Rashon Brown’s historic 260-yard performance powers Bethune-Cookman to a statement victory in its SWAC opener.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Alabama State arrived in Daytona Beach carrying lofty preseason expectations. But a late summer Florida monsoon and a historic 260 yard rushing performance by Rashon Brown doused the Hornets in Daytona Stadium.

On the other sideline, BCU was searching for a breakthrough win under head coach Raymond Woodie Jr. They got just that when they beat a team expected to contend for the championship through the strength of a dominant ground game and a great defensive effort.

Brown supplied the headline rushing for 260 yards, which is the third-highest rushing game in BCU history.

The redshirt freshman from Pahokee averaged 8.4 yards per attempt and scored the Wildcats’ only touchdown. His afternoon included explosive runs of 39, 41 and 47 yards.

Bama State knew where the ball was going. But knowing it and stopping it proved to be two different assignments.

All Hail to RJ Brown for his standout performance.

Credit also belongs up front. The Wildcats’ offensive line created opportunities for Brown, he capitalized.

Saturday’s performance reinforced an identity that is becoming difficult to ignore. Bethune leads the conference in rushing offense at 246 yards per game and has scored 15 rushing touchdowns. The Wildcats also lead the SWAC in defensive efficiency.

That combination gives BCU a foundation for winning.

But the numbers also reveal what must improve.

The Wildcats sit at the bottom of the conference in passing offense, averaging just 110 yards per contest. Against the Hornets, Tyler Jefferson finished with just 51 passing yards and an interception.

As one respected coach observed, “Bethune-Cookman is playing winning football with a great running game and great defense. But to play championship football, the Wildcats must find a way to get some production through the air”.

That assessment captures both the promise and the challenge ahead. The Wildcats have established something special in the run game but will need more offensive balance in order to sustain and finish possessions.

In the ASU game, those unfinished possessions helped keep the outcome in doubt when Cookman dominated most of the contest.

It led to an all too familiar scene for the Wildcats. The part that has too often turned promising afternoons into frustrating finishes.

After stretching the lead to 16-3 in the 4th quarter, ASU’s Nehemiah Hixon returned the ensuing BCU kickoff 65 yards, setting up a touchdown that trimmed the lead to six. For some of us, there was a split second of “here we go again”.

But…

Ms. Mary’s Divine Intervention on Founder’s Day

While there was the momentary temptation of doubt for some, others who have been around BCU Football for sometime felt that “thing” we have felt before. You see many Wildcats firmly believe that Ms. Mary McLeod Bethune shines down on her “black roses” as she called them from time to time. In other words, strange, and almost supernatural things happen at times leading you to believe that a higher power sometimes favor “The Church School on Da Beach”🏝️.

Case in point, with 2:22 left in the contest and trailing by 6, ASU faced a 4th and 1 from the BCU 19 yardline. But a botched center to quarterback snap led to a fumble and BCU recover.

Coincidence? Hmm… maybe…but how about this!

The Hornets got one last shot to steal a win with 31 seconds remaining and 81 yards away from the endzone. But again, the ball slipped out of quarterback Aaron Frye’s hand on 1st down leading to a BCU fumble recover.

Perhaps both of these end of game turnovers were just football plays that went wrong.

Perhaps they happened due to the soggy weather conditions. Or the inexperience of ASU’s freshman quarterback.

Or just perhaps it was Ms. Mary shining down on the 122nd Founder’s Day of Bethune-Cookman.

I suppose we will never really know.

What we do know is that this time, the Wildcats held on and finished! And that Raymond Woodie got his first signature win.

Now let’s see if we can stack a few of these wins on top of one another.

Alabama A&M, you’re on the clock!