It’s the Monday after the 2025 Florida Classic and I’m just now typing out this wrap-up. Not because I’m short on words or emotion. It’s the opposite. I’ve spent the last two days trying to sort through the highs, the lows, the despair, the delirium, the absolute emotional whiplash that this game dropped on all of us. I’m still not sure I’m ready to capture that roller coaster in writing, but here goes.
For the past decade, my wife and I have made it our business to bring someone new to the Florida Classic each year. It’s a personal ministry at this point despite the fact that our Bethune-Cookman Wildcats had dropped four in a row heading into Saturday’s game.
The Florida Classic(S), as some pronounce it, is one of the premier Black cultural events in the state of Florida. It just has to be experienced! From the trash talk within families, offices, churches, sororities and fraternities; to the food vendors lined up on Tampa Avenue. From the excellence of The Marching Wildcats and The Marching 100; to the barbs thrown at the other school at the luncheon the day prior to the game. It’s all amazing.
But as great as all of those things are, nothing…and I mean nothing tops a dramatic football moment in this extravaganza. On Saturday night we got all the dramatics we could handle.
There were four lead changes and thirty-two points scored in the fourth quarter alone. Punch. Counter punch. Kick. Counter kick. One moment you’re talking trash, the next you’re feeling like trash.
THE SWINGING OF EMOTIONS
BCU dominated the first half and took a 24–9 lead into halftime. Wildcat fans were floating higher than those seven hills we always hear about. But FAMU opened the second half with a touchdown to cut it to 24–16. Then came a pair of missed BCU field goals, followed by a made FAMU field goal to make it 24–19 with 8:51 left in the fourth quarter.
At this point, Wildcat fans were feeling tight. And I mean, tight-tight.
A quick BCU three-and-out opened the door, and FAMU kicked it in. One play later, a 72 yard Jamal Hailey run up the gut, felt like a kick in the gut. The two-point conversion was successful and suddenly the Rattlers were up 27–24. For the first time in probably a month, the thought occurred to me that Cookman might actually lose this ballgame.
I was flabbergasted. Shook. Nervous.
My wife and I’s first-time Classic guest asked, “what just happened?”
On the inside I was asking the same thing. But with clinched teeth and a tight stomach I uttered: “there’s still over 7 minutes left. A lot can happen.”
BON-BON LIGHTS UP THE NIGHT
BCU got the ball back and on 2nd and 5, with both bands blasting, something special happened. Timmy McClain hit Javon “Bon-Bon” Ross on a short crosser. Bon-Bon hit the brakes, reverse-pivoted, dropped two Rattlers flat to the ground, outran another, and raced 67 yards up the FAMU sideline directly towards their band for a highlight reel touchdown.
31–27, Cats. All is well in the world again.
I exhaled 4-years worth of Classic stress in one breath. Surely, surely, that was enough excitement for the night and BCU had this game won right?
Nope. Not yet at least.
THE SWING… AGAIN
FAMU marched right back. On 3rd and 10 from the BCU 29, the defense came up with what looked like a massive stop. But a questionable holding call on CB Johnny Harris III extended the drive. One play later, Thad Franklin punched it in. Cats down 34–31 with 2:19 left.
I’d seen this movie. Twice this season— Grambling and Jackson State—similar situation, similar heartbreak. I told myself to accept the L. Five straight to FAMU? The dark clouds were rising.
The bands struck up again: The 100 playing “Hey Let’s Go,” the Marching Wildcats blasting “Vice Versa.”
Me? I was playing sad songs in my head.
Sack on first down against BCU.
My sad playlist turned into a depressed playlist.
Incomplete on 2nd and 20.
Stomach now in my socks and I am speaking in strange tongues trying to keep it all together.
On 3rd and 20, McClain found Rickie Shaw for 17 yards—just enough to make 4th down manageable. The Cats converted and hope reentered my body.
THE MOMENT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Fifty-five seconds later: 4th and 8 from the FAMU 41.
A first down puts you in field goal range. No first down and it’s over. Simple math.
McClain drops back. The safe throw is there. He passes it up. He looks deep… and he finds a WIDE OPEN Josh Evans streaking untouched down the BCU sideline.
Forty-one yards. Touchdown.
Twenty-eight seconds left.
UN.
FREAKING.
BELIEVABLE.
BCU 38, FAMU 34. Final.
Our first-time guest was crying. Offensive Coordinator Donte Pimpleton was crying. Half the stadium was crying—some from heartbreak, some from pure joy. Depends on which colors you were rocking.
THE LOCAL KIDS WHO OWNED THE MOMENT
McClain and Evans—two Central Florida Area kids transferred to BCU to be closer to home. Playing in front of their people; in the biggest game of the year; they are now forever etched into the lore of this rivalry.
McClain called it “an out-of-body experience” in the postgame presser. No lie detected.
As for our guest? She rated it a 10 out of 10 experience. Said it was way better than advertised. Said she’ll be back every year.
That’s what this event is about. Abject agony for some; utter joy for others. Lasting memories for all.
The 2025 edition…An Instant Classic Florida Classic.
| Qtr | Time | Scoring Play | FAM | BCU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 08:33 | FAM – Porto,Daniel 45 yd field goal 7 plays, 36 yards, TOP 04:22 | 3 | 0 |
| 1st | 04:38 | BCU – Jenkins,Lorenzo 25 yd pass from McClain,Timmy (Dominguez,Juan kick) 7 plays, 61 yards, TOP 03:28 | 3 | 7 |
| 2nd | 13:31 | BCU – Dominguez,Juan 30 yd field goal 7 plays, 43 yards, TOP 03:38 | 3 | 10 |
| 2nd | 06:52 | BCU – Robinson,Khamani 50 yd run (Dominguez,Juan kick), 1 plays, 50 yards, TOP 00:10 | 3 | 17 |
| 2nd | 04:04 | FAM – Burris,Armand 44 yd pass from Johnson III,RJ ( ) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:48 | 9 | 17 |
| 2nd | 00:23 | BCU – Huggins,Maleek 7 yd pass from McClain,Timmy (Dominguez,Juan kick) 10 plays, 90 yards, TOP 03:33 | 9 | 24 |
| 3rd | 11:56 | FAM – Burris,Armand 17 yd pass from Johnson III,RJ (Porto,Daniel kick) 8 plays, 68 yards, TOP 02:58 | 16 | 24 |
| 4th | 08:49 | FAM – Porto,Daniel 37 yd field goal 10 plays, 62 yards, TOP 03:55 | 19 | 24 |
| 4th | 07:47 | FAM – Hailey,Jamal 72 yd run (Lawrence,Goldie pass), 1 plays, 72 yards, TOP 00:12 | 27 | 24 |
| 4th | 07:03 | BCU – Ross,Javon 67 yd pass from McClain,Timmy (Dominguez,Juan kick) 2 plays, 72 yards, TOP 00:36 | 27 | 31 |
| 4th | 02:19 | FAM – Franklin, Jr.,Thad 19 yd run (Porto,Daniel kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:43 | 34 | 31 |
| 4th | 00:20 | BCU – Evans,Josh 41 yd pass from McClain,Timmy (Dominguez,Juan kick) 8 plays, 70 yards, TOP 01:52 | 34 | 38 |
| 34 | 38 |
| Statistic | FAM | BCU |
|---|---|---|
| First Downs | ||
| Total | 22 | 23 |
| Rushing | 10 | 10 |
| Passing | 9 | 8 |
| Penalty | 3 | 5 |
| Rushing | ||
| Total (Net) | 195 | 211 |
| Attempts | 25 | 34 |
| Avg. Per Rush | 7.8 | 6.2 |
| Rushing TDs | 2 | 1 |
| Yds. Gained | 225 | 244 |
| Yds. Lost | 30 | 33 |
| Passing | ||
| Total (Net) | 228 | 274 |
| Comp.-Att.-Int. | 22-35-0 | 22-33-0 |
| Avg. / Att. | 6.5 | 8.3 |
| Avg. / Comp. | 10.4 | 12.5 |
| TDs | 2 | 4 |
| Total Offense | ||
| Yards | 423 | 485 |
| Plays | 60 | 67 |
| Avg. / Play | 7 | 7.2 |
| Fumbles – Lost | 1-1 | 2-1 |
| Penalties – Yds. | 7-70 | 9–90 |
| Punting | ||
| Punts – Yds. | 4–177 | 3-146 |
| Avg. / Punt | 44.2 | 48.7 |
| Inside 20 | 1 | 1 |
| 50+ Yds. | 1 | 2 |
| Touchbacks | 0 | 1 |
| Fair Catch | 2 | 0 |
| Kickoffs | ||
| Total – Yds. | 7-394 | 7-434 |
| Avg. Yds. / Kickoff | 56.3 | 62.0 |
| Touchbacks | 1 | 2 |
| Returns | ||
| Punt: Total – Yds. – TDs | 1-0-0 | 1-21-0 |
| Punt: Avg. / Return | 0.0 | 21.0 |
| Kickoff: Total – Yds. – TDs | 2-44-0 | 6–138-0 |
| Kickoff: Avg. / Return | 22.0 | 23.0 |
| INT: Total – Yds. – TDs | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 |
| Fumble: Total – Yds. – TDs | 0-0-0 | 1–5-0 |
| Miscellaneous | ||
| Misc. Yards | 0 | 0 |
| Poss. Time | 28:19 | 31:41 |
| 3rd. Down Conv. | 3 of 10 | 4 of 12 |
| 4th. Down Conversions | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
| Red-Zone: Scores – Chances | 4–4 | 3-3 |
| Sacks: Total – Yds. | 3-25 | 4-23 |
| PAT: Total – Made | 2-3 | 5–5 |
| 2PT Conversion: Total – Made | 1–1 | 0-0 |
| Field Goals: Total – Made | 2-2 | 1-3 |
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