Bethune-Cookman Hosts Hampton for Senior Day

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  –  No. 18/16 Bethune-Cookman hosts Hampton University this weekend for a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) contest with the Pirates at Municipal Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.

CatEye Network TV  |  WELE Radio  |  WSIR Radio

The Game
The No. 18/16 Bethune-Cookman Wildcats look to bounce back this weekend after suffering a disappointing 27-24 setback a week ago to Norfolk State. This weekend, the Wildcats host the Hampton Pirates to Municipal Stadium in which the Cats will celebrate Senior Appreciation Day prior to the contest. B-CU will say “good bye” to 24 student-athletes playing in their final regular season game at Municipal Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.

The Series
The series between Bethune-Cookman and Hampton is as tight as any other since Hampton joined the MEAC prior to the start of the 1995 season. In that span, Hampton leads the Cats by the thinnest of margins in the series, 10-9. However, Bethune-Cookman has won the previous five contests. In natural home/away games, the series is tied in both Daytona Beach (4-4) and Hampton (5-5).

The Broadcasts
The game will be carried live by 1380 WELE Radio and the CatEye Network (online) with Joe LaBarbera (play-by-play) and Larry Wesley (analyst). Terrance Gatling will provide sideline coverage.

The Coach
Head coach Brian Jenkins is in his fourth season as a collegiate head coach with all four years coming at Bethune-Cookman. He holds a 35-10 overall record. His overall record against Hampton is a perfect 3-0, two of those games being played in Hampton, Va.

The Weather
Projected weather on game day: Daytona Beach. – 75/71 (30% chance of rain). Hampton, Va. – 63/55.

Wildcats in the Polls
Bethune-Cookman enters the game ranked No. 18 in The Sports Network poll, and No. 16 in the FCS Coaches poll.

#5THINGS
1.   The Bethune-Cookman vs. Hampton series is as tight in all aspects as possible. In fact, the series is tied home and away all-time between the two schools.
2.   Only three opponents have rushed for more than 100 yards against the Wildcats all season (Tennessee State, Florida State, Norfolk State).
3.   Bethune-Cookman already has 25 sacks through 10 games, while amassing a total of 22 all last season.
4.   Bethune-Cookman leads the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in three categories, including scoring defense,total offense and rushing offense.
5. The Wildcats defense has forced a turnover in 29 of the last 30 games.

A WIN OVER HAMPTON WOULD...
•     Give the Wildcats their sixth consecutive win over the Pirates.
•     End the 2013 regular season with a 4-1 home record at Municipal Stadium.
•     Improve Brian Jenkins’ MEAC record to 27-4.
•     Improve Brian Jenkins’ Bethune-Cookman record to 36-10 overall.
•     Advance B-CU to a half-game lead in the MEAC standings.
•     Improve the Wildcats to 9-2 overall (6-1 MEAC).

#IKECANFIXIT
•   Senior running back Isidore Jackson is heading up the walls of the B-CU record books at a fast pace. Two weeks ago at North Carolina Central, he became the school’s all-time leader in rushing yards after a season-high 182-yard performance. Additionally, he needs just four rushing touchdowns to match Clyde Sanders (1953-54) at second place all-time for career rushing scores in school history.

A TALE OF TWO HALVES
•   The Bethune-Cookman defense has allowed just 37 second half points against FCS opponents this year.
•   In second half play dating back to Hampton in 2011 (a stretch of 481 total minutes of second half action), the Cats are outscoring opponents at a 243-93 clip. That includes 21 points given up at ACC opponent Florida State this season.

#WRECKTANGLE BACKFIELD
•   The Wildcats’ secondary appears to be a rectangle (or WRECKTANGLE) for opposing offenses as one of the best defensive backfields in the nation through the halfway point of the year. The four defensive backfield mates of Nick Addison, Tim Burke, Thomas Finnie and Dion Hanks is causing havoc for opposing defenses under the guise of defensive coordinator Charles “Yogi” Jones.

RUNNING FOUR-EVER
•   Not only do the Wildcats have three quality quarterbacks, but they have FOUR running backs in this year’s backfield. The quartet of Drexler Dixon, Isidore Jackson, Anthony Jordan and Cary White may be inserted at any time during the game — each possibly getting the ball at any time.

STAY BEHIND THE LINE
•   Through 10 games thus far on the year, Bethune-Cookman has brought tremendous defensive pressure on that side of the ball. The Wildcats have picked up 25 sacks already this season by 11 different players. That combines with 79 tackles for loss by a total of 18 different players.

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COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION