Bethune-Cookman Takes Down Mississippi Valley State, 41-27

Wildcats win 11th consecutive Homecoming game

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Bethune-Cookman turned the momentum of Saturday's Homecoming game on a dime with five cents change as the Wildcats downed Mississippi Valley State 41-27 before a crowd of 10,278 at Daytona Stadium.

Redshirt junior quarterback Akevious Williams accounted for three touchdowns as the Wildcats (3-3) turned a 14-0 deficit into a 28-14 lead in an eight-minute span of the second quarter.

After Williams' 55-yard strike to Keavon Mitchell put the Wildcats on the scoreboard, BCU used two short-field possessions and Trevor Merritt's 49-yard pick-six to take control of the contest.

Malique Jackson's 7-yard reverse tied the game at 14 with 7:16 remaining in the first half after Bethune-Cookman started on the Mississippi Valley 32 following a short punt. Williams kept the drive alive courtesy an 11-yard on fourth down run.

Marquis Hendrix's interception set up the next Wildcats score, a 19-yarder from Williams to Jimmie Robinson that made it 21-14 in favor of the Maroon and Gold with 6:21 left in the first half.

Merritt's score concluded the Wildcats run and made it a two-score advantage at the break.

Mississippi Valley State (0-4) capitalized on Wildcats turnovers deep in their own territory to close to within one touchdown twice in the second half – the last when Dejerric Bryant connected with Quinn McElfresh on a 7-yarder with 5:02 remaining in the contest.

Kennedy Ndukwe and Donald Johnson IV interceptions helped the Wildcats put the Delta Devils away down the stretch.

BOX SCORE

Isaac Washington added an insurance touchdown -- his first career score -- on a 6-yard run.

From his quarterback position, Akevious Williams finished 11 of 24 for 123 yards in the air while rushing for 54 and a third quarter touchdown.

Isaac Washington and LaDerrien Wilson led the Wildcats ground attack with 71 and 67 yards, respectively. Mitchell had four catches for 80 yards.

BCU Senior punter Javaunie Francis averaged 46 yards on five punts, including a 57-yarder and 65-yarder in the fourth quarter that helped the Wildcats defense pin the Delta Devils deep on two occasions.

BCU has now won two games on the spin and 11 consecutive Homecoming contests dating back to 2007.

The Wildcats travel to South Carolina State next Saturday in a pivotal Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) showdown at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Follow Bethune-Cookman Football on Twitter (@BCUGridIron) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUathletics), Instagram (@BCUathletics), Snapchat (@BCUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/BCUathletics).



BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS