In what can only be explained as an instant classic, South Carolina State overcame a 21-0 halftime deficit to outscore the Prairie View Panthers 40-17 in the second half and four overtime periods to win the thrilling 2025 Cricket Celebration Bowl 40-38 in front of a crowd of 26,708.

The Bulldogs (10-3) were led to victory by reserve quarterback Ryan Stubblefield who was inserted after starting quarterback William “Billy” Atkins, IV sustained a shoulder injury late in the second quarter that would sideline him for the duration of the game. Stubblefield immediately came in and engineered five scoring drives including the game winning two point conversion to running back Tyler Smith en route to Celebration Bowl MVP honors. The graduate quarterback from Houston, TX finished the game 15-29 for 234 yards with two touchdown passes and an interception. The moment was full circle for the signal caller as he was one of the few returning players from last year’s Celebration Bowl defeat to Jackson State.

Not to be outdone, Prairie View (10-4) was paced by quarterback Cameron Peters, who accounted for 447 yards of total offense (412 passing, 35 rushing) and five touchdowns to keep the SWAC Champions in the game until the very last play. The Panthers outgained the Bulldogs 491 to 357, but in the end, it was the assertiveness and championship experience of Stubblefield that proved to be the difference.

Quick Hits

The Controversial Call Heard Round the World

In a call that is sure to be talked about and debated for the foreseeable future, in the fourth overtime period Stubblefield threw a pass to Tyler Smith that was ruled a successful two-point conversion as the running back stretched his arms over the pylon. The side judge standing right where the play was happening ruled the conversion successful, however upon instant replay, it appeared Smith never crossed the goal line and/or pylon with the football. After review, the call was upheld and gave SC State a 40-38 advantage, much to the chagrin of the Prairie View fans and supporters. On the ensuing two point try, Peters was tackled by a host of Bulldogs attempting a quarterback keeper that secured the victory for SC State. Almost immediately, fans and supporters took to social media to express their views on whether the play was a successful try or not, even having former FAMU and current FIU head football coach Willie Simmons chiming in and offering his thoughts. In a game where the margins were razor thin, the Bulldogs were again able to rise to the challenge and secure the victory.

Cameron Peters Shines on the biggest stage

Although Prairie View suffered a heartbreaking loss, quarterback Cam Peters put on an offensive masterclass. The senior signal caller from Missouri City, TX was 24-36 for 412 yards and four touchdown passes along with nine carries for 35 yards and a score en route to shattering a Celebration Bowl record for most passing yards in a game. For the season Peters finished his season with 2,798 yards and 23 touchdown passes with seven interceptions.

Stubblefield’s Redemption

Graduate quarterback Ryan Stubblefield was thrust into action late in the second quarter and delivered an amazing performance en route to Celebration Bowl MVP honors going 15-29 for 234 yards with two touchdowns as well as a rushing touchdown on 28 yards. The Houston, TX native, who ironically grew up in the backyard of Prairie View’s campus, proved to be the difference maker in the game for the Bulldogs. 

Mr. Reliable delivers again

Every time the Bulldogs needed an offensive spark, it seemed that the ball kept going to Jordan Smith. The senior wideout from Clover, SC finished his game as a Bulldog with nine catches for 152 yards and two touchdown receptions along with 28 yards rushing and a touchdown. Smith is also the only active player on the SCSU roster that was a member of the 2021 Celebration Bowl team which means he will be the only Bulldog with two Celebration Bowl rings in his coffers.

All in all, this was arguably the best Celebration Bowl since inception to include the pageantry, ebbs and flows of the game, as well as the greatest comeback in the bowl’s history. If you were one of the many outside of the 26,708 fans and supporters that attended, you truly missed a game for the ages. 

Final Thoughts

To the fans and supporters of the SWAC and MEAC; come out and support your respective institutions! These teams have come out to represent their respective conferences and whether your team is there or not, the Celebration Bowl is more than just a game. It’s an opportunity for all of our respective schools to come together in the “Black Mecca” to celebrate the accomplishments of our schools, fanbases and bands, respectively. 

The 2025 edition of the Florida Blue Florida Classic will kickoff this weekend. Players from both schools will look to add their names to the lore of their respective schools by having a “Classic Moment.”

Before the next hero arises, let’s take a look back at some of the more memorable moments in Florida Classic history.

Memorable Florida Classic Moments

1978 – Florida A&M trailed BCU 17-0 at halftime in the first ever Florida Classic played in Tampa Stadium. The Rattlers scored 27 unanswered points in the second half en route to a 27-17 victory. Rudy Hubbard’s squad went on to win the first 1-AA (now FCS) National Championship later that season. A year later (1979) BCU won their first Florida Classic 25-20.

1994 – BCU QB Tony Kerrin connected with Morris Nobles on a 2 yard TD reception in the corner of the endzone to give the Wildcats a 27-24 lead with :47 remaining in the contest. BCU went on to win by the same margin and Coach Cy McClairen earned his first victory over the Rattlers as a head coach.

2000 – In what was essentially a de facto MEAC Title game, 70,719 fans witnessed what many argue to be the greatest Florida Classic of all time. The game had everything. The conference title was on the line. You had memorable moments. You had all time great players like Quinn Gray, Jacquay Nunnerlly, Pa’Tell Troutman, Allen Suber, Rashean Mathis, the list goes on.

The most memorable moment of the contest came when Mathis fielded a missed field goal and returned it 106 yards for a BCU touchdown. The missed-field goal return gave BCU a 28-25 lead. However, two Juan Vazquez field goals pushed the final outcome in favor of the Rattlers 31-28.

2003 – Daytona Beach native and NFL Pro Bowler, Eric Weems, scored 3 touchdowns and helped the Wildcats rally from a 28-10 halftime deficit. The final touchdown was set up by a fake punt attempt on 4th and 17 with less than 2:00 remaining in the contest. A FAMU player was flagged for pass interference on the fake punt and BCU was awarded an automatic first down.

Later in the drive, quarterback Allen Suber avoided a sack, rolled to his right, and hit Weems who beat triple coverage just beyond the pylon with 9 seconds remaining to give BCU a 39-35 advantage in front of the largest crowd (73,358) in Florida Classic history.

2004 – Florida Classic fans were treated to the first overtime in the history of the series. The Wildcats eventually prevailed 58-52.

FAMU’s Ben Dougherty (QB) and Roosevelt Kiser (WR) had career days in that contest. Midway through the third quarter, Dougherty connected with Kiser on a 66 yard TD reception and extended FAMU’s lead to 45-24.

Head coach Alvin Wyatt then made the decision to move eventual three-time All-Pro defensive back Nick Collins from safety to cornerback with the assignment of blanketing Kiser. The move proved to be very effective for the maroon and gold. The FAMU passing game was severely limited as a result of the coaching decision and the Wildcats outscored FAMU 34-7 from that point forward. Rodney Johnson’s 15 yard touchdown run in overtime sealed the victory for BCU.

Coach Wyatt, who was overcome with emotion after the win, fainted and had to be carted off the field by medical personnel. Wyatt was eventually treated for dehydration but was no worse for the wear.

Not only was the 2004 victory the first overtime game in Florida Classic history, it was also the first time BCU won three consecutive victories over the FAMU.

2005 – Like the year prior, this game was also decided in overtime; only this time FAMU would emerge as the victor. The Rattlers entered the contest as underdogs and quickly fell behind to the Wildcats 17-0. But A&M slowly climbed back into the contest and forced the game into overtime on the strength of a Wesley Taylor 43-yard field goal with less than 3 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter. Taylor’s 26-yarder in overtime vaulted the Rattlers to a 26-23 win.

2010 – BCU entered the 2010 FC (Brian Jenkins’ first year) with an unblemished 10-0 record. However, a 3rd quarter injury to eventual MEAC Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback Matt Johnson, derailed BCU’s high-octane “Speedway Offense.” FAMU capitalized on the opportunity and secured a 38-27 win in one of the biggest upsets in FC history. Phillip Sylvester scored 3 times for the Rattlers and rushed for 146 yards on 26 carries in the process.

2019 – FAMU entered the FC buzzing in Willie Simmons second season as head ball coach. The Rattlers were 9-1 with their only loss coming against FBS powerhouse UCF. The Rattlers held a 27-24 lead late in the 4th quarter. BCU used a 9 play, 69 yard touchdown drive to go ahead for good. The key play of the drive was a 44 yard Arkevious Williams to Steffon Francois reception on 2nd and 25. A play later, Isaac Washington took an inside run 15 yards to score the game winning touchdown.

BCU’s 9 game winning streak over FAMU was ultimately sealed when linebacker Devin James picked off a Ryan Stanley pass with 1:25 remaining to secure the 31-27 victory.

These are just a handful of the memories that make this game so special. Let us know your favorite Florida Classic moment!

Saturday afternoon began as an opportunity for Bethune-Cookman to keep its three-game winning streak alive. It was a chance to remain tied for first place in the East and show that the Wildcats’ rebuilding project was full steam ahead. Instead, it turned into a frustrating, head-scratching, and downright disappointing 31–23 loss to Grambling State.

Let’s be clear: Grambling is a good football team on the rise. Losing to the G-Men in The Hole isn’t a shameful thing. And to be fair, Bethune had won five of the previous six matchups, so the law of averages leaned toward Grambling’s favor.

But the disappointment isn’t in who they lost to — it’s in how they lost.

The Hard Truth

BCU fell to a team led by a 17-year-old, true freshman, walk-on quarterback — Hayden Benoit. Salute to the young man for playing a solid game, but as a Wildcat fan, it’s a gut punch to watch a kid who’s still legally… well, a kid, throw four touchdown passes and rack up 220 yards through the air.

Add to that the G-Men pounding the ball for 197 rushing yards on 4.8 yards per carry, and you’re left feeling — you guessed it — disappointed.

This Wildcat defense looked unprepared and uninspired against a Grambling offense that has struggled all year to find the end zone. Just a week ago, that same Grambling team managed only 13 points against Alabama A&M, a defense that’s been pedestrian at best. But against BCU? They looked like an offensive juggernaut. That’s disappointing.

And if that wasn’t enough to make you sigh, the Wildcats’ offense didn’t help themselves either. Senior quarterback Camron Ransom led five offensive possessions that totaled -18 yards, no first downs, and three turnovers. You read that right — negative 18 yards and three giveaways in five possessions.

Ransom’s had a good season overall, but Saturday? It just wasn’t his night. Again — disappointing.

Peaked, Plateaued, or Just a Poor Performance?

Sometimes a bye week comes at just the right time. And sometimes, you wish you could’ve just kept playing. For BCU, you wish they could have skipped the bye.

Through the first half of the season, we saw this team improve week by week. But since the bye, the Maroon and Gold haven’t looked quite as sharp. They slogged through wins against UAPB and Valley — games that masked deeper issues for those of us who follow this team closely.

Valley hung 34 points on this same BCU defense a week ago, yet they managed to score just three points against Jackson State on Saturday. UAPB only scored 14 versus BCU, but they missed three wide open touchdowns in the process.

On Saturday, Grambling did what neither Valley nor UAPB could — they made Bethune pay for its mistakes.

So here’s the question that has to be asked: has Bethune-Cookman peaked, plateaued, or was Saturday just a poor performance?

The numbers tell a story: Bethune is 4–0 against SWAC teams currently with losing records, but 0–2 against teams with winning records. That’s not an indictment for beating the teams you should or losing to good ones — it’s simply a reflection of where you are.

To borrow from Bill Parcells, “you are what your record says you are.” And right now, the record says BCU is better than last year; but still a .500 team who is not yet ready to compete for a SWAC title. That’s disappointing, yes, but it’s also okay. The rebuild is real but just not as far along as some in Daytona had hoped.

Worth Celebrating

There were bright spots. Timmy McClain entered the game for the struggling Ransom and delivered a spark, completing 15 of 18 passes (83%) for 224 yards and a touchdown.

Trailing 24–20 early in the fourth, McClain led the Wildcats down to Grambling’s 29-yard line with a chance to take the lead. But a nagging lower-body injury forced him to the medical tent, and Ransom re-entered the game. A few snaps later, Grambling recovered a Ransom sack-fumble; his third turnover of the afternoon. BCU’s comeback hopes were extinguished at that point.

Maleek Huggins continues to shine, hauling in six receptions for 122 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown. That’s his seventh score of the year, and he now sits just 223 yards away from the 1,000-yard mark.

Chaos Erupts

You’d like the primary storyline to be the 17-year-old quarterback leading Grambling to victory. Or maybe Grambling clinching its first winning season since 2019. Heck, choose any of the points made in this article as main takeaways. But instead, the headlines from Saturday will be dominated by the halftime brawl that erupted as both teams returned to the field.

Grambling head coach Mickey Joseph used part of his postgame presser to say, “Disrespect will be met with disrespect,” and “Disrespect will not be tolerated at Grambling.” He places the blame squarely on Bethune-Cookman — claiming the Wildcats’ slow return to the field caused the altercation.

My take? It’s football. It’s emotional, it’s physical, and sometimes things boil over. I don’t condone it, but I understand and I can live with it. What’s harder to stomach is Coach Joseph’s public stance — seemingly justifying a full-on melee that ended with nine players ejected (five from Grambling, four from BCU), at least one player swinging at an opposing coach, and administrators getting tangled up.

It was an ugly scene on an otherwise beautiful afternoon of football.

As of this writing, the SWAC has yet to issue an official statement or announce additional discipline or fines related to the incident. I am sure some are forthcoming.

Bottom line: This one hurt. Grambling was the better team on Saturday. Respect to them! But BCU didn’t play close to their best game even with first place one the line and that, Wildcats fans, is simply — disappointing.

The Delta Devils traveled from Mississippi on the first Saturday after Halloween. They did everything in their power to haunt Bethune-Cookman’s perfect home record this season. Thankfully for the Wildcat faithful, BCU casted off some second-half complacency and “shook the Devils off” (or whatever that song says).

From the opening kickoff, it was clear Bethune-Cookman was the more complete team. They were faster, bigger, deeper and just better.

Javon “Bon-Bon” Ross set the tone early, fielding the opening kickoff at his own 15-yard line. Fourteen seconds and 85 yards later, Ross was crossing the goal line. That electrifying return helped earn him SWAC Co-Specialist of the Week honors. Ross added a 24-yard receiving touchdown just three minutes later. At that point, it looked like this one might be a cakewalk. But football is a funny sport.

From that moment until the final whistle, Josh Brown, Mississippi Valley’s dual-threat quarterback, took over the game. He became the most dynamic player on the field. Maybe it was because his family made the short three-hour drive from Camden County, Georgia. Maybe it was the Florida sunshine. I am not sure of the reason. Whatever it was, Brown played like a man possessed for the final three and a half quarters. He had the game of his life.

And it wasn’t as if BCU’s defense played poorly. They got pressure and moved him off his spot all afternoon. But Brown had an answer for everything. He got the ball out quickly on short routes. He showed tremendous pocket awareness. He turned would-be sacks into highlight reel scrambles. It was almost hocus pocus like how he escaped free blitzers a half dozen times at least. He finished with 418 passing yards, a passing touchdown, and two rushing touchdowns. All you can do is tip your cap to the young man. A job well done sir! 👏

Still, Bethune-Cookman proved why they’re the better team. When it mattered most, they controlled the trenches. They executed in the red zone. They finished drives whenever Valley seemed to threaten the lead.

It was an Antwone Watts pick-six midway through the fourth quarter that stretched the lead and essentially sealed the deal. The Wildcats never trailed in the game and remained in control throughout, even if the Devils made things a little too interesting at times.

The biggest coaching point is this: BCU has to do a better job of respecting every opponent. They must put teams away when they have the chance. Coach Woodie said this in his postgame presser. He admitted his guys didn’t believe him. He had warned them throughout the week that Valley would put up a fight.

The Cats survived and advanced. They finish the year undefeated at home and currently sit tied for first in the SWAC East. Next up: a road trip to Grambling, where they’ll look to earn their first road victory of 2025.

If they can handle business in Louisiana, it sets up a massive first-place showdown with JSU in Jackson.

In other words — now that Mary’s Babies dealt with the Devils, it’s time to grab a few Tigers by the tail. GSU, you’re on the clock. 🐾