Game Photos vs. Coastal Carolina (1st round FCS Playoffs)
isidore jackson
BCU secure MEAC title and Playoff berth with 29-10 FL Classic win
Dyron Dye
Quentin Williams and Isidore Jakson rushed for two touchdowns each in Saturday’s Florida Classic but it was the Wildcat defense that paved the way for a comfortable 29-10 win for Bethune-Cookman over arch-rival Florida A&M.
The announced crowd of 45,321 watched BCU’s defense stymie the Rattlers and hold them to just 89 yards of total offense and forcing two turnovers on the afternoon.
Dyron Dye led the defensive charge and emerged from the contest with 7 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. 7 other Wildcat defenders finished the day with 4 or more tackles.
FAMU struck first in the contest on a 41 yard Chase Varnadore field goal with 9:58 remaining in the 1st.
BCU responded quickly going 79 yards on 7 plays on the ensuing drive. Williams hit Jontavious Carter on a 43 yard catch and run to set the Wildcats up in good field position. 6 plays later Williams walked into the endzone to provide BCU with a 7-3 lead.
After a FAMU 3 and out, BCU travelled 66 yards on 10 plays and eventually found the endzone on Williams’ second rushing touchdown of the game, this time from 17 yards out.
Ike Jackson
The Wildcats capped the 1st half scoring on a 3 yard Isidore Jackson touchdown run. Senior quarterback Brodrick Waters hit Brandon Bryant in the back of the endzone on the 2 point conversion attempt to push the halftime lead to 21-3.
Florida A&M’s only points of the second half came on a 45 yard fumble return by Jonathan Pillow midway through the 3rd quarter.
Isidore Jackson’s second 3 yard touchdown run of the afternoon followed by Waters 2 point conversion run wrapped up the scoring at 29-10.
With the win, BCU locked up their 3rd conference crown and playoff appearance in the past 4 years. The win also pushed BCU’s active win streak over FAMU to 3 games. Only one time prior, 2002, 2003, and 2004, had BCU won 3 straight games over Florida A&M.
The pairings for the 2013 FCS Playoffs will be announced Sunday morning at 11:30 A.M. on ESPNU.
Wildcats take care of Savannah State 48-21
Credits: BCU Athletics
Bethune-Cookman scored 42 first half points and cruised to a 48-21 victory against Savannah State on Saturday evening in Municipal Stadium. Cary White and Isidore Jackson accounted for all six of BCU’s first-half touchdowns.
Jackson opened the game’s scoring on a 16-yard TD reception from Quentin Williams and rushed for two more scores later in the half. White added rushing touchdowns of 1, 24 and 12 yards.
Simon Heyward scored on a 76-yard TD pass from Leon Prunty to give the Tigers their first points of the evening.
After a scoreless 3rd quarter, SSU scored twice in the 4th on a pair of Antonio Bostick touchdown throws. BCU registered its only points of the second half on the strength of a 27 yard TD run by Michael Jones.
The Wildcats now shift their attention towards next week’s homecoming showdown against South Carolina State.
Team Stat Comparison
|
SAV |
COOK |
|
|---|---|---|
| 1st Downs | 19 | 25 |
| Total Yards | 404 | 465 |
| Passing | 310 | 192 |
| Rushing | 94 | 273 |
| Penalties | 7-66 | 8-55 |
| 3rd Down Conversions | 5-16 | 4-10 |
| 4th Down Conversions | 2-7 | 1-2 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 4 |
| Possession | 30:38 | 29:22 |
Scoring Summary
| FIRST QUARTER | SAV | COOK | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
TD | 12:53 | Isidore Jackson 16 Yd Pass From Quentin Williams (Jonathan Cagle Kick) | 0 | 7 |
|
TD | 07:25 | Cary White 1 Yd Run (Jonathan Cagle Kick) | 0 | 14 |
|
TD | 01:15 | Cary White 24 Yd Run (Jonathan Cagle Kick) | 0 | 21 |
| SECOND QUARTER | SAV | COOK | |||
|
TD | 11:07 | Cary White 12 Yd Run (Jonathan Cagle Kick) | 0 | 28 |
 |
TD | 10:13 | Simon Heyward 76 Yd Pass From Leon Prunty (Preston Mccarthy Kick) | 7 | 28 |
|
TD | 06:23 | Isidore Jackson 2 Yd Run (Jonathan Cagle Kick) | 7 | 35 |
|
TD | 00:54 | Isidore Jackson 2 Yd Run (Jonathan Cagle Kick) | 7 | 42 |
| FOURTH QUARTER | SAV | COOK | |||
|
TD | 13:23 | Edward Lackey 3 Yd Pass From Antonio Bostick (Preston Mccarthy Kick) | 14 | 42 |
|
TD | 11:40 | Michael D. Jones 27 Yd Run (Pat Blocked) | 14 | 48 |
|
TD | 07:03 | Jake Durham 15 Yd Pass From Antonio Bostick (Preston Mccarthy Kick) | 21 | 48 |
5 Questions from Fall Camp
The Bethune-Cookman football team has enjoyed a prolific run of success under the leadership of now 4th year head coach Brian Jenkins. Over the past 3 seasons, the Jenkins led Wildcats have accumulated the highest winning percentage of all Division I (FBS and FCS) football programs in the state of Florida; BCU has earned 2 MEAC titles during that span; and they are currently riding a 14 game conference winning streak.
14 starters return to the offensive and defensive units (7 on each side) this season. Among those returning are 2013 MEAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Jarkevis Fields (linebacker), and 2013 MEAC Preseason Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Isidore Jackson (running back). The Beach Cats led the conference in Total Offense (387.9 yards per game) and ranked 7th Nationally in Total Defense (301.4 yards per game) a season ago.
In less than 30 days, the Wildcats will carry their talented squad and extremely high expectations into Nashville to square off against fellow Top 25 foe Tennessee State.
Here are 5 key storylines to watch throughout Fall Camp as BCU continues its pursuit of becoming one of the nation’s premier FCS programs.
How Well/Quickly Will the Offensive Line Gel?
BCU suffered its greatest attrition from a season ago along the offensive line. All-MEAC first teamer Alex Monroe and capable starter Rashard Brown will look to anchor the unit. Brian Dorsey, Michael Jones, and Josue Joseph are all highly talented players who have played quality minutes at the collegiate level. The trio will have first dibs at claiming the 3 vacant starting roles along the offensive front this season.
The Wildcats signed 6 quality offensive linemen on signing day including 2 JUCO transfers; and if history is any indicator, coach Jenkins’ has one or two transfer offensive linemen walking around campus whose identities will remain concealed until kickoff draws near.
There is no shortage of talent or bodies at this position. The question is will this group gel quickly enough and well enough to help BCU lead the MEAC in Total Offense for a 4th consecutive year?
Will the Passing Game Progress in 2013?
The overall success of this year’s team may very well come down to how effective the Wildcats will be in the passing game. The Beach Cats passed for a pedestrian 147 yards per game and only eclipsed the 200 yard passing mark in one contest last season.
Top pass catching target Eddie Poole returns for another year as does big play potential receivers Preston Cleckley and Jhomo Gordon. CFPA Awards Watch transfer tight end Justin Henderson is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses and provides the Wildcats with another quality pass catching option.
Jackie Wilson, Quentin Williams, and Brodrick Waters are in their 4th, 3rd, and 2nd year respectively in this offense. Brian Jenkins has repeatedly stated that all three quarterbacks are capable of leading the Wildcat offense, but if BCU is to truly take that next step, at least one of the aforementioned signal callers will need to elevate the passing game into a more lethal component of the BCU attack.
Who Will Emerge as the Team Leaders?
Coaches lay the foundation and parameters of a successful program, but players lead players. BCU received a great deal of on the field and emotional leadership from players like D.J. Howard, Eugene Solomon and Dawud Lane last season. All three have moved on and a new crop of vocal, performance and emotional leaders must now emerge.
Speaking about leadership only excites coaches, but it is as critical to a team success as 1,000 yard rushers and All-American quarterbacks.
What Newcomer Will Have the Greatest Impact?
Justin Henderson has yet to play an official down for the Maroon and Gold, yet the transfer from the University of Memphis has already been named to the CFPA Awards Watch list for tight ends. Henderson enjoyed a highly productive spring campaign and will look to provide BCU quarterbacks with a security blanket and matchup advantage in the passing game this coming fall. On the defensive side of the ball, University of Miami transfer Thomas Finnie will likely compete for one of the starting cornerback spots and help bolster a defensive backfield which led the country in takeaways last season.
Returning players Anthony Jordan (RB) and Erik Williams (DL) possess all-conference level talent and will surely be highly impactful this season if they can overcome the injury bug.
How Well Will the Team Handle Expectations?
Bethune-Cookman received 16 of the 21 first place votes casted in the MEAC’s annual preseason poll. The Wildcats are coming off a perfect 8-0 mark in conference in 2012. Brian Jenkins’ squad is sure to get every team’s best effort in the 2013 campaign. If the Wildcats wish to defend The Belt, they must stay emotionally and physically engaged for 12 weeks next season.
Bethune-Cookman travels to Nashville on Sunday, September 1st for a 7:00 P.M. kickoff against Tennessee State in the John Merritt Classic. The Wildcats are 3-0 in season openers under the leadership of head coach Brian Jenkins.
Wildcats predicted to repeat; J. Fields and I. Jackson earn Player of the Year Honors
BCU LB – Jarkevis Fields
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced on Friday at its annual Press Luncheon that defending conference champion, Bethune-Cookman, earned 16 of the 21 first place votes casted and were predicted to repeat as conference champions. The Wildcats have won 14 consecutive games in conference including 8 straight in 2012.
In addition to the team accolades, linebacker Jarkevis Fields and running back Isidore Jackson were selected as Defensive Player of the Year and Co-Offensive Player of the Year respectively.
Fields, a 6-0, 230-pound senior from Sanford, Fla., led the Wildcats in tackles in both 2011 and 2012. Last season he registered 103 tackles, six tackles for losses and a sack; and he helped pace a defense that finished 7th nationally in Total Defense (301.42 ypg); 10th nationally in Scoring Defense (18.25 ppg), and 1st nationally in Turnovers Gained (36).
Jackson, 5-10, 205-pound from running back Mossy Head, Fla., eclipsed the 1,000 rushing mark in 2012 and spearheaded the MEAC’s top rushing attack (244 ypg); top Total Offense (387.9 ypg); and top Scoring Offense (29.4 ppg). Jackson and FAMU quarterback Damien Flemming were named Co-Offensive Player of Year.
Joining Isidore Jackson and Jarkevis Fields on the MEAC’s first team All-Conference were offensive lineman Alex Monroe, defensive back Nick Addison, and defensive end LeBrandon Richardson. Wide receiver Eddie Poole landed on the second team for offense, and defensive lineman Tevin Toney received honorable mention awards.
2013 Predicted Order of Finish
(First Place Votes in Parenthesis)
School Points
1. Bethune-Cookman (16) 480 2. South Carolina State (2) 365 3. North Carolina A&T 302 4. North Carolina Central 260 5. Florida A&M 250 6. Howard 227 7. Norfolk State (1) 222 8. Delaware State 201 9. Hampton (1) 196 10. Morgan State 113 11. Savannah State (1) 522013 Football All-Conference Preseason Teams
Co-Offensive Player of the Year: Damien Flemming, Florida A&M and Isidore Jackson, Bethune-Cookman
Defensive Player of the Year: Jarkevis Fields, Bethune-Cookman
| Pos. | Name | Cl. | School | Hometown |
| QB | Damien Fleming | Jr. | Florida A&M | Jacksonville, Fla. |
| RB | Isidore Jackson | Sr. | Bethune-Cookman | Mossy Head, Fla. |
| RB* | Malcolm Williams | Jr. | Delaware State | Reading, Pa. |
| RB* | James Owens | r-Sr. | Florida A&M | Apopka, Fla. |
| WR | Lenworth Lennon | r-Jr. | Florida A&M | Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. |
| WR | Simon Hewyard | Sr. | Savannah State | Savannah, Ga. |
| TE | Joseph Hawkins | r-Sr. | Norfolk State | Chicago, Ill. |
| C | Brandon Cunningham | Sr. | Delaware State | Lumberton, N.J. |
| OL | Alex Monroe | Sr. | Bethune-Cookman | Jacksonville, Fla. |
| OL | Kevin House | r-Jr. | Florida A&M | Jacksonville, Fla. |
| OL | Zerrie Patterson | So. | Florida A&M | Fort Pierce, Fla. |
| OL | Joshua Matthews | Sr. | Howard | Bowman, S.C. |
| DEFENSE | ||||
| Pos. | Name | Cl. | School | Hometown |
| DL | LeBrandon Richardson | Jr. | Bethune-Cookman | Miami, Fla. |
| DL | Damon Gresham Chisholm | So. | Howard | Covington, Ga. |
| DL | Rodney Gunter | Jr. | Delaware State | Haines, Fla. |
| DL | Javon Hargrave | So. | South Carolina State | Salisbury, N.C. |
| LB | Jarkevis Fields | Sr. | Bethune-Cookman | Sanford, Fla. |
| LB | Ernest Adjei | Sr. | Delaware State | Woodbridge, Va. |
| LB | Lynden Trail | r-Jr. | Norfolk State | Miami, Fla. |
| DB | Nick Addison | Jr. | Bethune-Cookman | Tampa, Fla. |
| DB | Julien David | Sr. | Howard | Coral Springs, Fla. |
| DB | D’Vonte Graham | Sr. | North Carolina A&T | Tallahassee, Fla. |
| DB | Terrick Colston | So. | Delaware State | Lakeland, Fla. |
| P | Nick Belcher | r-Sr. | South Carolina State | Sumter, S.C. |
| PK | Chase Varnadore | r-So. | Florida A&M | Tallahassee, Fla. |
| RS | D’Vonte Graham | Sr. | North Carolina A&T | Charlotte, N.C. |
| Second Team | ||||
| OFFENSE | ||||
| Pos. | Name | Cl. | School | Hometown |
| QB | Jordan Reid | r-Sr. | North Carolina Central | High Point, N.C. |
| RB | Aquanius Freeman | Jr. | Howard | New Orleans, La. |
| RB | Brendon Riddick | r-So. | Norfolk State | Richmond, Va. |
| WR | Eddie Poole | Grad. | Bethune-Cookman | Belle Glade, Fla. |
| WR | Derrick Demps | r-Sr. | Norfolk State | Tallahassee, Fla. |
| TE | David Wilson | Sr. | Howard | Sacramento, Calif. |
| C | Ronald Canty | r-Jr. | North Carolina A&T | Chester, S.C. |
| OL | John Smith | r-So. | Howard | Atlanta, Ga. |
| OL | Jamal Wilson | r-Sr. | Hampton | Brooklyn, N.Y. |
| OL | Williams Robinson | r-Jr. | North Carolina A&T | Clinton, Md. |
| OL | Charles Goodwin | r-Sr. | North Carolina Central | High Point, N.C. |
| DEFENSE | ||||
| Pos. | Name | Cl. | School | Hometown |
| DL | Tyree Hearn | Sr. | North Carolina A&T | Durham, N.C. |
| DL | George Riddick | Jr. | Norfolk State | Suffolk, Va. |
| DL | Matthew Davis | Sr. | Hampton | Chesapeake, Va. |
| DL | Demarco Bisbee | r-So. | Morgan State | Lansing, Mich. |
| LB | D’Vonte Grant | Sr. | North Carolina A&T | Charlotte, N.C. |
| LB | Justin Hughes | Jr. | South Carolina State | Virginia Beach, Va. |
| LB | Travis Crosby | Sr. | North Carolina A&T | Charlotte, N.C. |
| DB | Davon Moore | Jr. | Delaware State | Mt. Vernon, N.Y. |
| DB | Joe Rankin | Sr. | Morgan State | Germantown, Md. |
| DB | Ryan Smith | r-So. | North Carolina Central | Upper Marlboro, Md. |
| DB* | John Wilson | Sr. | Savannah State | Athens, Ga. |
| DB* | Jonathan Pillow | r-Sr. | Florida A&M | Jacksonville, Fla. |
| P | Matthew Cornellus | r-Sr. | North Carolina Central | Charlotte, N.C. |
| PK | Oleg Parent | Jr. | North Carolina Central | Lake Forest, Calif. |
| RS | James Owens | r-Sr. | Florida A&M | Apopka, Fla. |
| Third Team | ||||
| OFFENSE | ||||
| Pos. | Name | Cl. | School | Hometown |
| QB | Nico Flores | r-Sr. | Norfolk State | Miami, Fla. |
| RB | Dae-Hon Cheung | So. | Delaware State | Coatesville, Pa. |
| RB | Conley Smith | So. | Norfolk State | Chesapeake, Va. |
| WR | Tyler McDonald | Sr. | South Carolina State | Summerville, SC |
| WR | Dylan Cook | Sr. | Savannah State | Hiram, Ga. |
| TE | Kris Drummond | Jr. | Savannah State | Washington, D.C. |
| C | Doug Almendares | Sr. | Florida A&M | Miami, Fla. |
| OL | Domanic Wilson | r-Jr. | South Carolina State | Lake City, SC |
| OL | Karim Barton | Sr. | Morgan State | Los Angeles, Calif. |
| OL | E.J. Rogers | r-Jr. | Norfolk State | Alexandria, Va. |
| OL | Cameron Williams | r-Sr. | Norfolk State | Burke, Va. |
| DEFENSE | ||||
| Pos. | Name | Cl. | School | Hometown |
| DL | Andrew Carter | r-Jr. | South Carolina State | Hamlet, NC |
| DL | Tevin Toney | Sr. | Bethune-Cookman | Sebring, Fla. |
| DL | Micah Blount | Sr. | Savannah State | Stone Mountain, Ga. |
| DL* | Chikezie Ukeje | Sr. | Delaware State | Stanten Island, N.Y. |
| DL* | Noel Clarke Jr. | Jr. | Norfolk State | Brooklyn, N.Y. |
| LB | Christopher Robinson | r-Jr. | Morgan State | Germantown, Md. |
| LB | Joe Boyd | Sr. | Delaware State | Ft. Washington, Md. |
| LB | Brandon Denmark | Sr. | Florida A&M | Tallahassee, Fla. |
| DB | Keenan Lambert | r-Jr. | Norfolk State | Norfolk, Va. |
| DB | Nathan Ayers | Jr. | Morgan State | Baltimore, Md. |
| DB | Devontae Johnson | r-Jr. | Florida A&M | Tallahassee, Fla. |
| DB | Carvin Johnson | Sr. | Hampton | New Orleans, La. |
| PK | Nick Belcher | r-Sr. | South Carolina State | Sumter, SC |
| RS | Chris Flowers | Sr. | Morgan State | Haines City, Fla. |
*indicates tie
BCU rushes pass ‘Bama State
2012 MEAC/SWAC Challenge
Seventeen minutes into Sunday’s matchup against Alabama State, Bethune-Cookman fans were left gazing at the scoreboard and wondering if they would wind up on the wrong end of a one-sided MEAC/SWAC Challenge.
The Hornets opened the contest with a 12 play, 75 yard drive which ended with a 5 yard Greg Jenkins touchdown run. ASU’s second and third scores were aided by a BCU fumble on a punt return and a missed field goal respectively. With 13:45 remaining in the 2nd Quarter, ASU was defending a 21-0 lead and looking to run away with the contest.
As dominant as ASU appeared over the first seventeen minutes, BCU was equally dominant over the final forty-three minutes of the contest. Like ASU, BCU’s first scoring drive consumed 12 plays, 75 yards and ended with a rushing touchdown (Andronicus Lovette, 2 yards). Sven Hurd added a 20 yard field goal just before halftime to bring the deficit to 21-10.
The Wildcat offense started to steamroll in the second half scoring touchdowns on their second (24 yd pass from Brock Waters to Jhomo Gordon), third (6 yd run by Waters), and fourth (47 yd pass from Waters to Eddie Poole) possessions after the half. Both teams tacked on an additional touchdown before the final whistle.
Coach Brian Jenkins was quick to sing the praises of his squad. “Alabama State is a championship caliber team; don’t let the score fool you”. “We knew they had a high octane offense but there was no doubt in our mind that we would end up victorious. You saw a team today that believes in the philosophy that we’re teaching (stay in the moment and play every play). It’s just a tremendous thing to see the fight that our guys showed today”.
Thank God for the backup quarterback
Coach Jenkins revealed in his postgame interview that quarterback Jackie Wilson was unable to continue in Sunday’s contest because of conditioning/heat related issues. Louisiana Tech transfer Brodrick Waters (who prefers to go by Brock) relieved Wilson midway through the 2nd quarter. Waters inherited a 21-7 deficit, but led the Wildcats to 31 unanswered points. Waters ended the afternoon with 100 yards rushing on 11 attempts (1 rushing td) and 6 of 9 passing for 110 yards with 2 touchdowns. The second of Water’s TD passes was a beautiful 47 yard hookup on a post route to Eddie Poole on 3rd and 21. The result of the play pushed BCU to a comfortable 31-21 lead.
Waters, who played with the message ‘RIP’— ‘TD 22’ written on his eye black, combined with Isidore Jackson (123 yards) and Rodney Scott (103, 1 td) to make BCU history as the first trio of rushers to eclipse the 100 yard rushing mark in the same game. When asked about the significance of his Tebowesque eye black message, Waters explained that he was honoring his former La Tech teammate Tyrone Duplessis. The 21-year old Duplessis died in his sleep in February of this year. “He was someone that I looked up to” Waters stated. “I decided to dedicate this game to him as well as my first touchdown. They told me that I almost got one (touchdown) called back (for excessive celebration) because I showed some emotion towards him and that probably wasn’t the best thing to do”.
BCU finished the game with 383 yards rushing on 60 attempts for a 6.1 yard average. Eddie Poole (102 yards, 1 td) eclipsed the 100 yard receiving mark on the afternoon and pushed his consecutive games with a catch streak to 24. In total, the Wildcat offense racked 551 yards of offense.
Jarkevis Fields led the defensive charge with 10 tackles, 1 sack and 2 tackles for loss. The Wildcat “D” held ASU running back Isaiah Crowell to 18 yards rushing on 9 attempts. Crowell (formerly of the University of Georgia) is the 2011 SEC Offensive Freshmen of the Year recipient.
The Wildcats travel to Orangeburg next Saturday for an early season showdown with MEAC powerhouse South Carolina State. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 P.M..
Team Stat Comparison
| ALST | COOK | |
| 1st Downs | 22 | 25 |
| Total Yards | 351 | 551 |
| Passing | 253 | 184 |
| Rushing | 98 | 367 |
| Penalties | 3-30 | 15-111 |
| 3rd Down Conversions | 8-15 | 8-16 |
| 4th Down Conversions | 0-1 | 1-1 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Possession | 25:05 | 34:55 |
Passing Leaders
| Alabama State | C/ATT | YDS | AVG | TD | INT |
| Jenkins | 19/29 | 196 | 6.8 | 0 | 1 |
| Bethune-Cookman | C/ATT | YDS | AVG | TD | INT |
| Waters | 6/9 | 110 | 12.2 | 2 | 0 |
Rushing Leaders
| Alabama State | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LG |
| Jenkins | 15 | 39 | 2.6 | 2 | 17 |
| Crowell | 9 | 18 | 2.0 | 1 | 11 |
| Bethune-Cookman | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LG |
| Jackson | 21 | 123 | 5.9 | 0 | 25 |
| Scott | 13 | 103 | 7.9 | 1 | 38 |
Receiving Leaders
| Alabama State | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LG |
| McWilliams | 6 | 89 | 14.8 | 1 | 39 |
| Neely | 5 | 64 | 12.8 | 0 | 34 |
| Bethune-Cookman | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LG |
| Poole | 3 | 102 | 34.0 | 1 | 54 |
| Stroud | 4 | 39 | 9.8 | 0 | 15 |
Qtr Time Scoring Play
1st 11:06 ALST – Jenkins, Greg 5 yd run (Wenzig, Bobby kick), 12-75 3:54 7 – 0
04:28 ALST – Crowell, Isaiah 2 yd run, 2-20 0:43 14 – 0
2nd 13:45 ALST – Jenkins, Greg 3 yd run (Wenzig, Bobby kick), 8-72 2:15 21 – 0
09:18 BCU -LOVETTE,Andronicus 2 yd run , 12-75 4:21 21 -7
00:01 BCU – HURD,Sven 20 yd field goal, 12-77 3:02 21 – 10
3rd 05:53 BCU – GORDON,Jhomo 24 yd pass from WATERS,Brodrick (HURD,Sven kick), 5-70 3:04 21 – 17
04:28 BCU – WATERS,Brodrick 6 yd run (HURD,Sven kick), 4-20 1:19 21 – 24
4th 10:39 BCU – POOLE,Eddie 47 yd pass from WATERS,Brodrick, 11-91 5:36 21 – 31
06:59 BCU – SCOTT,Rodney 38 yd run, 2-39 0:53 21 – 38
03:53 ALST – McWilliams, T.C 39 yd pass from Duhart, Daniel (Wenzig, Bobby kick), 9-79 2:59 28 – 38
What to watch for at the Wildcats’ Spring Game
The 2012 Spring Game will be played on April 21st at 4:00 p.m. at Municipal Stadium
In less than 72 hours, the maroon and gold faithful will receive their first glimpse at the 2012 version of the Fighting Wildcats.
I must admit that the actual Spring Game means very little in the grand scheme of things. Coaches only install a fraction of their offensive and defensive systems during Spring drills, the starters receive fewer reps than they normally would during the regular season, and half of this year’s recruiting class have yet to even graduate from high school. However, the Spring game is the best and only real football-like barometer that we can use to measure our favorite football squads in late April.
So with that disclaimer, here are some of the players and positions that I will be paying keen attention to during Saturday’s glorified scrimmage.
Anthony Jordan (Running Back) — The 230 pound bruiser from North Atlanta High School led the squad with 9 rushing touchdowns last season. He has been one of the most raved about players in Spring drills this year. Jordan, who has an exceptional work ethic, is trying to prove to the coaching staff that he can be more than just a short yardage back.
Lavon McCoy (Offensive Guard) — BIG Lavon McCoy; and by BIG I mean almost 400 pounds BIG, was a highly touted prospect with offers from USC, Oregon, and the University of Washington coming out of high school. He is one of those players that Coach Jenkins has mentioned that we’re very fortunate to have. Last year, McCoy played exclusively on the defensive side of the ball. He demonstrated very good foot work and quickness at defensive tackle. This year he is moving to the offensive side of the ball and is expected to play offensive guard. His Junior College highlight film shows him playing both defensive tackle and offensive guard. McCoy looks great as a defensive tackle prospect but even better as an offensive guard. It will be interesting to see how productive McCoy can be against FCS competition.
Tavarus Dantzler (Linebacker) — Tavarus Dantzler has been penciled in as the next big thing at linebacker for the Wildcats. He has good size at 6’3″, 230 lbs, but his game is built on speed. Dantzler can flat out fly. Defensive Coordinator Yogi Jones has stated that he believes Dantzler can be a very special player and an all conference performer. Let’s hope that Dantzler rises to the occasion and fulfill his potential.
Defensive Line — Ryan Davis was simply the best defensive player in HBCU football last year. I am not quite sure that one player will be able to fill the void left by Davis’ departure. Instead, the Wildcat defensive front may look to maintain last year’s productivity levels by committee. Harold Love, Anthony Woodard, and Tevin Toney all had very good campaigns last year. Erik Williams rejoins Coach Earl Lane’s defensive unit after being sidelined with an injury a season ago. Brandon Bryant and LeBranden Richardson are UCF transfers who will look to have an impact on the defensive line as well.
Jim Pry (Offensive Coordinator) — Okay, so we will not be able to make any legitimate or rational assessments about new offensive coordinator, Jim Pry’s, play calling after Saturday’s contest. But what I hope to see is Pry’s influence on the passing game; and how the quarterbacks and receivers are understanding the principles of Pry’s passing attack. Pry is a disciple of the vertical passing game. His route combinations are not stagnant or predefined. Instead, receivers have options on each route (think Mike Leach and the Air Coryell offenses).
Quarterback — Jackie Wilson ended last season with a 66% completion rate and showed tremendous growth as the Wildcats primary signal caller. But Wilson is not a shoe-in to be the starting quarterback in 2012. Former Florida Mr. Football, Quentin Williams, is competing with Wilson and Broadrick Waters (La Tech transfer) to be Brian Jenkins’ trigger-man come September.
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