Bethune-Cookman

BCU Alums Matt Johnson and T.T. Toliver enjoy huge weekends on the gridiron

/ J Bell / 1 Comment

A pair of Bethune-Cookman products enjoyed very productive outings on the gridiron this past weekend.

Former BCU quarterback Matt Johnson passed for two (2) touchdown passes and helped lead the Kiel Hurricanes to a 26-15 victory over the Berlin Adlers in his German Football debut. Johnson completed 7 of his 16 pass attempts for a 103 yards and gained 74 rushing yards on the ground on 10 attempts.

Back State-Side, T.T. Toliver set two franchise records for the Orlando Predators and he tied a third in his team’s 83-82 win over the Spokane Shock. Toliver broke Arena Football Hall of Famer Barry Wagner’s 17 year old record for receiving yards with 251. He also broke the team record for receptions in a game with 18. The mark he tied was the single-game franchise record for receiving touchdowns with 6.

Toliver’s final stat line from Saturday night; 18 catches, 251 yards, and 6 touchdowns.

Credits Kiel Hurricanes GFL

 

BCU to hold Annual Spring Game on April 13th

/ J Bell / 1 Comment

SBethune-Cookman football will hold its first spring practice of the year on Saturday, March 23 to begin a 13-session schedule that culminates with the Spring Showcase to be held Saturday, April 13. The location for the Spring Showcase will be announced at a later date.

The Wildcats will pull on the pads under head coach Brian Jenkins for the fourth time and again hold practices on campus at the Wildcat Practice Field.

B-CU is scheduled to work out four times a week beginning March 23, with practices taking place every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. All practices are closed to the public.

During spring practice, only head coach Brian Jenkins and assistant coaches will be made available to the media. Student-athletes will speak with the media after the Spring Showcase.

Read on: http://www.bcuathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23910&ATCLID=206647160

Tampa Jefferson retires Quentin Williams’ number 3 jersey

/ J Bell / 1 Comment
BCU QB Quentin Williams

BCU QB Quentin Williams

Nobody had a season like quarterback Quentin Williams did in 2010.

Nobody broke records like Williams did when he helped lead the Jefferson Dragons to the school’s first state championship.

And now nobody will wear Williams number again.

The team retired Williams’ No. 3 jersey during a ceremony at the Dragons end of the season banquet this past Saturday.

During his senior season, Williams set new state records for season passing touchdowns (56), passing yardage (4,451), as well as career touchdown passes (109). He also broke Tim Tebow’s career passing yardage record. Williams ended up with 10,384.

The Dragons defeated Miami Norland 44-34 for the Class 3A title. The victory capped off a spectacular season for Williams, who went onto Bethune Cookman.

Last season for the Wildcats, Williams played in 10 games and threw for 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also rushed for 635 yards and three touchdowns.

Full Story: BayNews9 Sports

THE BELT

/ J Bell / 2 Comments

The beltAt the conclusion of this past season’s Florida Blue Florida Classic, coach Brian Jenkins was seen hugging players, celebrating with the Marching Wildcats, and very conspicuously wearing a 2012 MEAC Champions Belt that was large enough and elaborate enough to make Hulk Hogan envy.

Some fifteen (15) or so minutes after first being spotted with his new ornate accessory, coach Jenkins met with members of the media for his normal postgame recap.  There it was again; this time prominently displayed on the conference room table almost touching the fiery coach’s left elbow.  There was no attempt at modesty.  No attempt to conceal it.  It was as if coach Jenkins was silently screaming for someone to ask about THE BELT…and so I did.

The third year coach rather foxily revealed that THE BELT was an inside thing between him and his team.  “I have been telling (our football team) about the belt.  You want to be the one to put on the belt in the end” Jenkins exclaimed.

At this past Saturday’s 2012 Championship Team Banquet inside the North Tower Ballroom at the Hilton Hotel located directly on Daytona Beach, coach Jenkins revealed to the 350 Wildcat supporters in attendance the inside story behind THE BELT.

The story goes as follows: 

Shortly after being named as the fifteenth (15) head football coach at Bethune-Cookman, Brian Jenkins had a chance encounter with a Florida A&M football fan.  The FAMU fan approached the newly appointed coach and said let me show you something.  He reached into his back pocket and unfolded a piece of paper.  Listed on the paper were the results of all of the Florida Classics including the previous two (2); both of which FAMU won. 

The FAMU fan was undoubtedly sending a clear message to the precocious new coach of what he should expect when facing the mighty Rattlers.

As fate would have it, coach Jenkins bumped into the same Rattler fan nearly a year later.  The FAMU fan, feeling emboldened by his Rattlers’ upset victor over the Wildcats in the 2010 Florida Classic, even more vigorously than the year before flagged down coach Jenkins and again pulled out a folded piece of paper from his back pocket.  It was an up-to-date history of the Florida Classic results.  The FAMU fan proudly and boastfully pointed to his team’s upset win in 2010.  It was shortly after that encounter that the idea of THE BELT was conceived in Brian Jenkins’ mind.  Jenkins decided if his team could win the MEAC crown and win the Florida Classic, he would supply every graduating senior with his very own Championship Belt.

Senior Class awarded Championship Belts

Senior Class awarded Championship Belts

What better way to memorialize the hardwork, sacrifice, and dedication that’s required to become MEAC and Florida Classic champs than to provide the senior class with Championship Belts.  And besides, a Heavyweight caliber Championship Belt trumps a folded piece of paper any day.

Coach Jenkins’ statement to the media after the 2012 Florida Blue Florida Classic now makes so much more sense: “…in the end, you want to be the one to put on the belt.” 

THE BELT is brilliant in everything that it represents.  It is the proverbial gauntlet slap in the face, a one-upper, a ‘step ya game up’ if you will.  It is a unique memento, it epitomizes excellence, symbolizes hardwork and manhood, and it is meant to draw a line in the sand.  If you want THE BELT, come and take it.  If you want to keep THE BELT, then be prepared to defend it.  So keep your folded piece of paper and I will raise you a Championship Belt.

Interestingly, coach Jenkins stated that the last time he spotted the FAMU fan who flagged him down and showed off his folded piece of paper was shortly after the 2010 season.  Coincidence? Maybe but not likely!

A source within the BCU Athletic department could not confirm whether THE BELT is a one year phenomenon or a new tradition for each senior class who wins both a MEAC and Florida Classic championship in the same season.  Personally, I hope this becomes a new tradition.  A new goal of sorts for each class of seniors.  I think coach Jenkins said it best: “in the end, you want to be the one to put on the belt”. 

Congratulations to all the guys who earned the right to wear THE BELT!!!

Live Chat – Bethune-Cookman/Coastal Carolina 1st round FCS playoffs, Sat. Nov. 24th

/ J Bell / 1 Comment

Credits – Jerrime Bell / Hailwildcats.com

Hello Wildcats Fans!

Hailwildcats.com will host a Live Chat during this Saturday’s 1st round FCS Playoff game between Bethune-Cookman and Coastal Carolina.The Live Chat will provide posters with a highly interactive platform in which they can discuss and follow the game as it is happening live. The Live Chat interfaces with Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube.

@BCUAthletics, @BCUExaminer, and @HailWildcats Twitter feeds will interface with the Live Chat. This will allow the posters to  interact with the men and women who are dedicated to bringing you the most in-depth coverage of Bethune-Cookman football.  The Chat will also allow users to access the most up to date gameday information from one centralized location.

You can participate in the Live Chat by posting your opinions/feedback/questions or by simply following along. All are encouraged to participate.

The Live Chat Link will become active at approximately 1:30 p.m. on gameday and will be available on the HailWildcats.com front page.

Thanks for your support and Hail Wildcats!
JB

Week 11 MEAC Review

/ J Bell / Leave a comment
MEAC SATURDAY FOOTBALL WEEKENDER
Bethune-Cookman clinches MEAC title; Rattlers edge NCCU under new coach; Delaware State, Norfolk, A&T all win Saturday 

Alvin Hollins Jr.

By ALVIN HOLLINS JR.
Rockstat7376@aol.com

NOVEMBER 10 – The Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats won their second Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title in three years Saturday, with a crushing road victory at Savannah State, dashing the remaining co-championship hopes of several teams.

The Wildcats (7-0, 8-2) locked up the title with a 49-7 win at Savannah State (0-7, 1-9), leaving them just one game shy of a perfect conference record. B-CU has also punched its’ ticket to the NCAA Division FCS playoffs.

Meanwhile, Florida A&M (4-3, 4-6) scored late to edge visiting North Carolina Central (5-2, 6-4), 22-21, winning their first game under interim head coach Earl “Hitman” Holmes at Homecoming in Bragg Stadium.

In other conference action Saturday, Delaware State (5-2, 6-4) pulled into a three-way tie for second with NCCU and Howard University, with a 35-27 win over visiting Hampton (2-5, 2-7) at Dover, Delaware; North Carolina A&T (4-3, 6-4) rallied past visiting South Carolina State (3-4, 4-6), 17-7 at Greensboro, N.C.; Norfolk State (2-6, 4-7) finished their disappointing season after winning the 2011 MEAC title, with a 30-0 whitewash of visiting Morgan State (2-5, 3-7), at Norfolk, Va.

In the lone non-conference affair Saturday, Howard University (5-2, 6-4) was bashed by nationally-ranked Georgia Southern (8-2), 69-26 at Statesboro, Ga.

The New Pecking Order…
Bethune-Cookman (7-0) has locked up the conference title and the automatic NCAA Division I FCS playoff bid…. The race will now be for second as North Carolina Central (5-2), Howard (5-2), and Delaware State (5-2) will go down to next weekend to determine which two of them will finish behind B-CU…

Next Weekend’s Schedule
The final Saturday of the regular season is pretty much Rivalry Weekend, highlighted by Bethune-Cookman against Florida A&M in the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Florida Classic in Orlando, to be nationally televised on ESPN Classic at 2:30 p.m.

The remainder of the schedule features Hampton at Morgan State (1:00); Delaware State at Howard (1:00); Savannah State at South Carolina State (1:30); and North Carolina A&T at North Carolina Central (2:00).

MEAC Random Shots
@ Bethune-Cookman (7-0) hopes to complete a perfect conference season next week against rival FAMU, which spoiled their hopes of a perfect season in 2010….

@ Two of three teams will finish second behind Bethune-Cookman: Delaware State, Howard and North Carolina Central (5-2)… DelState visits Howard, while NCCU hosts Triad rival North Carolina A&T in the Aggie-Eagle Classic.

@ Wins by Delaware State and North Carolina A&T Saturday clinched winning seasons for both squads, allowing them to join Howard and North Carolina Central in the club of teams who finished under .500 overall a year ago.

@ Bethune-Cookman, along with the quartet of DSU, Howard, A&T and NCCU officially flipped the script in the MEAC, as all five teams are led by coaches in their second or third years, while veteran-led programs like FAMU, Hampton, South Carolina State, Morgan State and Norfolk State suffered a reversal of fortune in 2012.

@ Florida A&M (4-3, 4-6) won its’ first game under interim head coach Earl Holmes, one of the school’s all-time great linebackers, and formerly the defensive coordinator… Holmes was tabbed to replace the 30-year head coaching veteran Joe Taylor on Wednesday of this week, after Taylor was placed on administrative leave… Taylor will still retire following the season with 233 career victories…

MEAC FOOTBALL STANDINGS
Thru Saturday, November 10, 2012
School ……………………….. Conference / Overall
Bethune-Cookman ………………… 7-0 1.000 / 8-2 .800
Delaware State ………..……………. 5-2 .714 / 6-4 .600
Howard University …….…………… 5-2 .714 / 6-4 .600
North Carolina Central …….……. 5-2 .714 / 6-4 .600
^North Carolina A&T ………..…… 4-3 .571 / 6-4 .600
Florida A&M ………..………………… 4-3 .571 / 4-6 .400
South Carolina State .…….……… 3-4 .428 / 4-6 .400
Morgan State ………………………… 2-5 .285 / 3-7 .300
^Hampton …………………………….. 2-5 .285 / 2-7 .222
Norfolk State ………………………… 2-6 .250 / 4-7 .363
Savannah State ………..…………… 0-7 .000 / 1-9 .100
^-Ineligible for 2012 title

Saturday’s Scoreboard
*Delaware State 35, Hampton 27
*Norfolk State 30, Morgan State 0
*North Carolina A&T 17, South Carolina State 7
#Georgia Southern 69, Howard 26
*Florida A&M 22, North Carolina Central 21
*Bethune-Cookman 49, Savannah State 7
(*)-Conference Games

Next Week’s Schedule
*Hampton at Morgan State, 1:00
*Delaware State at Howard, 1:00
*Savannah State at South Carolina State, 1:30
*North Carolina A&T at North Carolina Central, 2:00
*Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M (Orlando), 2:30 (ESPN Classic)
(*)-Conference Games

BCU 2012 MEAC Champs

/ J Bell / Leave a comment

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Quentin Williams threw two touchdown passes and ran for 121 of Bethune-Cookman’s 377 rushing yards as the Wildcats beat Savannah State 49-7 Saturday in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game.

BCU’s win coupled with North Carolina Central’s 22-21 loss to Florida A&M sealed the 2012 MEAC Championship for the Wildcats. Congratulations to the 2012 Wildcats for securing Bethune-Cookman’s 2nd MEAC title in 3 years and the Cat’s first outright title since 2002. 

Williams completed 9 of 12 passes for 103 yards and threw touchdown passes of 11 and 36 yards. His second touchdown, a strike to David Blackwell, gave Bethune-Cookman a 35-0 halftime lead.

Isidore Jackson finished with 100 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries for Bethune-Cookman (8-2, 7-0).  Jackson is needs just 82 yards to reach 1,000 rushing on the season.  Rodney Scott posted 51 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries and Brodrick Waters tallied 47 yards on six carries.

Savannah State (1-9, 0-7) got on the board midway through the third quarter when Cornel Weston recovered a fumble in the end zone. But Waters scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to create the final margin.

Bethune-Cookman smothered Savannah State quarterback Antonio Bostick all game, forcing three interceptions and recording four sacks.

BCU/ Savannah State Preview

/ J Bell / Leave a comment

Savannah-It’s been almost four weeks since Savannah State coach Steve Davenport suspended eight players. Only one has returned to the roster.  But since the date of the suspensions, whether a coincidence or not, the Tigers have been playing their best football.

Savannah State gets another chance to test its recent improvement when it meets Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference-leading Bethune-Cookman at T.A. Wright Stadium today at 5 p.m.

It’s the last home game of the season for the Tigers. SSU (1-8, 0-6 MEAC) will finish the season on the road in Orangeburg, S.C., against South Carolina State on Nov. 17.

Bethune-Cookman (7-2, 6-0 MEAC), ranked 22nd in the FCS Coaches top 25 poll, can clinch the MEAC’s automatic bid to the FCS playoffs with a win today.

Davenport would like to see the day when the Tigers are in a similar position as the Wildcats, but right now he had to clear up some fundamental issues.

“I think we all had to take a step back and recognize this (SSU football program) is something to be respected,” Davenport said. “It’s a blessing for me to be the head coach, for my staff to be coaches here and the players to be players here.”

Read more: http://savannahnow.com/sports/2012-11-09/savannah-state-football-team-hoping-end-home-slate-positive-note

Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. 

Web Stream: Savannah State ($6) | Radio: CatEye Network on WELE 1380: Listen Online

Wildcats continue their dominance over Norfolk State in Daytona Beach

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Ike Jackson runs pass NSU defenders

Coach Pete Adrian and his Norfolk State Spartans came to Municipal Stadium looking for their first ever victory over Bethune-Cookman in Daytona Beach.  The Spartans left the World Most Famous Beach on Saturday evening on the wrong end of a 48-3 woodshed beating. 

The 48 points was Bethune’s highest scoring output of the season and the most points the Wildcats have scored since defeating Savannah State 59-3 in November last season.

Redshirt freshman quarterback, Quentin Williams, finished the afternoon with a career high 157 yards passing completing 9 of 11 attempts with 2 touchdowns.  Fellow quarterback, Brock Waters, finished the contest with a team high 103 yards rushing.  Waters also hooked up with Jhomo Gordon on a 13 yard touchdown strike midway through the 4th quarter.

The Wildcats raced out to an early 7-0 lead after taking the opening possession 75 yards on 16 plays.  The drive culminated with a 5 yard Quentin Williams to Eddie Poole touchdown reception.  Poole out-leaped defensive back Natturner Harris in the corner of the endzone to secure the catch. 

“I give credit to KJ (Stroud) for that touchdown reception” Poole stated.  “KJ set the play up when he saw the coverage and he actually switched sides with me.  I just told Quentin to lob the ball up and I would go and get it.  I definitely feel that anytime there is one-on-one coverage, I should and I will win that match-up”.

KJ Stroud’s generosity was rewarded early in the second quarter when Williams hit the senior receiver on a 28 yard leaping touchdown reception.

The two passing touchdowns sandwiched a 69 yard DJ Howard fumble return for a touchdown. Isidore Jackson added two rushing touchdowns in the 2nd quarter to stretch BCU’s lead to 34-0.    Everett Goldberg put Norfolk State on the board with a 33 yard field goal late in the second quarter. 

Brodrick Waters scored on an 8 yard run with 6:54 remaining in the 3rd quarter and hooked up with Jhomo Gordon on a 13 yard pass with 6:58 left in the contest.

Coming into the contest, NSU boasted the 3rd ranked defense in the nation yielding just 270 yards per game.  The Wildcats surpassed the 270 yard mark by halftime outgaining the Spartans 271 yards to 72 yards through the first two quarters and 435 yards to 239 yards in the game.

The Wildcat defense stretched their consecutive game with an interception streak to 14.  The defense forced 3 Norfolk State turnovers in total. Donald Smith led Wildcat defenders with 6 tackles including 1 tackle-for-loss.

“It was a tremendous team victory” coach Jenkins remarked.  “It is difficult to keep your momentum and focus after a bye-week and our players should be commended”.   “We had some miscues that we need to address but this was the most complete game of the season for us”.  Coach Jenkins ended his postgame press conference stating that his heart goes out to Norfolk State Head Coach and former BCU defensive coordinator Pete Adrian.  Coach Jenkins would not elaborate on the specifics but he did state that the veteran coach was faced with some things that are very tough right now and that his prayers are with him.

Bethune’s victory sets-up a huge battle for first place next week with North Carolina Central.  BCU and NCCU are the only remaining unbeatens in conference play.  Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 in Daytona Beach.

Team Stat Comparison

  NORF COOK
1st Downs 16 21
Total Yards 239 435
Passing 164 171
Rushing 75 264
Penalties 6-65 7-55
3rd Down Conversions 3-11 11-17
4th Down Conversions 0-1 1-2
Turnovers 3 1
Possession 24:37 35:23

Passing Leaders

 
Norfolk State C/ATT YDS AVG TD INT
Basmagian 12/24 119 5.0 0 1
 
Bethune-Cookman C/ATT YDS AVG TD INT
Williams 9/11 157 14.3 2 0

Rushing Leaders

 
Norfolk State CAR YDS AVG TD LG
Hedgeman 5 29 5.8 0 11
Riddick 7 18 2.6 0 7
 
Bethune-Cookman CAR YDS AVG TD LG
Waters 9 103 11.4 1 19
Jackson 11 57 5.2 2 33

Receiving Leaders

 
Norfolk State REC YDS AVG TD LG
Demps 4 67 16.8 0 37
Boyce 6 60 10.0 0 13
 
Bethune-Cookman REC YDS AVG TD LG
Gordon 2 62 31.0 1 49
Stroud 4 60 15.0 1 28

Scoring SummaryFIRST QUARTER NORF COOK

 TD 08:20 Eddie Poole 5 Yd Pass From Quentin Williams (Sven Hurd Kick)  0 7

 TD 03:41 D.J. Howard 69 Yd Fumble Return (Sven Hurd Kick)  0 14

SECOND QUARTER NORF COOK

 TD 12:37 KJ Stroud 28 Yd Pass From Quentin Williams (Sven Hurd Kick)  0 21

 TD 08:26 Isidore Jackson 33 Yd Run (Pat Failed)  0 27

 TD 01:13 Isidore Jackson 1 Yd Run (Sven Hurd Kick)  0 34

 FG 00:05 Everett Goldberg 33 Yd  3 34

THIRD QUARTER NORF COOK

 TD 06:54 Brodrick Waters 8 Yd Run (Sven Hurd Kick)  3 41

FOURTH QUARTER NORF COOK

 TD 06:58 Jhomo Gordon 13 Yd Pass From Brodrick Waters (Sven Hurd Kick)  3 48

BCU tops Hampton 38-26

/ J Bell / 1 Comment

Associated Press

HAMPTON, Va. — Bethune-Cookman forced seven turnovers — including a pair of interceptions by Nick Addison — to take a 38-26 decision from Hampton Saturday night in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference action.

The Wildcats (3-2, 2-0) picked off four Hampton (0-4, 0-2) passes and recovered three more forced fumbles. Of the Pirates’ final 10 possessions, six ended in turnovers, and another finished with a turnover on downs.

At one point, Hampton tossed interceptions on three consecutive drives, with Bethune-Cookman using those picks to rack up 17 consecutive points and take a 31-10 lead. Among those scores was a 90-yard interception return by Addison, the fourth longest in school history and the team’s first interception return for a score since 2010. On top of his two picks, Addison led the Wildcats with 11 tackles.

Jeremi Schwartz gained a sizable chunk of Hampton’s total offense, amassing 205 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.

Quentin Williams got the start at quarterback for the Wildcats and took all of the snaps under center until midway through the 4th quarter.  Williams finished the contest with 1 rushing touchdown and 1 passing touchdown going 9-for-12 for 96 yards in the process. 

Safety Nick Addison led the defense with 11 total tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 2 interceptions, including one he returned 90 yards for a BCU touchdown.

The win snapped a two game losing skid for BCU.

Team Stat Comparison

 
 

COOK
 

HAMP
1st Downs 21 30
Total Yards 320 536
Passing 118 279
Rushing 202 257
Penalties 20-181 17-152
3rd Down Conversions 4-12 6-14
4th Down Conversions 0-1 1-2
Turnovers 0 7
Possession 28:52 30:28
 

Passing Leaders

 
Bethune-Cookman C/ATT YDS AVG TD INT
Williams 9/12 96 8.0 1 0
 
Hampton C/ATT YDS AVG TD INT
Champion 20/33 208 6.3 1 3
 

Rushing Leaders

 
Bethune-Cookman CAR YDS AVG TD LG
Scott 12 82 6.8 1 46
Jackson 16 79 4.9 0 15
 
Hampton CAR YDS AVG TD LG
Schwartz 25 201 8.0 1 51
McCloude 5 56 11.2 0 26
 

Receiving Leaders

 
Bethune-Cookman REC YDS AVG TD LG
Harris 1 28 28.0 0 28
Jackson 2 23 11.5 1 13
 
Hampton REC YDS AVG TD LG
Griffin 6 99 16.5 1 28
Riddick 5 66 13.2 0 28

Scoring Summary FIRST QUARTER COOK HAMP

 TD 10:46 Quentin Williams 5 Yd Run (Sven Hurd Kick)  7 0

 FG 08:12 Taurean Durham 30 Yd  7 3

 TD 00:19 Rodney Scott 1 Yd Run (Sven Hurd Kick)  14 3

SECOND QUARTER COOK HAMP

 TD 12:38 Andre Griffin 11 Yd Pass From Travis Champion (Taurean Durham Kick)  14 10

 FG 04:36 Sven Hurd 42 Yd  17 10

THIRD QUARTER COOK HAMP

 TD 11:40 Nick Addison 90 Yd Interception Return (Sven Hurd Kick)  24 10

 TD 07:22 Isidore Jackson 13 Yd Pass From Quentin Williams (Sven Hurd Kick)  31 10

FOURTH QUARTER COOK HAMP

 TD 08:16 Javaris Brown 25 Yd Pass From Jaylian Williamson (Taurean Durham Kick)  31 17

 TD 05:37 David Blackwell 20 Yd Pass From Brodrick Waters (Sven Hurd Kick)  38 17

 SF 04:03 Ball Through End Zone  38 19

 TD 01:09 Jeremiah Schwartz 1 Yd Run (Taurean Durham Kick)  38 26