FCS

Wildcats Kicked Around by Southern in the Boot — 45-17 Final

/ J Bell / Leave a comment

Saturday’s visit to Baton Rouge began with the Wildcats fighting for first place in the SWAC East. It ended with another disappointing chapter in what has become a recurring nightmare on the road.

Southern ran through BCU, handing the Wildcats a 45-17 defeat at A.W. Mumford Stadium and sending them home with more questions than answers.

The Jaguars rushed for 381 yards, averaged nearly nine yards per carry and found the end zone with little resistance for much of the afternoon.

It was another lopsided result, but perhaps the most concerning aspect of the loss isn’t necessarily what happened Saturday; it’s what these road performances continue to reveal about the football program.

The Wildcats are running out of healthy bodies, their passing game has struggled to provide a consistent alternative to the running game, and their lack of depth is becoming increasingly difficult to conceal.

The road isn’t creating these problems. It’s exposing them.

Injuries Are Taking Their Toll. Depth Is Becoming the Bigger Story.

There is a temptation to look at Saturday’s result and conclude that BCU simply wasn’t ready to compete. But that’s not the whole story.

The Wildcats are running out of healthy bodies.

Five offensive linemen who have started games for Bethune were unavailable. The defensive front has also been depleted, with multiple guys unavailable to the coaching staff. Quarterback Tyler Jefferson returned to the lineup, but clearly wasn’t operating at full strength.

None of this is an excuse for the results. Every team is dealing with injuries this time of year. But the ability to absorb those injuries is what’s proving to be difficult for BCU.

The Road Keeps Exposing the Warts

At some point, you run out of different ways to describe BCU’s road problem.

Different opponents. Different stadiums. Same disappointing result.

And this isn’t simply about winning and losing. It’s about the manner in which some of these defeats have occurred.

In their three SWAC road losses, Bethune has given up 163 points while scoring just 55. That’s an average game score of about 54-18. Ouch!

Opponents Have Figured Out the Formula

Bethune has been pretty good running the ball and ranks 3rd in the conference in rushing. The Wildcats have been less dynamic through the air ranking last in the conference passing. 

The old adage is points come from the passing game. And this seems to be the case for Cookman. They average just 21.5 points per game against SWAC opponents, including three performances of 17 points or fewer.

The passing game has struggled to provide the kind of consistent production necessary to keep defenses honest.

That’s particularly problematic when the running game is the foundation of the offense. If opponents can commit numbers  to stopping the run without consistently paying a price through the air, the offensive playbook becomes increasingly predictable.

The situation has only become more difficult with the injuries along the offensive line and with Jefferson’s injury limitations.

Against Southern, Jefferson finished with 144 passing yards, one touchdown and an interception. He added 20 yards rushing, but the Wildcats managed only 290 yards of total offense.

It’s a difficult combination to overcome. The Wildcats need the running game to establish their offensive identity, but they also need a passing attack capable of punishing defenses that sell out to stop it.

Right now, they haven’t shown enough consistency with this balance.

The Defense Has Its Own Problems

Southern rushed for 381 yards Saturday, led by Trey Holly’s 206 yards and two touchdowns. Macario Dade added another 104 yards on just four carries, including a 70-yard touchdown run.

This comes a week after UAPB rushed for over 300 yards on the Wildcats. 

Those numbers are difficult to explain away. But they clearly point to why this team has fallen on tough times the past two weeks

Two Games Remain. The Wildcats Still Have Something to Play For.

Despite the disappointment of the last two Saturdays, the season isn’t over.

Bethune-Cookman enters the final stretch at 5-5, with remaining games against Grambling and Florida A&M.

The Wildcats need to win both games to improve upon last season’s 6-6 record and secure the first winning season of the Raymond Woodie Jr. era.

That’s not an insignificant accomplishment.

A winning record would represent tangible progress in a program still working to establish its footing in the SWAC. 

Thankfully neither of those contests are on the road. GSU visits Daytona Stadium this weekend where Bethune has won 8 straight SWAC home games.

Let’s hope our guys can keep it up and finish the season strong. 

Hail Wildcats!

Halloween Horror: Wildcats Embarrassed in Pine Bluff 63-21

/ J Bell / 1 Comment
Credits: UAPB Athletics

I normally wait until Sunday evening to write my article, just to be sure I’ve had a chance to fully digest the gameday experience. But I can’t wait that long tonight. I need to get this out of my system on this Halloween Evening so here goes…

Who were those ghosts and goblins dressed in Bethune-Cookman uniforms on Saturday afternoon?

Seriously, I know it was Halloween, but ain’t no way that was the same team that beat Alabama State in early October.

I kept waiting for the Wildcats to show up. I kept waiting for somebody to make a play, find some fight, or give us some indication that the team we watched take down Jackson State just a week ago was still in there somewhere.

But they never came.

Instead, we watched a Bethune team that looked completely unrecognizable. The energy wasn’t there. The execution wasn’t there. The fight certainly wasn’t there. Whatever confidence and momentum the Wildcats carried out of their October victories seemed to disappear somewhere between Daytona Beach and Pine Bluff.

This was a full blown Halloween horror show as Arkansas-Pine Bluff handed the Wildcats a humiliating 63-21 defeat, and the nightmare began almost as soon as the game kicked off.

Jaylen Jennings took the first snap from scrimmage 87 yards to give UAPB a 7-0 lead.

Eight seconds later, freshman quarterback Joel Morris took the field getting the start in place of the injured Tyler Jefferson. Morris threw an interception on BCU’s first offensive play.

Pine Bluff converted that turnover into a touchdown in 2 plays covering 22 yards in 22 seconds; 14-0.

On BCU’s next offensive drive, they ran the ball on first down, followed by another Morris interception which was returned for a touchdown on second down. Pine Bluff 21, BCU 0 less than 2 minutes into the game.

You heard that right. 21-0 in under 2 minutes.

The comedy of errors continued in the first half with Pine Bluff scoring 14 more points off of two more BCU interceptions. They added a 6th score to take a 42-0 lead into halftime.

Embarrassing!

By night’s end, UAPB racked up 333 yards rushing and 451 yards of offense.

Meanwhile BCU was held under their season average rushing for 166 yards. They also failed to reach the 200 yard passing mark and have yet to throw for 200 yards in any game this season.

At some point, we have to stop treating these performances like isolated incidents.

To put it bluntly, the road struggles under Raymond Woodie are becoming impossible to ignore. Heck, they are becoming worrisome.

Bethune is now 2-11 in SWAC road games during the Woodie era. Across those 13 games, BCU has been outscored 420–256. The only road victories have come against Mississippi Valley State, which the Wildcats defeated in both 2024 and 2026.

That’s not a small sample size anymore. That’s a pattern. A troubling pattern because you can’t play all your games at home.

What is happening with this program on the road? And why does this team struggle so mightily to carry its success from one week into the next? Are there systematic issues that need to be addressed beyond the usual conversations about fundamentals and attention to detail?

These are legitimate questions, and Saturday only added fuel to them.

The Identity Crisis Continues

Wildcat supporters throughout this season have repeatedly stated they simply don’t know which team is going to show up.

And here we are, nine games into the season, still having the same conversation.

Think about the emotional roller coaster in October alone; BCU has had two signature wins at home against ASU and JSU as mentioned earlier; but they have also had two blowout road losses over these last four weeks against AAMU and now UAPB.

Here is the hard truth, we know exactly who the Wildcats are. They are a 5-4 team sitting one game above .500. They are good enough to beat anyone, but also vulnerable enough to lose to anyone.

That’s not criticism. It’s what the results tell us 3/4ths of the way through the season.

The Clock Is Still Ticking

For all the disappointment, the season isn’t over.

BCU still has three games remaining against three HBCU Bluebloods (Southern, Grambling, Florida A&M). The Wildcats need to win two of those games to secure its first winning season since 2019.

If the Wildcats win all three, they would end the year 8-4 with wins over ASU, JSU, Southern, Grambling, and FAMU.

That would be a pretty impressive year. But you can’t win three if you don’t win the first one.

The first one just so happens to be on the road to face Southern in Baton Rouge. And if Saturday wasn’t frightening enough, Southern just delivered a statement of its own by blowing the doors off Florida A&M 42-14.

The Jaguars appear to be finding their stride at exactly the wrong time for the Wildcats.

Halloween is over. And so is the margin for error if the Wildcats want to change the narrative surrounding this program.

Saturday was ugly. There’s no dressing it up, and no pretending it didn’t happen.

The questions aren’t going away. The only way to quiet them is to answer them on the field.

Put Pine Bluff behind you. Regroup. Refocus. Get back to work. Finish strong.

November is waiting.

We Got The Finish – Wildcats Take Down Jackson State 24-21 in Battle for 1st Place

/ J Bell / Leave a comment

Heading into the 2026 football season, there was a popular thought circulating around HBCU football circles. That thought was Bethune-Cookman might have a little something to say about who wins the SWAC East.

The thinking was that the Wildcats could play spoiler to one of the division’s preseason favorites, Alabama State or Jackson State.

Well, the Wildcats handled Alabama State in early October. And there they stood Saturday afternoon in Daytona Beach, trailing defending SWAC East champion Jackson State 21-17, facing 3rd-and-11 from the Tigers’ 19-yardline with under a minute remaining.

Quarterback Tyler Jefferson took the snap and looked left. First read wasn’t there. He stepped up in the pocket. Nothing. Jefferson scrambled right, buying just enough time to spot Rickie Shaw working his way across the field.

Shaw found a sliver of daylight in the right corner of the end zone.

TOUCHDOWN WILDCATS!

Bethune-Cookman 24. Jackson State 21.

Forty seconds remaining.

Pandemonium swept through the stadium as Shaw celebrated with his Kappa Alpha Psi shimmy!

Rickie Shaw Game Winning 19 YD TD

But for a few of us, there was no pandemonium. Not yet.

We’ve been here before.

You know, this close to a win only to watch it slip through your fingers in the most agonizing fashion.

So while the stadium erupted, a few of us suspended our excitement and began an almost ritualistic chant:

“WE GOT TO FINISH! WE GOT TO FINISH!”

Heck, Athletic Director Reggie Theus was standing in that same end zone where Shaw had just scored. Amid the celebration, he looked me squarely in the eyes and said the exact same thing.

“We got to finish.”

Jackson State took the ensuing possession and marched into field goal range with six ticks remaining.

Here we go again.

But something funny happened.

The winds that had seemingly calmed down from the earlier downpour picked up almost on cue, blowing toward the left of the uprights.

Good snap.

Good hold.

Good contact.

But Andrew Ivaniciuc’s 49-yard attempt sailed left as time expired.

WILDCATS WIN!

What an ending.

What. A. Game.

And just like that, Bethune had knocked off the defending SWAC East champions, 24-21, and moved into a tie for first place in the division.

The Wildcats found a way to finish.

Was it a perfect game? Absolutely not. But that’s kinda what’s encouraging about this win. BCU left plenty opportunities on the field. But they were able to overcome their own mistakes, and STILL take down the Tigers. That says an awful lot about where Coach Raymond Woodie has this program right now.

The question now is was Saturday simply a big win, or was it an announcement?

You know, the kind of victory that shifts not just the momentum of a season, but the trajectory of a program.

DEFENSE, DEFENSE, AND MORE DEFENSE

As dramatic as Jefferson’s game winning touchdown pass was, the real story Saturday was Bethune’s suffocating defense.

The Wildcats slowed down Jackson State’s vaunted rushing attack and controlled their offense as a whole.

Consider these numbers from BCU’s defense

  • held JSU to 33 rushing yards on 36 attempts.
  • 13-of-28 passing, under 50 percent.
  • 10 tackles for loss.
  • 4 sacks.
  • 1 forced fumble.

Pure dominance.

Stephen Sparrow was everywhere, collecting 11 tackles, a sack, and two tackles for loss.

Isaiah Washburn wasn’t far behind, recording seven tackles, a sack, and three tackles for loss.

The Wildcats pressured, pressured, and pressured the Tigers bringing 5 or 6 defenders on seemingly 90% of the snaps.

Offensively, Jefferson once again showed why his emergence has been one of the more intriguing developments of this season.

A week after providing the spark against Mississippi Valley State, Jefferson delivered three touchdown passes against Jackson State.

A 21-yarder to Josh Evans.

A 33-yarder to Rashon Brown.

And, of course, the 19-yard game winner to Rickie Shaw.

Jefferson hasn’t solved every issue with Bethune’s passing game. But he’s demonstrating a knack for making big plays when the Wildcats need them most. Plus he is a huge asset in the running game.

A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON

Here’s something you probably wouldn’t know unless you’re a football nerd like me.

Before BCU entered the SWAC, the Wildcats actually held a slightly better all-time historical winning percentage than Jackson State.

Heading into the 2020 season, the historical records looked like this:

Think about that for a moment.

For all the deserved attention JSU has has received throughout the years, Bethune-Cookman has its own rich football tradition.

But since joining the SWAC, the programs have traveled vastly different roads.

JSU has been one of the conference’s standard bearers, collecting SWAC championships and national attention.

Meanwhile, BCU has been fighting to rediscover the winning tradition that once made the Wildcats one of the most respected programs in HBCU football.

And that’s why Saturday mattered.

Not simply because Bethune beat Jackson State.

But because Jackson State represents the level BCU is trying to get back to.

The question surrounding this program has been whether the Wildcats could once again compete consistently with the SWAC’s best.

Well, on Saturday, they didn’t just compete. They won.

NOW COMES THE FUN PART

Let’s see how the Wildcats handle success.

But something about this victory and their recent play tells me they will.

Maybe it’s the way the defense has developed into one of the conference’s most disruptive units.

Maybe it’s Jefferson’s emergence.

Or perhaps it’s the growing confidence of a team that is beginning to believe it belongs in the championship conversation.

Will this be the catalyst that returns the Wildcats to the ranks of year in and year out contenders?

We don’t know that yet.

But we do know this: The Wildcats are contenders RIGHT NOW.

THE PATH FORWARD

The most straightforward path to the SWAC East crown is simple enough.

Win out and hope Alabama A&M drops a game.

If that happens, Bethune wins the East.

There are other potential scenarios, but with several weeks of football remaining, it’s far too early to start untangling every possible tiebreaker.

The Wildcats have more immediate concerns.

Get healthy.

Stay focused.

And take care of business against Arkansas-Pine Bluff this weekend.

Saturday was a huge win. Perhaps the biggest of the Raymond Woodie era.

But if this team wants to turn a signature victory into a championship season, it has to embrace the very words that echoed through the stadium during those final 40 seconds.

WE GOT TO FINISH.

Gameday Photos Against JSU

Alabama State Insider, BZNUPE, Answers 5 Questions about the ASU/BCU Matchup

/ J Bell / Leave a comment

Alabama State Insider, BZNUPE, answers 5 questions about Saturday’s Bama State/BCU matchup.

1. With Andrew Body dealing with a wrist injury and true freshman Aaron Frye stepping into the starting role, how much does the quarterback change alter Alabama State’s offense; and how confident are Hornet fans in Frye?

BZNUPE: Body being hurt is a huge blow for the program. He is our leader and the best player on our team. The good thing about Frye coming to school in January is that he went through spring practice as the main QB because we were dealing with injuries to Body and Te’Sean Smoot. Add in a new OC, Tony Hull, and it’s a difficult situation. I will say that one benefit is that Hull and Frye have been working together since the spring, and that helps tremendously.

I’ve watched “Hot Frye” for the past two years and have been at most of his high school games because of where I work. He is a baller, has played high-level football, and won a ’ship as the best player. In his 10th-grade year, he stepped in for four or five games, did well, and won a ’ship that year as well. “Hot Frye” or “In Frye We Trust” is what we like to call him. I think we will be okay both long term and at the moment with our freshman quarterback.

2. Alabama State scored 41 points against Mississippi Valley State, but the offense produced only 258 total yards. Did that performance expose legitimate offensive concerns, or was it simply a case of the Hornets capitalizing on turnovers and special teams?

BZNUPE: Each game brings new challenges, and running the offense with a new QB is a huge challenge. We did a good job of keeping the QB upright and calling plays that allowed him to get some solid throws in. We had some big drops, but those can also be attributed to timing with the new QB. We did capitalize on mistakes, and that’s what football is about in some games. Forty-one points is 41 points.

3. Beyond the quarterback position, which Alabama State players should Bethune-Cookman fans keep an eye on Saturday; and who could be the difference-maker on each side of the ball?

BZNUPE: Ta-shaun Sims sets our tone defensively, and Nehemiah Hixon will always give us great field position as a return man. He will also score a TD if you’re not careful.

4. When you examine Bethune-Cookman, what concerns you most about this matchup; and where do you believe Alabama State has its clearest advantage?

BZNUPE: What scares me the most is the defense. I think, offensively, we are both dealing with possible unknowns at QB. Your defense, with Washburn and the crew, can make it tough for my freshman QB, especially on the road.

5. What must Alabama State do to win in Daytona Beach, and what is your final score prediction?

BZNUPE: To win, ASU must take care of the football, limit mistakes, and not allow “Mary’s Kids” to speed our QB up. Also, we have to shore up our coverages in the secondary and make sure we keep everything in front of us. The run game must travel and will help take the pressure off Hot Frye.

My prediction ASU 28, BCU 21.

Wildcats Win An Instant Classic Florida Classic 38-34

/ J Bell / Leave a comment
Josh Evans scores winning TD with 28 seconds remaining – 2025 FL Classic

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.

QtrTimeScoring PlayFAMBCU
1st08:33FAM – Porto,Daniel 45 yd field goal 7 plays, 36 yards, TOP 04:2230
1st04:38BCU – Jenkins,Lorenzo 25 yd pass from McClain,Timmy (Dominguez,Juan kick) 7 plays, 61 yards, TOP 03:2837
2nd13:31BCU – Dominguez,Juan 30 yd field goal 7 plays, 43 yards, TOP 03:38310
2nd06:52BCU – Robinson,Khamani 50 yd run (Dominguez,Juan kick), 1 plays, 50 yards, TOP 00:10317
2nd04:04FAM – Burris,Armand 44 yd pass from Johnson III,RJ ( ) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:48917
2nd00:23BCU – Huggins,Maleek 7 yd pass from McClain,Timmy (Dominguez,Juan kick) 10 plays, 90 yards, TOP 03:33924
3rd11:56FAM – Burris,Armand 17 yd pass from Johnson III,RJ (Porto,Daniel kick) 8 plays, 68 yards, TOP 02:581624
4th08:49FAM – Porto,Daniel 37 yd field goal 10 plays, 62 yards, TOP 03:551924
4th07:47FAM – Hailey,Jamal 72 yd run (Lawrence,Goldie pass), 1 plays, 72 yards, TOP 00:122724
4th07:03BCU – Ross,Javon 67 yd pass from McClain,Timmy (Dominguez,Juan kick) 2 plays, 72 yards, TOP 00:362731
4th02:19FAM – Franklin, Jr.,Thad 19 yd run (Porto,Daniel kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:433431
4th00:20BCU – Evans,Josh 41 yd pass from McClain,Timmy (Dominguez,Juan kick) 8 plays, 70 yards, TOP 01:523438
3438
StatisticFAMBCU
First Downs
Total2223
Rushing1010
Passing98
Penalty35
Rushing
Total (Net)195211
Attempts2534
Avg. Per Rush7.86.2
Rushing TDs21
Yds. Gained225244
Yds. Lost3033
Passing
Total (Net)228274
Comp.-Att.-Int.22-35-022-33-0
Avg. / Att.6.58.3
Avg. / Comp.10.412.5
TDs24
Total Offense
Yards423485
Plays6067
Avg. / Play77.2
Fumbles – Lost1-12-1
Penalties – Yds.7-709–90
Punting
Punts – Yds.4–1773-146
Avg. / Punt44.248.7
Inside 2011
50+ Yds.12
Touchbacks01
Fair Catch20
Kickoffs
Total – Yds.7-3947-434
Avg. Yds. / Kickoff56.362.0
Touchbacks12
Returns
Punt: Total – Yds. – TDs1-0-01-21-0
Punt: Avg. / Return0.021.0
Kickoff: Total – Yds. – TDs2-44-06–138-0
Kickoff: Avg. / Return22.023.0
INT: Total – Yds. – TDs0-0-00-0-0
Fumble: Total – Yds. – TDs0-0-01–5-0
Miscellaneous
Misc. Yards00
Poss. Time28:1931:41
3rd. Down Conv.3 of 104 of 12
4th. Down Conversions0 of 11 of 1
Red-Zone: Scores – Chances4–43-3
Sacks: Total – Yds.3-254-23
PAT: Total – Made2-35–5
2PT Conversion: Total – Made1–10-0
Field Goals: Total – Made2-21-3

Big Bama State Bullies Bethune: Tough Lesson in the Gump

/ J Bell / 2 Comments

Big Bama State Bullies Bethune: A Tough Lesson in the Gump

For about 12 glorious seconds, it looked like Bethune-Cookman was about to ruin Alabama State’s homecoming.

On the Wildcats’ first play from scrimmage, Cam Ransom dropped back, spotted Maleek Huggins on a deep crosser, and hit him in stride for an 85-yard touchdown. One play. Twelve seconds. Six points.

Maleek Huggins celebrates 85 yard TD reception

The Wildcats scored on their first offensive play of the game for the second week in a row. Things were looking up. The vibe of pulling an upset had the guys from the Church School on Da Beach feeling pretty good.

But then… the Big Bama Bullies showed up.

Alabama State answered with four straight scoring drives and never looked back, bullying Bethune 52–35 in a game that reminded everyone just how good this Hornets team is.

The Reality Check

This one stung for sure. However, it also came with a clear message. This Alabama State program is where Bethune-Cookman aspires to be. It is among the elite in HBCU football.

The Hornets are averaging 40.6 points per game on offense including dropping 42 on FBS foe UAB this season. They are without question one of the best teams in HBCU football right now.

So losing to ASU is nothing to be ashamed of. You just have to tip your cap and realize that the guys from “The Gump” have dudes on scholarship too. They are a little further along in their building process than BCU.

Speaking of dudes, there are not very many playing better than quarterback Andrew Body through the midpoint of the season. Body had another brilliant game going 11 for 17 for 171 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday. He added 95 yards rushing. He was a type of “get out of jail free card” anytime the Wildcats put ASU under any sort of duress.

Too many miscues

It’s hard to win games against good teams with players like Body when you play perfectly. It is nearly impossible to beat these kind of teams when you don’t help yourself by executing cleanly. BCU had too many miscues to position themselves for an upset.

-A missed 4th-down throw early in the contest.

-A careless fumble in the second quarter.

-A missed field goal later that quarter.

-An ill-advised interception in the third.

-And tackling? Let’s just say it was very poor all game.

Defensive coordinator Robert Wimberly’s unit never quite found an answer for Body and the ASU offense. The Hornets’ exploded for 560-yards. Of those, 389 came on the ground for a whopping 10 yards per carry.

Ouch. That is not a typo. BCU gave up almost 400 yards rushing and 10 yards per carry.

Nothing in football stings worse than watching another team run the ball down your throat. And you better believe every SWAC offensive coordinator took notes.

The Bright Side

Now, before you stop reading and start yelling… breathe.

There were still plenty of positives.

BCU’s offense continues to ball out. The Wildcats posted 569 total yards and 35 points against one of the best defenses in the conference. That’s the 4th straight game the offense has scored at least 35 points. And for anyone ready to slap the “garbage time” label on those stats, consider this: BCU piled up 309 yards in the first half alone.

Maleek Huggins (7 catches, 132 yards, 2 TDs) and Javon Ross (9 catches, 137 yards, 1 TD) had over 130 receiving yards each.

Javon “Bon-Bon” Ross has big day against ASU

Running back Ali Scott added 100 “grown man” yards on the ground running over about six Hornet defenders in the process.

When Cam Ransom went down with a leg injury in the second quarter, Timmy McClain stepped in and handled business completing 73.5% of his passes for 266 yards. The senior from Sanford accounted for 4 touchdowns (2 passing and 2 rushing). McClain’s performance should give fans confidence in the depth of BCU’s QB room.

Perspective and Progress

The Wildcats exited the game with their egos bruised but this game was part of the process. The growing pains are real, but it is still growth.

BCU’s offense is electric and can hang with anybody in the HBCU landscape. The defense, though, is still learning what it takes to go toe-to-toe with the upper echelon programs like Alabama State and South Carolina State.

These are the games that teach you about where your program is and what needs to improve. They highlight your strengths, expose your weaknesses, and prepare you for the next step.

And that next step?

It comes this weekend when Southern University visits Daytona Beach for the first time ever. Our Wildcats will be looking for the first win in program history over the Jaguars. Southern leads the series 7 games to none but escaped last year’s matchup by just 2 points in five overtimes. A BCU win would keep them undefeated on home soil this season. It would also eclipse last year’s win total with 5 games remaining.

So, Wildcat Nation, lick your wounds but keep your heads high. The Maroon and Gold look to bounce back and keep the rebuild on track.

StatisticBCUASU
First Downs
Total3325
Rushing1216
Passing178
Penalty41
Rushing
Total (Net)207388
Attempts4240
Avg. Per Rush4.99.7
Rushing TDs25
Yds. Gained242392
Yds. Lost354
Passing
Total (Net)362171
Comp.-Att.-Int.27–41–111-16-0
Avg. / Att.8.810.7
Avg. / Comp.13.415.5
TDs32
Total Offense
Yards569559
Plays8356
Avg. / Play6.910
Fumbles – Lost2–10-0
Penalties – Yds.4-377–73
Punting
Punts – Yds.2-783–112
Avg. / Punt3937.3
Inside 2001
50+ Yds.00
Touchbacks00
Fair Catch02
Kickoffs
Total – Yds.6-3249–561
Avg. Yds. / Kickoff54.062.3
Touchbacks02
Returns
Punt: Total – Yds. – TDs0-0-00-0-0
Punt: Avg. / Return00
Kickoff: Total – Yds. – TDs7–137-05-43-0
Kickoff: Avg. / Return19.68.6
INT: Total – Yds. – TDs0-0-01–18-0
Fumble: Total – Yds. – TDs0-0-00-0-0
Miscellaneous
Misc. Yards00
Poss. Time33:5926:01
3rd. Down Conv.5 of 102 of 6
4th. Down Conversions1 of 20 of 0
Red-Zone: Scores – Chances4-45–5
Sacks: Total – Yds.1-22–13
PAT: Total – Made5-57–7
2PT Conversion: Total – Made0-00-0
Field Goals: Total – Made0-11-1
QtrTimeScoring PlayBCUASU
1st14:44BCU – Huggins,Maleek 85 yd pass from Ransom,Cam’Ron (Dominguez,Juan kick) 1 plays, 85 yards, TOP 00:1270
1st09:39ASU – Harden,Derick 13 yd pass from Body,Andrew (Abu-Akel,Andrew kick) 9 plays, 79 yards, TOP 04:5977
1st03:49ASU – Abu-Akel,Andrew 40 yd field goal 7 plays, 29 yards, TOP 03:08710
1st01:11ASU – Hostzclaw,Jamarie 10 yd run (Abu-Akel,Andrew kick), 4 plays, 70 yards, TOP 01:33717
2nd13:08ASU – Ligon,Karl 2 yd run (Abu-Akel,Andrew kick), 3 plays, 35 yards, TOP 01:00724
2nd01:56BCU – Huggins,Maleek 4 yd pass from McClain,Timmy (Dominguez,Juan kick) 10 plays, 88 yards, TOP 04:211424
2nd01:36ASU – Jones,Jalen 30 yd pass from Body,Andrew (Abu-Akel,Andrew kick) 2 plays, 65 yards, TOP 00:201431
3rd12:13ASU – Ligon,Karl 2 yd run (Abu-Akel,Andrew kick), 6 plays, 81 yards, TOP 02:421438
3rd06:20ASU – Kuykendall,Jahbari 48 yd run (Abu-Akel,Andrew kick), 5 plays, 89 yards, TOP 01:581445
3rd02:16BCU – McClain,Timmy 1 yd run (Dominguez,Juan kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:042145
4th13:31ASU – Harris II,Marcus 1 yd run (Gilliam,Brandon kick), 7 plays, 77 yards, TOP 03:362152
4th06:26BCU – McClain,Timmy 1 yd run (Dominguez,Juan kick), 14 plays, 74 yards, TOP 06:572852
4th01:19BCU – Ross,Javon 20 yd pass from McClain,Timmy (Dominguez,Juan kick) 8 plays, 68 yards, TOP 02:443552
3552

We Can Get Used to This – Wildcats Secure First SWAC Win 41-34 over Bulldogs

/ J Bell / Leave a comment

Credits The News-Journal

We Can Get Used to This

Daytona Stadium is starting to feel a little different these days. It’s a little louder, a little bit more lively, and dare I say it…filled with a lot more hope as Bethune-Cookman has strung together back-to-back home wins. The Wildcats are giving their fans something they haven’t truly experienced in years: a reason to believe.

Last week’s victory over Edward Waters felt more like relief. The same with last year’s home win over Grambling State. But Saturday’s win over Alabama A&M just felt different.

-That was an excellent football game against a good, well-coached A&M team.

-That was a game that sparked a lot of pride among the fans.

-That ladies and gentlemen was Wildcat football.

A Well-Played Game from Start to Finish

From the opening whistle, BCU looked sharp, well-prepared, and confident. They looked like a good football program to say it bluntly. They asserted themselves early and repeatedly against a quality SWAC opponent. They also showed just how far this squad has progressed since game one this season. Was it perfect? Nah, not even close but it was the kind of well-rounded performance that sets a tone for the weeks ahead.

When in doubt, give the ball to “Bon-Bon”

Sophomore receiver Javon “Bon-Bon” Ross had himself a game. The Deland native, nicknamed Bon-Bon by his grandmother, electrified the crowd with a breakout performance that was hard to ignore.

On the Wildcats’ very first offensive play, quarterback Cam Ransom uncorked a 79-yard bomb. It dropped perfectly into Ross’s hands and he did the rest by outrunning the defenders on his way to the endzone. On BCU’s next possession, Ross added a 41-yard touchdown run after taking a reverse to the house. Two touchdowns for Ross scored in two different ways. The fanbase now knows what the locals have known for a while…good things happen when you give the ball to Bon-Bon.

The Playmakers Keep Rising

Ross wasn’t the only local product shining on Saturday. True freshman running back Khamani Robinson continues to prove that the moment isn’t too big for him. Robinson scored BCU’s third touchdown on a 24 yard scamper giving the Cats the lead at halftime.

And then there’s Cam Ransom. Each week, he keeps getting better and right now, it’s hard to find any HBCU quarterback who is playing better. His command of the offense, his efficiency, and his growing chemistry with playmakers like Ross and Rickie Shaw, Maleek Huggins, Lorenzo Jenkins and others are changing the Wildcats’ offensive identity right before our eyes.

The Fans are Starting to Believe Too

Shoutout to the fans who showed up Saturday. The threat of rainstorms seemed to have kept a few people away. However, those who decided to attend were treated to a great HBCU experience. Not only did they witness BCU’s best overall performance in years, but they also enjoyed a SWAC Band Battle.

Daytona Stadium hosted an opposing SWAC band for the first time since BCU joined the conference. Alabama A&M’s Marching Maroon and White (MMW) made the trip to “Da Beach”. After speaking with many in attendance, the MMW headed back to Huntsville with a slew of new fans. The MMW are wecolmed back anytime.

BCU’s Marching Wildcats did what they always do…they “showed up and showed out”. Give AAMU’s band the edge in song selection and repertoire, but the Pride delivered in execution and overall sound quality. In the end, both bands represented well and it was the fans who were the biggest winners.

A Shift in the Air

It was great seeing the vibe in the stands all game. The bands helped with the atmosphere and the weather held off for the most part, but it was about more than the good bands and decent weather. The fans were active, engaged, and for the first time in a long time, anxiety-free. Cookman fans regained a bit of their mojo. They actually expected something good to happen, rather than waiting on disaster. Even after the game, I heard from at least a dozen fans. They all echoed the same sentiment…this was the best they had felt after a BCU game in years.

The excitement was palpable and the hope was contagious. You could see it in the way the team responded to mistakes. They didn’t allow miscues to beat them twice. Instead, they corrected them and overcame them in real time.

You could see it in the way the fans cheered…a little louder and a little longer.

And most importantly, you saw it on the scoreboard; Wildcats 41, Bulldogs 34.

I like this feeling. Heck, we all like this feeling. And judging by the team’s growing confidence, we may get to share this feeling a little more often and that’s something we can get used to.

StatisticAAMBCU
First Downs
Total2225
Rushing614
Passing1410
Penalty21
Rushing
Total (Net)125259
Attempts3235
Avg. Per Rush3.97.4
Rushing TDs14
Yds. Gained133266
Yds. Lost87
Passing
Total (Net)355257
Comp.-Att.-Int.27–41-118-25-2
Avg. / Att.8.710.3
Avg. / Comp.13.114.3
TDs32
Total Offense
Yards480516
Plays7360
Avg. / Play6.68.6
Fumbles – Lost1–10-0
Penalties – Yds.4-506–61
Punting
Punts – Yds.2-753–131
Avg. / Punt37.543.7
Inside 2010
50+ Yds.01
Touchbacks01
Fair Catch00
Kickoffs
Total – Yds.7-3687-435
Avg. Yds. / Kickoff52.662.1
Touchbacks12
Returns
Punt: Total – Yds. – TDs2–16-00-0-0
Punt: Avg. / Return8.00
Kickoff: Total – Yds. – TDs5-111-06-68-0
Kickoff: Avg. / Return22.211.3
INT: Total – Yds. – TDs2-0-01-0-0
Fumble: Total – Yds. – TDs0-0-00-0-0
Miscellaneous
Misc. Yards00
Poss. Time31:5928:01
3rd. Down Conv.11 of 188 of 11
4th. Down Conversions3 of 30 of 0
Red-Zone: Scores – Chances3–31-1
Sacks: Total – Yds.0-02–4
PAT: Total – Made4-45–6
2PT Conversion: Total – Made0-00-0
Field Goals: Total – Made2–20-0

QtrTimeScoring PlayAAMBCU
1st09:35AAM – Faulk,David 45 yd field goal 11 plays, 53 yards, TOP 05:2130
1st09:20BCU – Ross,Javon 79 yd pass from Ransom,Cam’Ron (Dominguez,Juan kick) 1 plays, 79 yards, TOP 00:1137
1st01:27AAM – Nero,Kolton 2 yd run (Faulk,David kick), 4 plays, 62 yards, TOP 01:43107
2nd13:38BCU – Ross,Javon 41 yd run (Dominguez,Juan kick), 7 plays, 83 yards, TOP 02:441014
2nd08:41AAM – Pierre,Franck 72 yd pass from Handley,Eric (Faulk,David kick) 4 plays, 83 yards, TOP 01:101714
2nd01:18BCU – Robinson,Khamani 24 yd run ( ), 14 plays, 83 yards, TOP 07:191720
2nd00:08BCU – Shaw II,Rickie 27 yd pass from Ransom,Cam’Ron (Dominguez,Juan kick) 7 plays, 63 yards, TOP 00:541727
3rd11:31AAM – Pierre,Franck 32 yd pass from Handley,Eric (Faulk,David kick) 3 plays, 58 yards, TOP 00:572427
3rd10:18BCU – Scott Jr.,Alihaja 8 yd run (Dominguez,Juan kick), 3 plays, 69 yards, TOP 01:072434
3rd03:44AAM – Abner,Travaunta 1 yd pass from Handley,Eric (Faulk,David kick) 12 plays, 59 yards, TOP 06:253134
4th05:58AAM – Faulk,David 19 yd field goal 15 plays, 57 yards, TOP 06:443434
4th01:07BCU – Scott Jr.,Alihaja 26 yd run (Dominguez,Juan kick), 8 plays, 66 yards, TOP 04:443441
3441

Preview: BCU at South Carolina State; Sneaky Good or One-Sided 🤔

/ J Bell / 1 Comment

Credits: Bryce Hoynoski

If you ask most HBCU fans to circle the big games this weekend, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone pointing to Bethune-Cookman vs. South Carolina State. And honestly—why would they?

South Carolina State is the defending MEAC champ, sitting at 1-1 currently, and looking set to defend their crown. Bethune-Cookman, on the other hand, hasn’t factored into many meaningful contests recently and have been on the butt end of a couple of whoppings the past two weeks.

On paper, this looks like a mismatch. But call me crazy, something tells me this could be a sneaky good game this weekend.

call me crazy, something tells me this could be a sneaky good game this weekend.

J Bell – HailWildcats.com

Maybe that’s the Wildcat fanatic in me talking…Probably is.

Maybe I’m still holding on to the luster of yesteryear when the BCU vs SCSU matchup carried the intensity of a prizefight when the two were MEAC heavyweights.

Or maybe—just maybe—it’s because history says these two programs rarely give us a dud on the gridiron.

Series Split over last 10 games

The series is split at 5 wins and 5 losses apiece over the past 10 matchups. It’s split 11 wins and 9 losses in favor of the Bulldogs over the past 20.  

So despite the difference in expectations for these squads, the back-and-forth series record shows you don’t sleep on this rivalry; even when the Wildcats look down.

What to Expect Saturday

Here is Coach Woodie and the Wildcats’ chance to make an announcement to the HBCU world; and SCSU is the perfect opponent to do it against. Don’t expect the same watered-down schemes we’ve seen through Weeks 1 and 2 against BCU’s FBS opponents.

On Defense: Expect more blitz packages, more disruption, and more variations in coverages.

On Offense: Look for much more tempo, more creativity, more quarterback run, and more getting the ball in the hands of the playmakers quickly.

I’m NOT predicting a BCU upset but that’s not out of the question either. What I am predicting is the type of Dog and Cat fight that has made this series very competitive.

J Bell – HailWildcats.com

Let me be clear, I’m NOT predicting a BCU upset but that’s not out of the question either. What I am predicting is the type of Dog and Cat fight that has made this series very competitive and my favorite on the field matchup for BCU. And who knows, if things break right…well, let’s just say if things break right, it will be hard to shut me up next week.

Yeah, I know I’m crazy. I know how that sounds. I guess I will see y’all in Orangeburg.

Hail Wildcats!

Opportunity Season: The Road Back Starts Here

/ J Bell / Leave a comment

Sports has a way of giving us all kinds of sayings when the pressure’s on.

“Barbecue or mildew.”

“Put up or shut up.”

“Hunt or be hunted.”

“Run with the big dogs or stay on the porch.”

You’ve heard them. We all have. They’re different ways of saying the same thing: it’s time to deliver.

But for the 2025 Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, no catchphrase is really needed this time around.

It’s just the simple reality of new season, new opportunity.

After all, BCU is coming off the roughest four-year stretch in its 100-year history.

But isn’t that what we love about new seasons? It’s a reset. A chance to change the narrative. And while it may be difficult to believe from the outside, there are reasons to feel optimistic about the 2025 campaign.

🏆 A Legacy Worth Fighting For

Bethune-Cookman boasts a proud football tradition with a resume stacked with decades of wins, championships, and pro-level pedigree. The Wildcats are:

  • Top 25 in FCS All-Time Winning Percentage with an all-time record of 510–351–27 (.590). That’s good enough for seventh all time amongst HBCUs.
  • 5 Conference Titles over the past 20 years and 14 Conference Titles overall.  
  • 4 claimed Black College National Championships.
  • A NFL Hall of Famer in Larry Little. A Buck Buchanan Award winner in Rashean Mathis. Several NFL All-Pros, Pro- Bowlers, etc.

Bottomline, there is a ton of heritage attached to this BCU football program.

😔 A Historic Low Point

While Cookman has a ton of history to celebrate on the gridiron, we can’t pretend that the past four seasons have not been difficult for the maroon and gold. The Wildcats suffered 2–9 seasons in 2021 and 2022, a 3-8 season in 2023, and a 2–10 finish in 2024. The nine wins over the past four years represent the worst 4-year run in the program’s 100 years of playing tackle football as mentioned previously.

🔥 Why 2025 Could Be the Barbecue Season (No, Really)

Entering his third season, Coach Raymond Woodie Jr’s positive impact is being felt off the field.

  • Team GPA has risen from 2.4 to 3.25.
  • 19 players earned 4.0 GPAs last season.
  • The team was removed from NCAA mandated practice time restrictions due to Academic Progress Rate (APR) penalties.
  • New on-campus locker room. ✅. New showers. ✅. New facility upgrades. Underway.

These are all positives happening within the program and worth celebrating. But let’s take a look at why 2025 has a chance to be different ON THE FIELD.

🔁 Experience Returning

The 2025 version of the Bethune-Cookman football team is easily the most experienced team of the Raymond Woodie era. Heck, for the first time in 3 years, they actually had enough players to host a traditional Spring game.

Offense

Team continuity is a precious commodity in the current transfer portal era. Fortunately for Bethune, nine starters return on offense alone. That’s not to say that BCU was not impacted by the portal on offense. In fact, last year’s leading rusher, running back Dennis Palmer, and second leading receiver tight end Thomas Nance, transferred to FBS programs Troy and Temple respectively.

Beyond that, all other starters return on the offensive side of the ball. That’s HUGE!

QB Cam Ransom completed over 62% of his pass attempts last year throwing for 1843 yards and 11 touchdowns in the process. The big left hander from Lakeland was named to the Preseason All-SWAC 2nd Team. Ransom has the arm, the legs, and the poise to give BCU a chance on every snap. Transfers Tim McClain (Arkansas State) and Amari Jones (Florida International) are expected to push Ransom for snaps and provide the Wildcats with three top notch signal callers.

WR Malik Huggins is another Preseason All-SWAC 2nd Teamer. Huggins is dangerous in both the return game and in the slot. A six-yard slant can quickly become a 60-yard see-ya once Huggins gets his hands on the ball. Fellow slot receiver Javon Ross, had an incredible Spring and seems poised for a breakout sophomore campaign. Pitt transfer Lorenzo Jenkins showed what he can do outside the numbers last season. Add all of that up, throw in a handful of newcomers who are expected to contribute right away and BCU has quietly put together one of the better wide receiver rooms in the SWAC.

O-Line: The entire starting group is back and anchored by freshman All-American Teko Shoats. This group got better as they got younger last season which is a crazy statement. Bethune finished 2024 with 3 true freshmen starting on the offensive line in the last few games. Ironically, the offense performed its best during that same span. The unit was bolstered in the offseason by getting a few guys healthy again, as well as adding new faces via the portal and on national signing day. Let’s see if the Wildcats can make the next leap forward as a collective unit in the trenches. If they can, watch out!

Defense

Seven starters return on defense. AJ Hall anchors the front seven from his defensive tackle position. Hall is yet another All-SWAC performer who will be joined by Preseason All-SWAC LB, Malik Stinnett and last year’s All-SWAC Preseason linebacker, Dearis Thomas, who spent the last 10 games of 2024 nursing an injury.

BCU suffered far more attrition to the portal on the defensive side of the ball losing 4 linemen and a linebacker to FBS and FCS schools alike. That means the newcomers in the front seven will have to produce right away to help offset these losses.

🗺️ The 2025 Roadmap

The Wildcats start the year on the road to face 3 of their 4 toughest opponents: at FIU, at Miami, and at South Carolina State respectively.

The non-conference slate wraps up on September 20th when a Brian Jenkins led Edward Waters visits Daytona Stadium for the first home game of the year.

The final 8 games are all against SWAC opponents. The home matchups include Alabama A&M (9/27), Southern (10/11), UAPB (10/25 homecoming), and MSVS (11/1).

BCU visits ASU (10/4), Grambling (11/8), JSU (11/15), and that school from one of those hills in Tallahassee on (11/22) in Orlando for the Florida Classic.

💥 The Case for BCU in 2025

Bethune lost 4 conference games a season ago by a combined 13 points. That’s painful. To add insult to injury, the Wildcats had the ball with a chance to win on the final possession in all 4 of those games. 2025 will look different if BCU can find a way to start winning the close games; or as Coach Woodie often says, “they have to finish”.

We expect the offense to be better; but how much better can they be is the real question yet to be answered.

The glass half empty crowd will point to the fact that the offense ranked in the bottom third of the conference in most major offensive metrics last year. The most important of which was 11th in points per game at a mere 20.2.

The glass half full crew understands that the current unit is more established, more experienced, and has more depth. We think the offense will need to be at least a 7-8 points better per game if they are to secure their first winning season in 5 years. That’s a huge number for sure but 27 points per game in modern college football is a more than reasonable expectation for winning squads.

On the defensive side of things, Coach Woodie has to hope that his unit performs closer to the way they did in his first season in 2023. That year, they finished 2nd in FCS in tackles for loss with 7.8 per game and gave up around 26 ppg.

If the season kicked off tomorrow, the Wildcats would be more than a one score underdog in 4 games (FIU, Miami, SC State, and Jackson State); they would likely be favored in 3 games (Edward Waters, UAPB, and MSVS); and the other 5 would likely be games under a one touchdown scoreline which we are considering toss up games (AAMU, ASU, SU, GSU, and FAMU). The straightest path to a .500 or better season is to win the games you’re favored in, and win more of the toss up games than you lose. That alone gets you to 6 wins if our point spread assumptions are true. If they can pull an upset or two or win a few more toss up games, now you’re talking a 7 or 8 win season. I think that would be a fully successful season in year 3 for Coach Woodie.

The good news is we won’t have to guess and “what-if” for much longer. We will soon get our answer as to whether the 2025 Wildcats will “barbecue or mildew”, “hunt or be hunted”, “run with the big dogs”… Like I said, you get the point.

Mercer, Mercer Me…Things Ain’t What They Use to Be. Wildcats Blasted 31-2 by the Bears.

/ J Bell / Leave a comment
Credits: The Daytona Beach News-Journal

Mercer, Mercer Me…Things Ain’t What They Use to Be. Wildcats Blasted 31-2 by the Bears.

Remember the good old days when Bethune-Cookman was a perennial Top 25 program and frequent visitor to the FCS playoffs? The days when the Wildcats would roll into your trap and take over your trap. Well these ain’t them days. At least not at this early juncture of the season they are not.

Saturday’s contest against the Mercer Bears, who won a FCS playoff game last season and are currently ranked 24th in FCS Coaches’ Poll, was the first genuine opportunity of the Raymond Woodie era to see how close the BCU football program was to returning to those former days of glory. The test results were emphatic—BCU still has a ways to go to close the gap on the top teams at this level.

Heck, if you’re just looking at the 31-2 scoreline, it would suggest BCU failed the first early season test miserably. But football is a situational game and a play or two here or there changes the entire complexion of the contest. After watching that game live on Saturday, and re-watching it online two additional times on Sunday, my conclusion is this: there is no need to hit the panic button, but there are reasons to be concerned.

So how did we get here? How did this Cookman team, who had elevated expectations coming into the season, end up on the wrong side of a completely lopsided scoreline?

Well for starters, Mercer is a really good football program. Like really, really good.  Much respect to the coaching staff and players from the Middle Georgia school. Bethune won’t be the only team on the wrong side of the win/loss column against Mercer.

The Bears demonstrated what good football programs do.

They make the critical plays when they are there to be made.

They weather adversity.

They make the right adjustments.

They win the situational game.

The Wildcats did none of these things quite so well on Saturday.

Mercer quarterback, DJ Smith connected with slot receiver Bryden Smith on a wheel route for a 50-yard touchdown at the 6:06 mark of the second quarter to open the game’s scoring.

Smith’s, bubble screen to Parker Wroble ended as a 14-yard TD with 1:25 left in the second quarter. And 23 seconds later, Mercer turned a BCU interception into a 21-0 lead when Smith tossed his third TD pass of the half to wideout Kelin Parsons.

If you are keeping up at home, the score went from 0-0 to 21-0 in 4:41 of game time. YIKES. And that still only reveals a part of the story.

Too Aggressive, Too Soon

Trailing 14-0 with 1:20 left in the half, BCU took over at its own 29 yardline. The Wildcats were still very much in the contest and playing well at this point. Conventional wisdom say you play the percentages, take a knee, and get to halftime trailing by only 2 scores. This is specifically true since BCU was set to  receive the ball to begin the 3rd quarter. However, the Wildcats threw caution to the wind and came out aggressive. Mercer made BCU pay for the decision by intercepting a Cam Ransom pass and returning it BCU’s 15 yardline.

The Bears scored on the next play pushing the lead to 21 and killed off the game at that point.

42-point swing

As wild as it sounds, BCU could have just as easily taken a 21-point lead into halftime instead of trailing by as many.

On its opening possession of the game, the Wildcats drove the ball to the Mercer 6-yard line before fumbling it away on 2nd and goal. It was an 100% avoidable error by the BCU offense. The ball was not stripped, it was simply bad ballhandling by QB Cam Ransom.

Let’s assume BCU scores a TD on that drive. That’s 7 points you left on the field.

On the next possession, Ransom found Lorenzo Jenkins on a deep post and 5 yards behind the nearest defender. Unfortunately for BCU, Jenkins dropped what would have been a certain 87-yard TD reception.

To add to the missed opportunities, on BCU’s first possession of the second quarter, Ransom found Corey Turner streaking down the middle of the field and delivered a perfect pass into the hands of Turner. Actually, he delivered a perfect pass through the hands of Turner who was about 7 yards behind the nearest defender when he dropped a surefire touchdown. When that ball hit the turf, so too did the air from the team and the 8,484 Wildcat fans in attendance.

There are not very many teams who are good enough to overcome squandering three gimmie touchdowns. Mercer went on to score on their next three possessions of the first half.  

Speaking of Mercer’s first half touchdowns, on each of those scores, you can clearly see blown coverages by BCU’s safeties who were way out of position and their eyes locked in the backfield.

The bad news is the six plays I just described saw a 42-point swing in the game. Instead of nursing a 3-score lead, the Wildcats entered halftime chasing a 21-point deficit.

The good news is that each of those six plays are easily correctable. All six were unforced errors by BCU. But that’s the difference between being a playoff team and a team still finding its way at this level. The Mercer type teams make those plays and punish other teams’ mistakes, while teams who are in a bad run of form like Bethune-Cookman come up just short.

Some things are easily correctable, others not so much!

I don’t know the analytics on this but I will go on record as saying that teams with a 42-point swing in their favor win more than 90% of those games. Wildcat fans can take some solace in that fact knowing that they were a half dozen plays away in this contest. What’s worrisome for BCU fans is a) they are not making those plays; and b) the overall lack of production of the offense.

Cookman ran the ball 26 times for 29 yards in the contest. That’s a dreadful 1.1 yard per rushing attempt. DREADFUL! I don’t know how you fix that but offensive coordinator, Joe Gerbino, is going to have to figure it out real soon if BCU is to have their first winning season in 4 years.

And just to stress the point, it’s not like the running stats were low because the passing game was clicking. The Wildcats only completed 48% of their pass attempts and only managed 127 yards through the air. They were 0 for 12 on 3rd down conversions and only eclipsed the 100 yards of total offense mark on the 2nd to last play of the game. BCU ended the night without an offensive score and they are still looking for their first offensive touchdown of the season. The lone Wildcats score of the night came on an Orin Patu sack which ended in a safety.

So I’ll say it again, DREADFUL! I don’t know how you fix that but offensive coordinator, Joe Gerbino, is going to have to figure it out real soon if BCU is to have their first winning season in 4 years.

It is still early in the season. All of BCU’s season goals are still in front of them so the panic button is safely locked away. The Mercer test was a bit too much to overcome but there is plenty of time to improve that grade. If BCU can make the plays when they are there to be made, correct the alignment and eye discipline miscues on defense, and get some production from its offense, they will be fine. If not, then just play the Marvin Gaye tunes because things just ain’t what they use to be.