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Wildcats move up to 18th in both polls

/ J Bell / Leave a comment
IMG_7444 Mike Jones 2

Michael T Jones celebrates after scoring against FIU

Bethune-Cookman, fresh off a 14-12 victory against FBS foe Florida International, moved up 4 spots in the SportsNetwork media poll and 5 spots in the FCS coaches’ poll this week.  BCU is now ranked 18th in both polls.

14 ranked FCS schools faced off against FBS competition in college football’s opening weekend.  Only Bethune-Cookman and three time defending national champs North Dakota State exited the weekend with victories over FBS opponents.

North Dakota State trounced Iowa State of the Big 12 34-14 and is now ranked 1st in both polls.  It was the fifth consecutive win over a FBS opponent for NDSU.  #16 Tennessee State joins BCU as ranked HBCUs. 

Sports Network Media Poll

RANK

SCHOOL

RECORD

POINTS

PREVIOUS

1

North Dakota State (93)

1-0

3,830

2

2

Eastern Washington (63)

2-0

3,804

1

3

Southeastern Louisiana

1-0

3,553

3

4

Montana

0-1

3,064

5

5

Coastal Carolina

1-0

3,028

7

6

New Hampshire

0-1

2,998

4

7

McNeese State

0-0

2,661

8

8

UNI

0-1

2,634

9

9

Jacksonville State

0-1

2,580

6

10

Villanova

0-1

2,488

12

11

Fordham

1-0

2,423

11

12

South Dakota State

0-1

2,242

10

13

Chattanooga

0-1

1,793

14

14

Tennessee State

1-0

1,701

15

15

Sam Houston State

1-1

1,484

17

16

Eastern Illinois

0-1

1,402

16

17

Richmond

1-0

1,323

20

18

Bethune-Cookman

1-0

1,109

22

19

Furman

1-0

1,004

21

20

Montana State

0-1

965

18

21

William & Mary

0-1

945

19

22

Towson

0-1

829

13

23

Youngstown State

0-1

540

24

24

Maine

1-0

469

25

25

Northern Arizona

0-1

352

23

Wildcats escape Nashville with 12-9 win

/ J Bell / Leave a comment

Jordan Murphy hauled in a 6 yard TD pass from Jackie Wilson with 5:01 remaining in the 4th quarter giving Bethune-Cookman a 12-9 lead over Tennessee State and the game’s only touchdown. The Wildcats held on by the same scoreline and walked out of Sunday night’s John Merritt Classic with its 2nd victory over TSU in 8 tries.

Bethune dominated the opening quarter scoring on its first two possessions and limiting the TSU offense to no points and just 35 yards of offense in the process.

The only thing BCU did wrong in the opening frame was not score touchdowns.  Instead, the Cats were forced to settle on two made field goals by Werley Cagle (21, 30 ) for an early 6-0 lead.  Quarterback Brodrick Waters’ 33 yard strike to Preston Cleckley aided in setting up BCU’s initial score.

Tennessee State got its first points of the night in the 2nd quarter after Cagle botched the snap on a punt and was unable to get the kick away. TSU took over on the Wildcat 5 yard line but a stout BCU defense limited to damage to just 3 points.  A second Jamin Godfrey field goal tied the game at 6 apiece heading into the half.

The Blue Tigers took advantage of its first possession of the second half and marched 86 yards on 18 plays covering 10:22.  Godfrey’s 26 yard field goal gave TSU its first and only lead of the night.

But the Wildcats were not to be denied.  BCU sealed the victory when Wilson connected with Murphy on a 6 yard TD strike in the left endzone which capped a 12 play, 71 yard scoring drive.  Wilson went 4-4 for 40 yards on the game clinching drive.

Defensively, the Wildcats held Tennessee State without a touchdown and limited the Tigers to just 248 yards of offense.

FCS Playoff Picture

/ J Bell / Leave a comment

The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats are MEAC Champions for the second time in three years.  But unlike 2010 when the Wildcats joined South Carolina State and Florida A&M as league co-champions, the 2012 crown will not be shared.  This year’s Championship is the Cats’ first outright title since 2002.

BCU now owns 5 MEAC crowns and 11 conference championships all-time. (The Wildcats won 6 SIAC titles before joining the MEAC in 1979.) 

Possible 1st round matchups

Here is what we know: the Wildcats are headed to the 2012 FCS playoffs; and Bethune-Cookman has submitted a bid to host a first round game.  Who BCU faces and whether or not the Cats will be awarded a home game are still anyone’s guess.  The mystery will be revealed next Sunday morning when the field of 20 is announced.  We should probably refrain from speculating on who the Wildcats will face and just allow things the sort themselves out but that would be no fun. 

So let’s take a look at the most probable first round matchups based on what we know today.

Keep in mind that 12 playoff bound teams receive a first round bye; the FCS playoff committee ranks the top 5 seeds; and  teams are matched based on things such as geographic proximity.  With that in mind, the Cats are not expected to receive a first round bye and will very likely face one of the following teams in the opening round.

Wofford (Spartanburg, SC) is looking like a very probable matchup for BCU.  The Terriers, along with Appalachian State and Georgia Southern, are co-champions of the Southern Conference.  All three teams appear to be locks to make the field of 20.  In fact, Appalachian State (Boone, NC) could also be a potential first round foe.  The Wildcats will certainly have to hit the road if matched against App State as the Mountaineers almost always host their first game of the playoffs.

Coastal Carolina (Conway, SC) will likely end the season tied for first place in the Big South with Liberty and Stony Brook.  The Chanticleers will receive the conference’s automatic bid if the three teams finish the season tied for first.  Interestingly, Coastal and Bethune played one common opponent this year (North Carolina A&T) and the margin of victory was the same for both (+16 points).

Stony Brook entered the weekend ranked 6th in the Sports Network FCS poll but suffered a defeat to conference foe Liberty.  If (and that’s a big if) Stony Brook receives an at-large berth, they could very well be matched against BCU in the first round.

This week’s Tennessee State/UT-Martin (Ohio Valley) matchup is an unofficial playoff game for both teams.  The loser is definitely out of the mix.   The winner, however, could secure one of the final at-large slots and may be pitted against the Wildcats on Thanksgiving weekend.

Colonial Athletic teams James Madison, Towson, Villanova, and Richmond are all sitting on the proverbial playoff bubble and either of whom could be matched against Brian Jenkins’ squad in the opening round. 

Thank goodness we will not have to speculate much longer.  Post season play begins in less than two weeks but first things first.

The Wildcats tangle with arch-rival FAMU in Saturday’s Florida Blue Florida Classic in Orlando.  BCU will look to complete their first ever undefeated MEAC season in the regular season finale.  Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.