14-6 victory.

For the second consecutive week, Junior running back Isidore Jackson set a single game career high with 206 yards rushing on 34 carries.  Jackson’s determined running along with a dominant performance by the Bethune Cookman offensive line helped the Wildcats outgained  Norfolk State on the ground 245 yards to 97.

Jackie Wilson got the start at quarterback for the Wildcats.  Wilson passed for a modest 88 yards on 8 of 16 attempts including a 7 yard touchdown completion to KJ Stroud with 11:56 remaining in the 3^rd quarter.  It was the Rutger’s transfer first td reception in a BCU uniform.  Wilson played the entire game with his throwing hand heavily wrapped.  The nature and severity of Wilson’s injury is unknown but is a reason for concern.  Last week’s starter, David Blackwell, dislocated the thumb on his throwing hand in the contest against Fort Valley State and it is believed that Jamarr Robinson has an undisclosed leg injury which has limited his play and/or availability.

Brian Jenkins and the coaching staff deserve a ton of praise for developing a winning gameplan that protected the Wildcat quarterback given the current injury situation at the position.

The Wildcat’s two touchdowns on the evening came on their opening possession of the game and the opening possession of the second half.  It was all of the scoring the Cats needed on the evening as the Wildcat defense prevented the Spartans from getting into the endzone only yielding two long field goals in the contest.

The Wildcat defensive front-7 dominated the Spartans offense all night.  Defensive End Ryan Davis was quite simply the best player on the field and registered as good of a defensive performance as you will ever witness.  Davis accounted for 3.5 sacks, 11 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery on the evening.  Davis and the Wildcats limited NSU to less than 250 yards of total offense and produced 3 turnovers.  The last of which was a game sealing Dion Hanks interception in the endzone with :50 seconds remaining in the contest.

With the victory on Thursday night, the Wildcats keep their slim hopes alive of winning a share of the 2011 MEAC crown.  BCU will take the field again next Saturday in Durham, NC against upstart North Carolina Central. 

 

Scoring Summary

FIRST QUARTER				COOK	NORF
	TD	04:08	Anthony Jordan 2 Yd Run (Sven Hurd Kick)	7	0
SECOND QUARTER				COOK	NORF
	FG	02:18	Everett Goldberg 50 Yd	7	3
THIRD QUARTER				COOK	NORF
	TD	11:56	Keith Stroud 7 Yd Pass From Jackie Wilson (Sven Hurd Kick)	14	3
	FG	07:27	Everett Goldberg 47 Yd	14	6

Team Stat Comparison

		Bethune-Cook.			Norfolk St
1st Downs		19			16
3rd down efficiency		6-15			5-15
4th down efficiency		0-0			0-0
Total Yards		333			249
Passing		88			152
Comp-Att		8-16			17-28
Yards per pass		5.5			5.4
Rushing		245			97
Rushing Attempts		54			36
Yards per rush		4.5			2.7
Penalties		8-59			6-31
Turnovers		2			3
Fumbles lost		0			2
Interceptions thrown		2			1
Possession		31:40			28:20
Bethune-Cookman Passing
	C/ATT		YDS	AVG		TD	INT
J. Wilson	8/16		88	5.5		1	2
Team	8/16		88	5.5		1	2

 

Norfolk State Passing
	C/ATT		YDS		AVG		TD		INT
C. Walley	14/24		88		3.7		0		1
N. Flores	3/4		64		16.0		0		0
Team	17/28		152		5.4		0		1
Bethune-Cookman Rushing
	CAR	YDS		AVG		TD		LG
I. Jackson	34	206		6.1		0		49
R. Scott	8	34		4.3		0		15
J. Wilson	7	14		2.0		0		15
A. Jordan	2	1		0.5		1		2
-. Team	3	-10		-3.3		0		0
Team	54	245		4.5		1		49

 

Norfolk State Rushing
	CAR		YDS		AVG		TD		LG
T. Hedgeman	16		54		3.4		0		13
K. Lewis	4		44		11.0		0		17
N. Flores	7		16		2.3		0		4
R. Maynes	1		-1		-1.0		0		0
C. Walley	8		-16		-2.0		0		3
Team	36		97		2.7		0		17
Bethune-Cookman Receiving
	REC	YDS		AVG		TD		LG
M. Francois	3	56		18.7		0		29
E. Poole	2	20		10.0		0		14
K. Stroud	1	7		7.0		1		7
P. Harris	1	7		7.0		0		7
R. Scott	1	-2		-2.0		0		0
Team	8	88		11.0		1		29

 

Norfolk State Receiving
	REC		YDS		AVG		TD	LG
X. Boyce	6		76		12.7		0	45
R. Garrett	4		36		9.0		0	14
V. Hairston	4		35		8.8		0	14
K. Johnson	1		3		3.0		0	3
K. Lewis	2		2		1.0		0	2
Team	17		152		8.9		0	45
Bethune-Cookman Interceptions
	INT	YDS		TD
D. Hanks	1	12		0
Team	1	12		0

 

Norfolk State Interceptions
	INT		YDS		TD
R. Volcin	1		0		0
D. Reynolds	1		0		0
Team	2		0		0
Bethune-Cookman Kick Returns
	NO	YDS		AVG			LG
C. Keith	2	39		19.5			26
J. Moss	1	4		4.0			4
Team	3	43		14.3			26

 

Norfolk State Kick Returns
	NO	YDS	AVG	LG
V. Hairston	2	41	20.5	23
M. Cooperwood	1	19	19.0	19
Team	3	60	20.0	23
Bethune-Cookman Punt Returns
	NO	YDS	AVG	LG
P. Cleckley	1	14	14.0	14
C. Wilson	1	0	0.0	0
Team	2	14	7.0	14

 

Norfolk State Punt Returns
	NO		YDS		AVG	LG
M. Cooperwood	2		14		7.0	7
V. Hairston	1		6		6.0	6
Team	3		20		6.7	7
Bethune-Cookman Kicking
	FG	PCT		LONG			XP		PTS
S. Hurd	0/1	0.0		—			2/2		2
Team	0/1	0.0		—			2/2		2

 

Norfolk State Kicking
	FG	PCT		LONG			XP		PTS
E. Goldberg	2/2	100.0		50			0/0		6
Team	2/2	100.0		50			0/0		6
Bethune-Cookman Punting
	TOT		YDS		AVG	TB		-20		LG
K. Kowalski	7		256		36.6	0		3		58
Team	7		256		36.6	0		3		58

 

Norfolk State Punting
	TOT	YDS	AVG	TB	-20	LG
T. Muenzer	7	260	37.1	0	2	51
Team	7	260	37.1	0	2	51