B-CU Wildcats Takes 35-20 MEAC Road Win At SSU

SAVANNAH, Georgia -- Akevious Williams accounted for 233 total yards and three touchdowns -- two rushing and one passing -- as Bethune-Cookman pulled away to a 35-20 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory over Savannah State Saturday night at Ted Wright Stadium.

Keavon Mitchell caught two touchdown passes -- one from Williams and one from David Israel as the Wildcats (2-3 overall, 1-1 MEAC) snapped a two-game losing streak while denying B-CU grad and former Wildcat Sports Information Director Opio Mashariki a victory in his first game as Savannah State's Interim Athletic Director.

The Wildcat defense held the Tigers (0-4,0-2) to six first down and 131 total yards in the first three quarter as Bethune-Cookman pulled away from a 14-14 first-half tie.

Tupac Isme's three-yard run and Mitchell's 11-yarder from Israel in the third quarter helped B-CU take a commanding 35-14 lead.

Williams finished 18 of 25 for 177 yards and one touchdown in the air while rushing for 56 yards and two scores. Mitchell had a season-high five catches for 57 yards and the two touchdowns Isaac Washington rushed for 90 yards, followed by Isme with 62.  



Bethune-Cookman ran up 243 total yards of offense the first half and took a 21-14 lead on Williams' 4-yard keeper 14 seconds before halftime. The Wildcats matriculated the ball on scoring drives of 68- and 62 yards, and also took advantage of a short field for a 25-yard pass from Williams to  Mitchell with on the first play of the second quarter.

Savannah State, despite just 90 total yards, capitalized on its opportunities.

JaMichael Baldwin's 62-yard punt return gave the Tigers the ball on the B-CU 9, and Paris Baker caught an 8-yard touchdown from TJ Bell two plays later.

In the second quarter, SSU'S James Kicklighter turned a deflected pass into a 28-yard touchdown, tying the game at 14 with 11:59 remaining in the second quarter.

Bethune-Cookman hosts Mississippi Valley State for homecoming next Saturday at 4 p.m.
 
FIVE NOTES

1. Williams has now rushed for a touchdown in four consecutive games. This was his first two touchdown game since the 2016 Florida Classic.
2. Finishing with 455 total yards, the Wildcats registered back-to-back games with over 400 total yards for the first time since Morgan State and Florida A&M in 2016.
3.    Mitchell has had four catches or more in three games this season.
4.    Washington's 90-yards were the most for a Wildcat running back this year.
5.    This was Bethune-Cookman first game in Savannah since dropping the 2016 game that ended  a 16-game Wildcat winning streak in the series. B-CU leads the all-time series 38-8-3.

BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS