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MEAC Power 5 (Week Two)

/ J Bell / Leave a comment
Credits: BlueDeathValley.com

Credits: BlueDeathValley.com

Week two is officially in the bags and all 11 MEAC teams now have at least one game under their belts.  Here is how we stack the conference’s Top 5 teams after week two.

1.  Bethune-Cookman debuts in the top spot in our first Power 5 poll of 2013.  BCU dominated an out-manned Virginia Union squad and cruised to a 66-7 victory in this past Saturday’s home opener.  The Cat’s 12-9 week one win over Tennessee State looks even more impressive after watching TSU handle Florida A&M rather easily in Tallahassee last weekend.  The Wildcats travel to Miami this week to face FBS opponent Florida International in a game in which Vegas has BCU favored to win by 3 points.

2.  You can make an argument for North Carolina A&T to hold this week’s top position after their performance against Appalachian State on Saturday night.  The Aggies dominated the run of play against App State and the final score (24-21) was not indicative of the one-sided nature of this contest.  Some have attempted to discredit A&T’s win over the Mountaineers as more of an indictment of the current state of Appalachian State football…but we’re not buying it.   App State still recruits top athletes and they simply do not lose many games at “The Rock”.  Huge congratulations are in order to coach Rod Broadway and the Aggie football team for this impressive early season victory in Boone, NC on Saturday.  NCA&T will look continue their winning ways when they face-off against Elon of the Southern conference in Greensboro on Saturday.

3.  The Howard Bison land in the third spot in our poll.  HU quarterback Greg McGhee threw for 242 yards and 3 touchdowns in Howard’s 27-16 win over Morehouse in the Nation’s Football Classic in D.C.  The HU defense registered 9 sacks in the contest.

4.  Delaware State racked up over 400 yards of total offense in their season opening loss to in-state rival Delaware on Saturday.  If the Hornets clean things up, look for them to be a factor in the MEAC race this season.

Spots 5-7 are a crap shot at this moment but we slotted South Carolina State in the 5th position based on talent alone.  Their week two loss to Clemson was fully expected and excluded from any sort of legitimate football analysis.  If anything, the Bulldogs can hang their collective hats on the fact that they only gave up 14 points to the Tigers in the second half of the contest.  On the other side of that coin is the week one loss to Coastal Carolina.  SCSU fans are still sick over that one and really feel like they let one get away against the Chanticleers.

Monroe earns 2nd Weekly MEAC honor

/ J Bell / Leave a comment

white helmetAlex Monroe has been named MEAC Offensive Lineman of the week for the 2nd consecutive week the conference announced on Monday evening. Monroe (LT, 6-5, 305, Sr., Jacksonville, Fla.) paved the way for a season-high 464 yards of total offense in a 66-7 win over Virginia Union.  He blocked for three different quarterbacks and aided B-CU to amass the most points since 2010 (vs. N.C. A&T 67 points; Oct. 28).  He also added two pancake blocks while receiving a grade of 93-percent on his assignments. 

Howard’s Greg McGhee was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s (MEAC) Offensive Player of the Week, the conference announced on Monday. D’Vonte Grant, of North Carolina A&T, was named Defensive Player of the Week.

Other Top Performers

Nick Addison (B-CU) returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown and collected four tackles, two solo, against Virginia Union.

Jontavious Carter (B-CU) finished the game with two catches for 38 yards and two touchdowns in the Wildcats’ victory over Virginia Union.

Cary White (B-CU) rushed for 62 yards on eight attempts with one touchdown versus Virginia Union.

Cats too tough for Panthers

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Credits: BCU Athletics

Credits: BCU Athletics

Associated Press

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Bethune-Cookman jumped to a 31-point halftime lead and added four second-half touchdowns to complete a 66-7 rout of Virginia Union on Saturday.

Bethune-Cookman (2-0) head coach Brian Jenkins relied on what he likes to call their three-headed monster at quarterback. Seniors Brodrick Waters and Jackie Wilson and junior Quentin Williams each threw a touchdown pass and combined to complete 13 of 20 passes for 182 yards.

Eight different receivers caught passes for the Wildcats, marking the first time that’s happened since 2010. Jontavious Carter had two touchdown receptions.

The Wildcats defense scored twice in the first half on interceptions by Nick Addison and Nesley Marcellon.

Eric Shaw led the Virginia Union (0-1) ground attack with 14 carries for 65 yards.

The game was first meeting between the two programs since the 1953 Tropical Bowl which Virginia Union won 13-0.

Scoring Summary

FIRST QUARTER  VIR COOK
FG 09:47 Jonathan Cagle 20 Yd 0 3
TD 05:39 Erik Williams 41 Yd Interception Return (Brodrick Waters Run For Two-Point Conversion) 0 11
TD 00:19 Quentin Williams 5 Yd Run (Pat Blocked) 0 17
SECOND QUARTER VIR COOK
VIR TD 08:04 Damon Kelly 1 Yd Run (Troy Krepich Kick) 7 17
TD 06:09 Cary White 1 Yd Run (Jonathan Cagle Kick) 7 24
TD 05:53 Nick Addison 38 Yd Interception Return (Jonathan Cagle Kick) 7 31
TD 03:32 Anthony Jordan 20 Yd Run (Jonathan Cagle Kick) 7 38
THIRD QUARTER VIR COOK
TD 11:25 Jontavious Carter 16 Yd Pass From Jackie Wilson (Jonathan Cagle Kick) 7 45
TD 03:05 Jontavious Carter 22 Yd Pass From Brodrick Waters (Jonathan Cagle Kick) 7 52
FOURTH QUARTER VIR COOK
TD 06:21 Drexler Dixon 12 Yd Run (Jonathan Cagle Kick) 7 59
TD 02:11 Michael Jones 16 Yd Pass From Quentin Williams (Jonathan Cagle Kick) 7 66

Team Stat Comparison

VIR

COOK
1st Downs 14 25
3rd down efficiency
 6-16 8-11
4th down efficiency
 1-4 0-2
Total Yards 182 464
Passing 87 182
Comp-Att
 12-23 13-20
Yards per pass
 3.8 9.1
Rushing 95 282
Rushing Attempts
 45 44
Yards per rush
 2.1 6.4
Penalties 7-74 10-68
Turnovers 3 1
Fumbles lost
 0 0
Interceptions thrown
 3 1
Possession 38:11 21:49

Virginia Union Passing
C/ATT YDS AVG TD INT
S. Dowdy 5/9 44 4.9 0 1
K. Graham 7/14 43 3.1 0 2
Team 12/23 87 3.8 0 3

Bethune-Cookman Passing
C/ATT YDS AVG TD INT
Q. Williams 4/5 73 14.6 1 1
J. Wilson 5/7 55 7.9 1 0
B. Waters 4/8 54 6.8 1 0
Team 13/20 182 9.1 3 1

Virginia Union Rushing
CAR YDS AVG TD LG
E. Shaw 14 65 4.6 0 20
D. Kelly 19 41 2.2 1 7
S. Dowdy 6 3 0.5 0 13
M. Parker 1 2 2.0 0 2
T. Malone 4 1 0.3 0 2
J. Reynoso 1 -17 -17.0 0 0
Team 45 95 2.1 1 20

Bethune-Cookman Rushing
CAR YDS AVG TD LG
C. White 8 62 7.8 1 23
A. Jordan 6 45 7.5 1 20
I. Jackson 6 45 7.5 0 47
D. Dixon 5 32 6.4 1 12
Q. Williams 4 32 8.0 1 15
D. Arnold 7 28 4.0 0 7
J. Wilson 4 24 6.0 0 15
B. Waters 4 14 3.5 0 9
Team 44 282 6.4 4 47

Virginia Union Receiving
REC YDS AVG TD LG
M. Holmes 4 41 10.3 0 14
D. Duchenne 1 24 24.0 0 24
J. Wright 3 12 4.0 0 8
D. Anderson 1 4 4.0 0 4
A. Davis 1 3 3.0 0 3
E. Shaw 1 2 2.0 0 2
M. Parker 1 1 1.0 0 1
Team 12 87 7.3 0 24

Bethune-Cookman Receiving
REC YDS AVG TD LG
E. Poole 1 44 44.0 0 44
J. Carter 2 38 19.0 2 22
J. Gordon 3 28 9.3 0 13
J. Davis 2 19 9.5 0 11
M. Jones 1 16 16.0 1 16
I. Virgin 1 14 14.0 0 14
A. Jordan 1 9 9.0 0 9
J. Lumas 1 7 7.0 0 7
J. Murphy 1 7 7.0 0 7
Team 13 182 14.0 3 44

Virginia Union Interceptions
INT YDS TD
J. Blanks 1 9 0
Team 0 0 0

Bethune-Cookman Interceptions
INT YDS TD
E. Williams 1 41 1
N. Addison 1 38 1
J. Richardson 1 0 0
Team 0 0 2

Virginia Union Kick Returns
NO YDS AVG LG
M. Norris 4 104 26.0 35
D. Duchenne 4 87 21.8 32
M. Parker 1 12 12.0 12
J. Lewis 1 0 0.0 0
Team 10 203 20.3 35

Bethune-Cookman Kick Returns
NO YDS AVG LG
J. Carter 1 28 28.0 28
Team 1 28 28.0 28

Virginia Union Punt Returns
NO YDS AVG LG
Team 0 0 0.0 0

Bethune-Cookman Punt Returns
NO YDS AVG LG
J. Borgella 1 14 14.0 0
P. Cleckley 1 7 7.0 7
D. Baker 1 0 0.0 0
Team 3 21 7.0 7

Virginia Union Kicking
FG PCT LONG XP PTS
T. Krepich 0/0 0.0 — 1/1 1
Team 0/0 0.0 — 1/1 1

Bethune-Cookman Kicking
FG PCT LONG XP PTS
J. Cagle 1/1 100.0 20 7/8 10
Team 1/1 100.0 20 7/8 10

Virginia Union Punting
TOT YDS AVG TB -20 LG
J. Reynoso 4 105 26.3 0 0 37
-. Team 1 0 0.0 0 0 0
Team 5 105 21.0 0 0 37

Bethune-Cookman Punting
TOT YDS AVG TB -20 LG
Team 0 0 0.0 0 0 0
ATTENDANCE: 6,478

BCU’s Fields, Monroe Garner Weekly MEAC honors

/ J Bell / Leave a comment
BCU LB - Jarkevis Fields

BCU LB – Jarkevis Fields

NORFOLK, Va., September 2, 2013 –  The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference announced on Monday that Jarkevis Fields and Alex Monroe were named Defensive Player of the Week and Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week respectively.

Fields (LB, 6-0, 230, Sr., Sanford, Fla.) recorded a game-high 10 tackles, six solo, in the Wildcats’ 12-9 victory over Tennessee State.  He added one sack for 10 yards and was named the John Merritt Classic’s Most Valuable Defensive Player.

Monroe (LT, 6-5, 305, Sr., Jacksonville, Fla.) anchored the Wildcats’ offensive line that accounted for 260 yards of total offense.  He graded out at 88-percent on his assignments and helped paved the way for the final game-winning drive in the Wildcats’ victory over Tennessee State.  Behind his protection, Bethune-Cookman rushed for 162 yards and tallied 98 yards through the air.

Morgan State’s Karim Barton joined Monroe as Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week.

South Carolina State’s Tyler McDonald was selected as the Offensive Player of the Week, Justin Taylor also of South Carolina State was named Rookie of the Week.  MSU’s Lawrence Forbes and SCSU’s Nick Belcher earned Co-Special Teams of the Week accolades.

 

Other Top Performers

Darian Baker (B-CU) recorded two kickoff returns for 71 yards, including a 41 yarder, in his first collegiate game.

Jordan Murphy (B-CU) caught three passes for 35 yards and one touchdown in the Wildcats’ 12-9 victory over Tennessee State.

 

BREAKING NEWS: HAILWILDCATS.COM 1st WATCH PARTY!

/ D Will / 1 Comment

ALL WILDCAT NATION!!!!!

In a last minute deal struck between Hailwildcats.com staff and Buffalo Wild Wings of Daytona, Hailwildcats.com will host the 1st Hailwildcats.com Watch Party tonight at 8 p.m. EST when the Mighty Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman University take on the Tigers of Tennessee State University on ESPN 3. We will be streaming the game live on the “BIG SCREEN” of Buffalo Wild Wings at 2479 W. International Speedway Blvd  Daytona Beach, FL 32114.

If you are in the Daytona area, put on your Maroon and Gold and come out and share with the Wildcat Nation in this momentous and joyous occasion and see

“Who will ascend to the top of the mountain?”

We look forward to seeing you there! Kickoff AT 8 P.M.

Tenn State Coach Rod Reed Almost got job at BCU

/ J Bell / Leave a comment

Nashville– Bethune-Cookman and Tennessee State fans alike would have a hard time imagining anyone other than Brian Jenkins and Rod Reed roaming the sidelines of their respective programs over the past 3 seasons.  But four years ago, Rod Reed stood at a crossroads in his football coaching career that could have changed the portrait of both programs.

Credits – TSUTigers – TSU Head Coach Rod Reed

Reed had emerged as a finalist for the head coaching position at Tennessee State and Bethune-Cookman.

He’d spent four seasons as linebackers coach at Bethune-Cookman, met his wife there and liked living in Daytona Beach, Fla.

But TSU was his alma mater, and when athletics director Teresa Phillips offered to promote him from the Tigers’ defensive coordinator to the top job, he accepted.

Bethune-Cookman eventually hired Brian Jenkins, who has led the Wildcats to three consecutive winning seasons, including last year’s 9-3 record.

TSU and Bethune-Cookman meet at 8 p.m. today in the John Merritt Classic at LP Field in what will be an emotional game for Reed, who has so many connections with both programs.

“I am sure I would have been happy as the head coach at Bethune-Cookman. I like the school and I like the people there,” Reed said. “I went down there when the head coaching position was open, came back and interviewed with TSU, and the next day I was the coach here.”

Reed’s second college coaching position was at Bethune-Cookman (1992-95), and it was during his time there when he developed the desire to be a head coach — so much so he was willing to leave the college ranks in 1996 to take the head coaching job at Seabreeze High in Daytona Beach, Fla.

In 2000, he returned to college coaching at East Texas Baptist and three years later became TSU’s defensive coordinator.

Reed left a strong impression at Bethune-Cookman.

Continue Reading: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20130901/SPORTS06/309010059/TSU-coach-Rod-Reed-almost-got-job-Bethune-Cookman?nclick_check=1

2 New features: “Who Will Ascend” & “All Hail Yes!”

/ J Bell / Leave a comment

Today, we’re announcing two new features to HailWildcats.com. The first is the “Who Will Ascend” preview/wrap-up page.

Beginning this season, all Hailwildcats.com pregame previews and postgame write-ups will be tagged in the category “Who Will Ascend.” Site users can now quickly access game previews and write-ups from a centralized location. Simply click the “Who Will Ascend” widget from the sidebar or the self-titled heading link to access the content.

The “Who Will Ascend” title was inspired by longtime Bethune-Cookman football public address announcer Rev. Isadore Williams. At each B-CU home game, fans are treated to Rev. Williams’ silky baritone voice. Rev. Williams is best known for his dramatic pauses during his announcements of Wildcat firstdowns; and for his legendary pregame oration which is commonly referred to as “Who Will Ascend.” The monologue is carried out as follows:

    “In just a few short hours, the question will be answered;

     who will ascend to the top of the mountain?

     Will it be (insert visiting mascot and team) from (insert visitor’s city);

     or will it be the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach, Florida.”

The crowd then cheers like it’s the first time they ever heard the monologue.

It’s an awesome piece of HBCU and college football pageantry and with his blessing, all previews and write-ups will now be tagged under the “Who Will Ascend” category.

The second new feature we are rolling out this season is the new All Hail Yes! spotlight. In the spirit of B-CU’s All Hail/Hail Wildcats mantra, the recurring All Hail Yes! feature will honor a player (current or former), coach (current or former), administrator, auxiliary group, alumnus, and/or supporter who has made a positive contribution to B-CU athletics. Check in frequently to view and vote for All Hail Yes! honorees.

College Colors Day – Friday, August 30th

/ J Bell / Leave a comment

bcuwccd

Greetings Wildcats and HBCU fans!  We are less than a week away from the kickoff of the 2013 college football season and the atmosphere is ripe with anticipation.

On this upcoming Friday, August 30th, thousands of fans from across the country will adorn themselves in the colors and paraphernalia of their favorite universities during the annual Wear Your College Colors Wherever You Are – COLLEGE COLORS DAY.  We encourage all Wildcat and HBCU fans to join in this celebration by proudly sporting your school colors and gear throughout the day on Friday, August 30th.

College Colors Day is an annual celebration dedicated to promoting the traditions and spirit that embody the college experience by encouraging fans across America to wear their favorite college or university apparel throughout the day on Friday, August 30th.