Bethune-Cookman Defense Carries 'Cats 13-7 Over NSU

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Bethune-Cookman’s defense scored two fourth-quarter safeties and held Norfolk State to 67 total yards as the No. 18/20 Wildcats took a 13-7 victory over the Spartans Thursday in a nationally televised ESPNU contest.

It was the 800th victory in program history and helped the Wildcats (7-2 overall, 5-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) remain atop the jumbled MEAC leaderboard. Three other teams – Morgan State, North Carolina A&T and South Carolina State – also have one conference loss.

Rony Barrow registered both safeties for the Wildcats defense, who allowed only three Spartan first downs in a match-up of two of the nation’s top FCS defensive units.

"When your defense scores, it puts you in a position to win," said B-CU Head Coach Brian Jenkins. "Our defense bowed their neck and stood their ground tonight. You saw two well-coached defensive teams. We just were able to make more plays tonight. When you only give up [67] total yards, I really don't have to say anything. "

For the second straight week and fourth time this season, the Wildcats won when they trailed after three quarters.

"we drill our kids on not getting rattled and playing a complete game," Jenkins said. "When we didn't have some success on offense early, we stayed in the moment and prepared for the next moment to come. They played four quarters of football."

Barrow and Ty're Simmons gave the Wildcats an 8-7 lead with 14:36 remaining when he tackled Norfolk State running back Aaron Daniels in the end zone for a safety. Punter Jonathan Cagle set up the score with a 57-yard punt that the Spartans mishandled deep in their own territory.

After the free kick, Bethune-Cookman increased its lead to 11-7 on a 24-yard Ben Noboa field goal. A 29-yard Quentin Williams completion to tight end Justin Henderson on third down kept the drive alive.

Cagle and Barrow came up big again in the game’s final 90 seconds.

A 37-yard Cagle punt pinned the Spartans at their own one-yard line. On the first play, Barrow and David Perry sacked Spartans quarterback Terrance Ervin for the safety with 1:21 to play.

"Cagle's a vet at this thing," Jenkins said. "He knows how to adjust different things -- his drops and positioning the ball to get a good kick."

Bethune-Cookman recovered the ensuing onside kickoff and ran out the clock for the victory.

Williams threw for 83 yards and rushed for 44, but the Wildcat offense gave up three turnovers and failed to punch ball in twice inside the Spartan red zone.

Norfolk State (4-6,4-2) capitalized on the first Wildcat mistake, needing only 45 to drive after an interception. Ervin hit Chris Lee for a 16-yard score with 7:36 remaining in the first quarter.

The Wildcats pulled to 7-6 with 8:16 remaining in the half when Williams connected with Jhomo Gordon on a 23-yard touchdown on a fourth-down play, but the PAT went wide left.

In the third quarter, B-CU got the ball on the Spartan 5-yard line after a blocked punt, but came up empty after a missed field goal.

Michael Jones had 50 yards for the Wildcats while Jaime Wilson had a 26-yard one-handed catch in the fourth quarter that was trending on ESPN for a spot on SportsCenters Top Ten Plays.

"Funny thing about that is that every day in practice, we're yelling at Jaime `Two hand, two hands' and then he comes in the game and does that one-handed catch," Jenkins said. "It shows you our guys were into the game from beginning to end and wanted to make a play when they had a
n opportunity."

Ralph Williams led the defensive totals with 13 tackles and a sack.

The Wildcats return to Virginia next Thursday for another ESPNU contest, this one at Hampton with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

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Bethune-Cookman wins slugfest with Norfolk State, 59-49

DAYTONA BEACH — A large homecoming crowd of 9,875 at Daytona Municipal Stadium was treated to fireworks Saturday, as Bethune-Cookman raced past Norfolk State, 59-49.

The Wildcats (6-2, 4-1 MEAC) put on a show all day, posting season highs in points and total offense (589). Quentin Williams led the way with a career-high 374 passing yards and five total touchdowns. Michael Jones eclipsed the century mark in rushing (125 yards) and receiving (103).

“We always want to take what the defense gives us,” B-CU coach Terry Sims said. “Quentin did a good job of finding our playmakers, and the offensive line did a great job creating lanes and giving Quentin time.”

Greg Hankerson helped Norfolk State keep pace, passing for 238 yards and four touchdowns, and adding 88 rushing yards.

B-CU jumped ahead early on Anthony Jordan’s 3-yard touchdown run, followed by a 25-yard score from Williams to Frank Brown.



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TSU to Open Season Versus Bethune-Cookman in JMC

GAME TIME: SUNDAY, SEPT. 1, 8:00 PM
LIVE BROADCAST: ESPN3

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- On Sunday, Big Blue takes on Bethune-Cookman for the 15th annual John Merritt Classic at 7 p.m. at LP Field.

 

The Tigers return 18 starters from last year’s 8-3 team including 11 on the defensive side of the ball.

 

However, the team’s biggest question mark will be at quarterback where freshman Ronald Butler will make his first start of his career. Butler won the job this fall when he beat out senior Holt Claiborne and JUCO transfer Lamar McKnight.

 

The good news for Butler is that he will have the luxury of throwing to junior tight end A.C. Leonard who is a preseason All-American by a handful of publications. Last year, Leonard led all OVC tight ends and underclassmen in receiving yards (733). He also hauled in six touchdown passes as a sophomore.

 

The squad will also break in a new starting running back Trabis Ward left the program at the conclusion of last season. Ward lead the conference in rushing attempts (309) yards (1,422) and touchdowns (15) in 2012. Matching Ward’s production might be difficult for one player to do, so the team will likely turn to both Telvin Hooks and Adam Davenport to carry the load. Hooks rushed 75 times last year for 425 yards for an astounding 5.7 yards per carry average. 2013 will be Davenport’s first year at Tennessee State after transferring from the Naval Academy.

 

On defense, the Tennessee State will return all 11 starters from a defensive squad that led the OVC in total defense in 2012 (361 y/pg). Second Team All-OVC selection Nick Thrasher will once again captain the defense from the middle linebacker position, a year removed from leading the squad with 105 stops and 9.0 tackles for loss.

 

The secondary is highlighted by First Team All-OVC cornerback Stephen Godbolt III and Second Team selection safety Daniel Fitzpatrick who combined for 106 tackles and seven interceptions- six by Godbolt. Even with retuning all 11 starters, the Tigers’ defense still only has seven seniors listed on the two-deep depth chart.

 

The Tigers’ opponent in the JMC will be the defending MEAC Champions and preseason No. 1 ranked HBCU team, Bethune-Cookman. The Wildcats finished 9-3 last season including a 21-14 loss to TSU in Daytona Beach.

 

B-CU returns 13 starters from 2012 including its leading rusher, passer, receiver and tackler.

 

Isidore Jackson will enter his senior season as the Wildcat’s go-to-guy on the ground, a year removed from rushing for 1,069 yards on 191 attempts for a 5.6 average. Jackson was also the leader in all-purpose yards (1,217) and scoring (72 points).

 

Handing Jackson the ball will be junior Quentin Williams who rushed for 635 yards, himself, in B-CU’s spread offense. Williams’s main duty last season was to throw the ball and he performed well, tossing 11 scores compared to just two interceptions. Eddie Poole was on the receiving end on most of Williams’s passes, leading the team in receptions (32), yards (439), and touchdowns (5).

 

On defense, Jarkevis Fields will return after compiling 103 tackles from the linebacker position a year ago.

 

TSU will hope to improve to 11-4 in JMC games and 7-1 against B-CU when the teams kick off the 2013 season at 7 p.m.

 

    TSU Football Game Notes: B-CU

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Next QBs step up into the spotlight

Grambling State - After losing Johnathan Williams, the SWAC offensive player of the year whose 37 touchdown passes tied for the most in the FCS, third-year coach Broderick Fobbs signed former Ole Miss third-string quarterback Deonte Kincade, a redshirt junior. He's basically been anointed as the No. 1 despite sitting out the spring with a broken foot suffered in Sugar Bowl warmups.

Bethune-Cookman - While it hurts to lose Quentin Williams, who played extensively over the last four years and was the FCS leader in passing efficiency last season, redshirt junior Larry Brihm has appeared in all but one game over the last two years. But considering the MEAC squad doesn't rely on one QB, junior college transfer Anthony Cruz, who at 6-5 is more of a pocket passer than a scrambler, and redshirt freshman Arkevious Williams have to be considered for playing time as well.

ONTINUE READING

Bethune-Cookman Blocks Last-Second Field Goal to Edge NCCU, 28-26

DURHAM, North Carolina – Trailing 26-7 late in the third quarter, Bethune-Cookman University scored 21 unanswered points and blocked a potential game-winning 18-yard field goal try with just 32 seconds left to edge North Carolina Central University 28-26 on a wet Saturday inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.

Bethune-Cookman senior quarterback Quentin Williams, who was taken out of the game in the second quarter, returned to the contest midway through the third quarter to spark the Wildcats with 197 yards and two touchdowns passing along with 67 rushing yards after intermission. Williams finished the contest with 320 yards of total offense, including 248 through the air on 13-of-18 passing and a team-high 72 yards on the ground.

The visiting Wildcats opened the scoring with a 5-yard run by running back Anthony Jordan at 9:28 in the second quarter.

NCCU then posted 26 unanswered points courtesy of a pair of field goals by freshman Nigel Macauley, two rushing touchdowns by junior quarterback Malcolm Bell and a dash into the end zone by freshman running back Dorrel McClain.



Bethune-Cookman (4-1, 2-0 MEAC) started its comeback late in the third quarter when Williams found Jawill Davis for a 29-yard touchdown pass. The two connected again from 29 yards out in the first minute of the fourth quarter to pull to within five points of the Eagles.

Junior running back Michael Jones put the Wildcats ahead with 10:50 remaining in the contest with a 6-yard touchdown run.

With Bethune-Cookman threatening to make it a two-score game with the ball at the NCCU 3-yard line, the Eagles recovered a fumble to get the ball back with a chance to win.

Starting at their own 7-yard line with 6:11 left on the clock, the Eagles marched 92 yards to the 1-yard line after McClain thought he had scored the game-winning touchdown, but was ruled down short of the goal line. Macauley lined up for the chip-shot kick to win the game, but B-CU freshman Elliott Miller raced off the edge to block the potential game-winning field goal.

McClain's 144 rushing yards topped a lethal NCCU ground attack that amassed 324 yards for the program's best running effort since accumulating 349 rushing yards against Livingstone on Oct. 23, 2004.

Bell recorded 271 yards of total offense with 178 yards through the air and 93 yards and two scores on the ground.

As a team, NCCU posted 502 yards of total offense and 30 first downs compared to 395 total yards and 16 first downs by the Wildcats.

Defensively, NCCU was charged by senior safety C.J. Moore with a team-high nine tackles, 2.0 hits for a loss and a pair of interceptions. Junior linebacker Jeremy Thompson collected seven stops with a sack, while linemen Richard Mitchell and Antonio Brown each forced a fumble.

After dropping its sixth straight decision in the series with Bethune-Cookman, NCCU (1-3, 0-1 MEAC) returns to MEAC action next Saturday at Florida A&M.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Bethune-Cookman starts slow, falls to Coastal Carolina 24-14

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  --  Coastal Carolina scored on three conescutive possessions in the second quarter and then added a 68-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to defeat Bethune-Cookman 24-14 in the first round of the FCS playoffs Saturday at Municipal Stadium.

The loss ends the Wildcats' season at 9-3. It was their fourth playoff loss since 2002 and their second in three seasons. Coastal Carolina (8-4) advances to the second round next week against No. 4 overall seed Old Dominion.

Down 24-0, B-CU scored on Quentin Williams' 74-yard pass to David Blackwell with 6:44 left in the game. Williams, who added a 2-point conversion pass, had just returned after leaving the game in the third quarter following a blindside sack. The Wildcats scored again with 1:22 left on Isidore Jackson's 10-yard run. Williams' 2-point conversion pass fell incomplete.

Backup quarterback Brodrick Waters led the Wildcats on a long drive following Nick Addison's interception with 3:19 left in the third quarter. Waters' 46-yard option run brought the ball to the Coastal 11. With fourth down at the 5, B-CU lined up for a field goal, but the Wildcats were flagged for a false start before the kick.

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HBCU notebook: B-CU's Williams puts bow on stellar senior season

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania -- When longtime intrastate rivals Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M battle in the annual Florida Classic in Orlando, Florida, it’s usually expected that a player on one of these teams is going to have a big-time performance.

This season’s matchup didn’t disappoint.

Bethune-Cookman quarterback Quentin Williams put on quite a show last Saturday at the Orlando Citrus Bowl, throwing three touchdown passes and rushing for another score to lead the Wildcats to a 35-14 victory over the Rattlers.

The 5-foot-11, 209-pound senior completed 15 of 18 passes for 226 yards, helping B-CU grab a share of its fourth consecutive MEAC championship. Williams also earned ESPN.com HBCU Player of the Week honors. B-CU shares the conference title with North Carolina Central and North Carolina A&T. The Wildcats finished the season 9-2 overall and 7-1 in the MEAC.

CONTINUE READING

B-CU's Sims pushing to avoid a letdown against Delaware State

DAYTONA BEACH — Quentin Williams put together a career-best game in Bethune-Cookman’s 59-49 win over Norfolk State last week.

The senior quarterback finished with 386 yards and four touchdowns, but his coach, Terry Sims, was focused on the bad during Wednesday’s press conference.

Williams threw a pair of interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, and Sims said that can’t happen in Saturday’s 2 p.m. game at Delaware State.

Sims gave Williams a grade of “B or B-plus.”

But is that good enough for the Wildcats (6-2, 5-1 in the MEAC) to make a run at a conference title?

“It’s never good enough,” Sims said. “I always think there is room for improvement and opportunity for guys to get better.”

CONTINUE READING

Norfolk State Spartans Stun 1st-Place B-CU Wildcats, 27-24

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida   — After four consecutive disheartening losses, the Norfolk State football team pulled off the shocker of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference season to date, scoring a 27-24 upset of first-place Bethune-Cookman on Saturday evening at Municipal Stadium.

The Spartans (3-7, 3-3 MEAC) sprinted out to a 27-7 lead after three quarters behind a big-play defense and a ball-control offense, then held on down the stretch to send the Wildcats (8-2, 5-1) to their first MEAC loss since a 22-3 defeat to North Carolina A&T on Oct. 8, 2011 – some 19 games ago. The win was also the Spartans' first-ever in Daytona Beach after nine unsuccessful tries.

The Spartans had numerous standouts on both sides of the ball, none bigger than running back Rolandan Finch and linebacker Lynden Trail. Finch ran a season-high 38 times for 110 yards and a score against the MEAC's top defense, his fifth 100-yard game of the year and second straight. Trail was all over the field, recording eight tackles, 2.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, a pass breakup and his third receiving TD of the year.

NSU scored on its first three drives of the night. Finch capped the game's first possession, a 10-play, 81-yard drive, with a 2-yard TD run with 9:57 left in the first quarter. The key play in the drive was a leaping 22-yard catch of a Tyler Clark pass by tight end Joseph Hawkins to set up the Spartans with a first-and-goal. Finch darted into the end zone for his third TD of the year on the next play.

After holding B-CU's offense to a three-and-out, the Spartans put together a seven-play, 32-yard march which freshman Cameron Marouf punctuated with a career-long 43-yard field goal.



Isidore Jackson got the Wildcats on the board with a 35-yard TD run on the Wildcats' next possession, cutting NSU's lead to 10-7.

But the Spartans responded with a 17-play, 84-yard drive to again seize control. Trail scored on a 2-yard TD catch, his team-leading third scoring reception and fourth total TD, to give NSU a 17-7 lead with 10:52 left in the first half.

NSU didn't need much time to add to its lead. On the third play of the ensuing drive, Trail blew up the Wildcats' third-down option play, forcing B-CU quarterback Quentin Williams' pitch to go awry. NSU defensive back Natturner Harris scooped up the loose ball and sprinted 31 yards for the Spartans' second defensive score in as many weeks, extending the lead to 24-7.

B-CU had two prime opportunities to score later in the half, but NSU got a pair of key interceptions in its own end. Freshman safety Leroy Parker had the first, and junior safety Keenan Lambert had the second just before halftime on Williams' throw into the end zone.

NSU added to its lead on Marouf's 29-yard field goal in the third quarter, making it 27-7. Marouf's second field goal of the day capped another time-consuming drive which lasted 10 plays.

The Wildcats, whose only previous loss this year came to No. 2-ranked FBS power Florida State, rallied with 17 points in the fourth quarter. On the first play of the period, Clark completed a short pass to Derrick Demps, who was stripped by B-CU safety Nick Addison while fighting for extra yardage. Addison jaunted 14 yards into the end zone to cut NSU's lead to 27-13.

Jonathan Cagle's 23-yard field goal on the Wildcats' next possession brought his team within 27-16. After forcing an NSU punt, the Wildcats needed just two plays to make it a one-score game. Reserve Wildcats quarterback Jackie Wilson hit Jontavious Carter for a 61-yard pass play, and then Jackson darted in from the 11 on the next play. A two-point conversion brought the Wildcats within 27-24 with 5:48 remaining.

But NSU picked up two key first downs on the next drive to all but salt the game away. NSU was faced with a fourth down and a punt situation, the Wildcats were called for a personal foul during the punt that kept the drive alive. Clark added a key 11-yard run to pick up another first down near mid-field later in the possession.

Bethune-Cookman called its last timeout and the Spartans eventually turned the ball back over on downs with six seconds left. But Wilson's last-gasp heave was picked off by Darrin Marrow well shy of the end zone, NSU's fifth takeaway of the day.

NSU held B-CU's MEAC-leading offense to just 272 total yards. Jackson rushed for 69 yards and two scores for the Wildcats. Wilson and Williams, B-CU's two quarterbacks, were 9-of-18 for 118 yards and three interceptions.

Clark was 12-of-25 for 151 yards with one TD and one interception. In addition to Trail's defensive effort, fellow linebacker Marcell Coke had nine tackles and forced a second-quarter B-CU fumble which teammate Brent Singleton recovered. Lambert had four tackles, forced a fumble, intercepted a pass and added a pass breakup.

Finch's big game increased his season total to 948 yards on the ground, most in the MEAC.
The Spartans play their final road contest of the year next Saturday at North Carolina Central. Kickoff is 2 p.m. in Durham, N.C.


By Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
VISIT: NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY
VISIT: NSUSPARTANS.COM

Bethune-Cookman Football Signs 27 for 2011

Daytona Beach, FL - “I think this recruiting class is very talented,” said Head Coach Brian Jenkins. “We have some size that we wanted. We have a lot of speed and a lot of range. “I think we were very successful with this class; that is yet to be seen because they still have to take the field.

The exciting thing about his class is 90 percent of these guys are already qualified. That is exceptional. I am really excited about this class. It’s a lot of talent, and we have to get it out of them early. That’s what we are looking for, all of these guys to jump in and contribute right away.”

The 2011 class features 27 new additions to the Wildcats roster, including four presently enrolled in the spring semester at B-CU. The list also features three Division I FBS transfers, a highly-rated defensive back from Florida, and a wide receiver, free safety, and linebacker considered among the top players in the prep school ranks…plus let’s not forget that the Wildcats picked up Florida's "Mr. Football".

Bethune-Cookman 2011 Football Signing Class

Dominic Addison- CB - 6’2” - 170 - Freshman - Riverview, Fla. - Spoto High School
Coach Jenkins on Addison: “Tremendous athlete; Anybody who has watched his film knows that this man can get it done on either side of the ball. He’s going to play corner for us. At between 6’1” and 6’2” he is a great addition for us because it gives us two big corners, and I can see Nick contributing right away.”

Breon Allen - RB - 5’6” - 170 - Freshman - Daytona Beach, Fla. - Warner Christian High School

Ryan Bryson - DT - 6’3” - 280 - Freshman - Jacksonville, Fla. - Menendez High School
Coach Jenkins on Bryson: “Defensive lineman, very strong and athletic guy. We watched him throw guys side to side and make plays. His strength and size is something we have been lacking and he has a chance to come in and make a name for himself right away.”

Seth Clayton - WR - 6’1” - 185 - Freshman - Altamonte Springs, Fla. - Lyman High School
Coach Jenkins on Clayton: “Very explosive, very smooth, and another one that runs great routes. His ability has only been scraped. I think he can be an explosive guy with us in our offense at many different positions, and I expect great things from him.”

*Tavares Dantzler - LB - 6’3” -230 - Freshman - Homestead, Fla. - North Carolina Prep
Coach Jenkins on Dantzler: “Originally out of Homestead, Florida. 6’3” 230 pounds and has been clocked at 4.5. Great upside; this guy can play anywhere on the field. Anywhere you put him, he will perform because he has that much ability.”

*Marquis Drayton - S - 6’1” - 220 - Freshman - Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. - North Carolina Prep
Coach Jenkins on Drayton: “Coming to us out of North Carolina Prep School, he is originally out of Dillard High School in Ft. Lauderdale. As a 220 pound free safety, he has a lot of range. He can cover the middle of the field and is big enough to come down into the box and tackle those big running backs.”

Al-Ghaffar - LB - 6’2” - 225 - East Orange, N.J. – Transfer/Rutgers
Coach Jenkins on Ghaffar: “Very fast; has been clocked at 4.49. Will graduate from Rutgers and still have two years to be able to play. He’s a guy who has played a lot of football and I am excited about him because he brings a lot of speed to our linebackers, and he’s a competitor.”

Jhomo Gordon - WR - 6’0” – 185 - Freshman - Palm Bay, Fla. - Bayside High School
Coach Jenkins on Gordon: “A young achiever who possesses a lot of talent. More of a possession guy; Runs good routes; Very aware of the package that we run; Very physical with the ball after the catch. A young man who I think has a very bright future here.”

Tyree Green - WR - 6’1” -190 - Freshman - St. Petersburg, Fla. - Boca Ciega High School
Coach Jenkins on Green: “This young man possesses great size and speed. Very, very athletic and has the ability to possibly contribute right away.”

Daniel Jackson - LB - 6’2” - 225 - Freshman - Winter Haven, Fla. - Bartow High School
Coach Jenkins on Jackson: “A young kid who has a great upside. He runs extremely well, and he’s going to have to develop a little bit, but he has a big frame and a lot of ability. I think he’s going to be the big surprise out of the whole recruiting class.”

Howard Jones - CB - 6’2” - 170 - Freshman - Harvey, La. - Warren Easton High School
Coach Jenkins on Jones: “Great upside; Reminds us of Ozzie Slater a little bit. A very fast kid, long arms, and gives us what we’ve been looking for at the corner spot. You know we wanted big corners and you know this young man is out of New Orleans and has played in the inner city league and knows what it takes to be accustomed to being a physical football player at that position.”

Rakeem Knight - DL - 6’3” – 294 - Freshman - Birmingham, Ala. - Restoration Academy
Coach Jenkins on Knight: “He’s one that has not played much football, but I’ll tell you what, he’s been clocked at 4.49. He can run; he pursues ball carriers, runs them down, and causes damage.”

Harold Love - DL - 6’2” -305 - Junior - Portland, Ore. - Feather River CC
Coach Jenkins on Love: “He’s going to be an anchor for us on the inside. I’m really excited about this guy because his attitude is tremendous. He’s a great leader, and he’s one that I really think is going to elevate to the next level defensively.”

Stavion Lowe - OT - 6’5” - 330 - Junior - Brownwood, Texas - Tyler CC
Coach Jenkins on Lowe: “He originally signed with LSU out of High School, a real big, big offensive lineman, period. He’s another young man that I think will play at that tackle spot for us. He understands our scheme and he understands what it takes just to be a top offensive linemen. He was one of the top offensive linemen coming out of high school, and we expect him to come and step right on the field from day one and lead the charge for us.”

De’Shon Nettles - WR - 6’3” - 195 - Freshman - Buffalo, N.Y. - North Carolina Prep
Coach Jenkins on Nettles: “A big, physical receiver who possesses everything needed to be a playmaker. I think he will be a very, very good replacement for Reams, who we lost as a senior. I expect really, really good things from him, and I think he’ll come in and contribute right away.”

Leroy Pate - CB - 6’1” - 205 - Freshman - Jacksonville, Fla. - Raines High School
Coach Jenkins on Pate: “A guy who is dual-threat player, who can play safety or corner. The thing that he has is he’s a ball hawk; he has a nose for the ball and making plays, and he is a big kid. He gives us another big corner at close to 200 pounds, and 5’11”, and exactly what we were looking for.”

Rashard Payne - CB - 5’10” - 180 - Orchard Park, N.Y. - Eerie CC
Coach Jenkins on Payne: “Originally out of Pompano Beach, Florida, but went to a junior college in Buffalo. He is a tough medium-sized corner. He reminded us of Dion Hanks who we have here now. Great upside is he has a nose for the ball; one that’s not scared of contact and he will hit you whenever he has a chance to lay some wood on you.”

Reginald Polite - DL - 6’3” - 260 - Freshman - Bartow, Fla. - Hargrave Military Academy
Coach Jenkins on Polite: “Very quick, agile type of player, and we really expect some great things from him.”

Blake Pritchard - OT - 6’5” - 295 - Junior - Huntington Beach, Calif. - Golden West CC
Coach Jenkins on Pritchard: “A very strong force on the offensive line. He’s going to play offensive tackle for us. A very strong, very tall guy, with a great frame. He’s going to be a tremendous addition to this team. He is originally from Jacksonville. Went to school in California. He is a very good pass blocker and has a very, very mean streak when he plays.”

Jean Prophete - TE - 6’3” – 250 - Boynton Beach, Fla. - Summit Christian High School
Coach Jenkins on Prophete: “This is a man-child right here. He already has a college body; an ex-basketball player with tremendous upside, who catches the ball well. He can get north and south and has really good speed. He’s going to be a bright spot out of our recruiting class.”

Quincy Quetant - S - 6’1” - 205 - Redshirt Sophomore - Orlando, Fla. - Transfer/Univ. of Cincinnati
Coach Jenkins on Quetant: “He’s a safety out of Orlando that had a lot of playing time there at Cincinnati, will graduate, and still have two years to play. He will bring experience and accountability for our secondary.”

Johnothan Quintero - K - 5’11” - 185 - Freshman - Port St. Lucie, Fla. - Treasure Coast High School
Coach Jenkins on Quintero: “Has repeatedly kicked 50-yard field goals. He can make an extra point, that’s all I care about (flashes a joking smile). He’ll definitely be one who steps in and does stuff right away.”

*Rodney Scott - RB - 5’10” - 198 - Junior - Cross City, Fla. - Transfer/Univ. of Mississippi
Coach Jenkins on Scott: “Transfer from Ole Miss, who was the number-three rated running back in the state of Florida coming out of high school. Now, he’s come home to show his talent, and I think he’s already proven that he can be the ‘guy’.

Daniel Stewart - OG - 6’3” - 270 - Freshman - Sunrise, Fla. – Plantation
Coach Jenkins on Stewart: “He’s very strong and one of the top wrestlers in the state. He plays with good balance and has good awareness. The upside with him is that he can play any position on the front line.”

*Andre “Ross” Williams - DL - 6’4” -240 - Freshman - Jacksonville, Fla. - Hargrave Military Academy
Coach Jenkins on R. Williams: “Originally from Jacksonville, he is big and has a lot of range as a player, can run, and will only get bigger and better as a player. I’m very excited about him. He has a great attitude and a great work ethic.”

Kevin Williams - OL - 6’2” – 305 - Freshman - Brandon, Fla. - Armwood High School
Coach Jenkins on K. Williams: “He’s a young man that we are going to give a look at center, but he could play either side of the ball. Good wide body kid. Originally started out playing D-line in high school, but moved to offensive lineman. He was a mainstay for Armwood, and he’s a kid that we think is going to develop very fast on either side of the ball.”

Quentin Williams - QB - 6’0” - 190 - Freshman - Tampa, Fla. - Jefferson High School
Coach Jenkins on Q. Williams: “Exciting Player. Has one of the strongest arms I’ve seen since I’ve been coaching. The kid is a true leader, a true winner, which he’s exemplified by winning the State Championship. He also exemplified the caliber of player that he is being awarded the Florida ‘Mr. Football’ award. He’s broken every quarterback passing record in the state of Florida, and is a young man that I think is going to have a chance to lead the charge for the Wildcats in the near future.”

Anthony Woodard - DE - 6’3” - 256 - Junior - Tracy, Calif. - Phoenix CC
Coach Jenkins on Woodward: “Gives us a chance to be very good on the edge. Another big defensive end. He is quick on the ball and has a great technique. We are going to use him mainly on the edge at defensive end. And the sky is the limit for this young man and I think he will really turn heads when he gets here.”

*=Presently Enrolled at B-CU

By Bethune Cookman University Sports Information

No. 25 Bethune-Cookman Takes Down Morgan State, 38-14

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – No. 25 Bethune-Cookman closed out its 2015 home schedule Saturday with a 38-14 Senior Day victory over Morgan State before a Municipal Stadium crowd of 7,461.

Quentin Williams, one of 20 Wildcats seniors honored in pre-game ceremonies, threw for 257 yards and a touchdown as the Wildcats (8-2 overall, 6-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) pulled away from a one-score game at halftime to keep their post-season hopes alive heading into a bye week for the upcoming spin.

Williams’ completion percentage (16 of 19 for 84.2 percent) was a season-best as he posted his fifth 200-yard game of the campaign. The Tampa native connected on a 44-yarder to Frank Brown during the Wildcats’ opening drive of the third quarter that gave the Maroon and Gold a 28-14 lead.

Meanwhile, redshirt sophomore signal caller Larry Brihm, Jr. registered 130 total yards (87 rushing, 43 passing) and a touchdown via the ground in the second half to help the Wildcats finish their home slate undefeated in five game and extend their home winning streak to 10 games dating back to 2013.

The Wildcats finished with 600 total yards, seven shy of the season-high against Norfolk State on Homecoming just two weeks prior at “The Cage”.

B-CU running backs Michael D. Jones (73 yards) and graduate senior Anthony Jordan (53) each rushed for first half touchdowns. Jordan’s 3-yard run with 4:39 left in the first half not only gave B-CU a 14-7 lead, but moved the senior into a tie alongside former teammate Isidore Jackson for third in career rushing touchdowns at Bethune-Cookman with 34 under his belt.

Marquis Drayton, another B-CU senior playing in his final home game, registered the Wildcats’ first interception return for touchdown of the season – a 30-yarder that pushed the Wildcats to a 21-7 advantage with 3:19 left showing on the clock before intermission.

Morgan State (3-5, 3-3 MEAC) closed to within 21-14 on Moses Skillon’s 10-yard strike through the air to Landen Marlbrough just 16 seconds before halftime. However, the Bears mustered just four first downs and 91 total yards in the second half, with their lone scoring threat dashed by an Atreyu Farrior interception in the red zone.

Jawill Davis’ four catches for 69 yards paced 11 Wildcats receivers who had at least one catch on the day. Brown and Jontavious Carter each had three receptions for 52 yards, and Jaime Wilson had three catches of his own for 26 yards.

Having played 10 consecutive weeks to begin the 2015 season, Bethune-Cookman will utilize a much-needed bye week next week, before taking on in-state rival Florida A&M on November 21, in the annual Florida Blue Florida Classic at Orlando’s newly renovated Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium.

Follow Bethune-Cookman Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BCUathletics), Twitter (www.twitter.com/BCUathletics) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/BCUathletics) for all of the latest news and updates. Fans also receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year, via the social media outlets or www.BCUathletics.com.



 COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Bethune-Cookman Run Past Delaware State, 49-21

DOVER, Delaware  --  Bethune-Cookman rushed for 353 yards and five touchdowns in a 49-21 victory over Delaware State in a MEAC contest at Alumni Stadium this afternoon. Second-string quarterback Larry Brihm, Jr. ran for 141 yards and two scores to lead the Wildcats’ 489-yard offensive attack.

Freshman running back Brycen Alleyne scored his first two collegiate touchdowns, while leading the Hornets in rushing and receiving yards in the contest.

Bethune-Cookman won for the seventh time in eight games to improve to 7-2 overall and 5-1 in the MEAC. DSU fell to 0-8 and 0-5.

Delaware State took advantage of a special teams play to score first in the contest.

Bethune-Cookman drove 69 yards on its first possession, but the drive stalled at the Hornet 11. Wildcat placekicker Uriel Hernandez’s 28-yard field goal attempt was blocked by DSU’s Gabe Sherrod. Logan Wescott scooped up the ball and ran 82 yards down the sideline to the endzone to give the Hornets a lead for the first time this season. Wisdom Nzidee’s extra point kick put DSU ahead 7-0 with 7:40 left in the first quarter.

BCU wasted little time to match the Delaware State score. The Wildcats drove 68 yards in five plays on the ensuing possession to even the game. Quentin Williams connected with Frank Brown on a seven-yard touchdown pass to cap off the two-minute-11 second drive. The extra point kick by Hernandez tied the game at 7-7 with 5:21 remaining in the opening quarter.

Bethune-Cookman added touchdowns on each of its next four possessions to take control of the game.

Running backs Michael Jones and Anthony Jordan scored touchdowns on short runs in the second quarter and Brihm scored from a yard out with less than a minute to go in the quarter to give the Wildcats a 28-7 lead at the break.

BCU stretched its lead to 35-7 on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Ja-Quan Lumas on the opening possession of the third quarter.

Delaware State showed some fight by scoring 14 unanswered points to raise its hopes.

Alleyne capped off a 12-play, 78-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run for the first touchdown of his career. Hornet quarterback Gil Rivera completed first down passes to Morris Frasier (13 yards) and Malik Golson (16 yds.), while Dae-Hon Cheung rushed for 23 yards during the five-minute-four-second drive. Nzidee’s extra point kick was blocked, leaving DSU in a 35-13 hole with 7:54 left in the third quarter.

The Hornets took advantage of another special teams miscue by the Wildcats to get closer early in the fourth quarter.

Delaware State received the ball at the BCU 24-yard line after Wildcat punter Jonathan Cagle came up short while attempting to run on fourth down and one.

Four plays later, Rivera found Alleyne open in the endzone for a 14-yard touchdown. It was Alleyne’s first collegiate touchdown catch. The Hornets successfully converted a two-point play following the touchdown when Rivera handed the ball to Golson, who completed a pass to Rivera in the endzone to cut the Wildcats’ lead to 35-21 with 14:48 left to play.

The Delaware State defense forced BCU to punt after three plays and recovered a fumble on the next two Wildcat possessions, but the Hornets could not take advantage.

Bethune-Cookman tacked on two fourth quarter touchdowns, one with 17 seconds left to play, to close out the scoring.

Delaware State totaled 200 yards in the contest, 104 rushing and 96 passing.

Alleyne had a team-high 65 yards rushing on 19 carries, and led the Hornets with two catches for 52 yards.

Rivera completed seven-of-17 passes for 96 yards.

DSU cornerback J.R. Robinson had a career-high 13 tackles, including 2.5 behind the line-of-scrimmage. Linebackers Malik Harris and Rashawn Barrett had 12 and 10 tackles, respectively, for the Hornets.

The Hornets begin a two-game road swing with a visit to North Carolina Central next Saturday (Nov. 7). Game time is 2 p.m. in Durham, N.C.

Delaware State will visit North Carolina A&T the following week (Nov. 14) before returning home to face Howard in the season finale on Nov. 21 at Alumni Stadium (2 p.m.).



COURTESY DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Bethune-Cookman shuts down FAMU, advances to playoffs

ORLANDO , Florida — Bethune-Cookman quarterback Quentin Williams had an eventful day.

He scored two first-quarter touchdowns, was benched after fumbling for the second time and then wound up hoisting his team’s MVP trophy in the Florida Classic as the Wildcats defeated Florida A&M 29-10 Saturday in front of 45,321 spectators at the Florida Citrus Bowl.

“It’s a tremendous blessing,’’ Williams said.

The victory clinched a second consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship for No. 14 B-CU (10-2, 7-1). The Wildcats will find out at 11:30 this morning who they will meet in the FCS playoffs. The pairings will be announced live on ESPNU.

“The next step is to take a breather (Saturday night), enjoy family and pick it back up (this morning) and see what’s in store for us playoff-wise,’’ B-CU coach Brian Jenkins said.

Athletic director Lynn Thompson said the Wildcats put in bids to host the first three rounds of the playoffs. B-CU has hosted a playoff game in two of the past three seasons.



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Williams, B-CU win homecoming game 14-3 over S.C. State

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  -- Quentin Williams passed for a season-high 220 yards and a touchdown and scored on a 6-yard run to lead Bethune-Cookman to a 14-3 victory over South Carolina State in front of a homecoming crowd of 10,421 on Saturday at Municipal Stadium.
             

The Wildcats, who won their 17th Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game in row since 2011, improved to 7-1 this season, 4-0 in the conference, with four games to play. The Bulldogs fell to 5-3, 3-1.

B-CU held S.C. State to 143 yards of offense and forced four turnovers, including two Richard Cue interceptions.

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Norfolk State Spartans Welcome B-CU, ESPNU to Dick Price Stadium for 1st Place Clash

Game Notes  |  Watch Live  |  Live Stats  |  Live Audio  |  Twitter Updates  |

NORFOLK, Virginia  --  Two teams involved in a five-way tie for first place in the MEAC meet Thursday on national television when Norfolk State hosts No. 20/18 Bethune-Cookman for Educators Appreciation Night sponsored by The Virginia Lottery. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU, with a start time of 7:30 p.m. at Dick Price Stadium.

NSU and Bethune-Cookman both enter the game with 4-1 MEAC records. North Carolina A&T, Morgan State and South Carolina State are all also 4-1 entering the season's final three games.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
NSU (4-5 overall, 4-1 MEAC) won for the fourth time in its last five games and remained tied for first place in the MEAC with a dramatic 12-10 win at Florida A&M last Saturday. The Spartan defense registered two goal-line stands, one in the game's final minute, to preserve the win. Florida A&M's Damien Fleming tried to score on a quarterback sneak from the Spartans' 1-yard line in the game's final 15 seconds but was stopped short of the goal line by NSU's defensive line. FAMU, which had used all of its timeouts, could not get off another play before time expired.

Malik Stokes threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Isaac White with 6:20 left in the fourth quarter to give NSU a 12-10 lead. The play was set up by NSU linebacker Deon King, who forced and recovered a fumble on the Rattlers' 5-yard line.



NSU allowed an opposing offense to score one touchdown or less for the fourth straight game. The Spartans are third in the nation and second behind Bethune-Cookman among conference teams in total defense, allowing 254 yards per game. The linebacker quartet of King, Marcell Coke, Lynden Trail and Lamar Neal has been a big reason for that success, combining for 271 tackles, 24.5 for loss.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Bethune-Cookman (7-2, 4-1 MEAC) bounced back from its first conference loss with a 34-20 home victory over North Carolina Central last Saturday in Daytona Beach, Fla. Anthony Jordan scored three rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter to help the Wildcats rally from a 20-13 deficit.

Michael D. Jones rushed for 117 yards and B-CU quarterback Larry Brihm ran for 104 for the Wildcats, who amassed 334 yards on the ground. Brihm and Jones also rushed for one touchdown apiece. The Eagles, meanwhile, could only manage 200 total yards against the Wildcats' defense, which leads the MEAC in fewest yards allowed (243.7).

Jordan has rushed for nine touchdowns this year for B-CU, which ranks third in the conference in rushing offense (194.8). Quarterback Quentin Williams, who has split time this year with Brihm, has passed for 1,072 yards. Jhomo Gordon is B-CU's top receiver, with 376 receiving yards and four TDs.

Defensive linemen LeBranden Richardson and Erik Williams have combined for 11 sacks to spearhead the stingy Wildcats' defense.

NOTE TO FANS
Due to classes and other University activities on Thursday, there will be no tailgating allowed for this game. On-campus parking will be very limited. A shuttle service from the Marie V. McDemmond Center will be available beginning at 6 p.m. Reserved parking will be available for President's guests only. All other campus parking is based on availability.

THE SERIES
• This will be the 25th all-time meeting between NSU and B-CU. The Wildcats lead the series, 16-8.
• NSU is 4-13 against the Wildcats since moving to Division I, a record which includes last season's 27-24 Spartan victory in Daytona Beach.

STANDINGS WATCHThe final month of the MEAC season figures to be a wild one, as there are no teams remaining with unbeaten conference records following Bethune-Cookman's 20-14 loss at South Carolina State on Oct. 25. There are five teams with one MEAC loss, including NSU. The Spartans, Bethune-Cookman, N.C. A&T, Morgan State and S.C. State are all 3-1.

Making matters more confusing is that N.C. A&T does not play NSU or B-CU. B-CU also does not play Morgan State.

Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Dwight Floyd Special Commentary: Florida Classic Will Come Down to Quarterbacks

Bethune Cookman Wildcats vs. Florida A&M Rattlers  
November 23, 2013
2:00 P.M. EST
Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida
Television: ESPN Classic/
Radio: 96.1 FM; Cateye Network

Dwight Floyd
sportsedit.org

There has been a lot of talk about the defense of both the Wildcats and the Rattlers and both teams’ ability to stop the run. All of the chatter could lead those unaware to believe that Bethune Cookman is one dimensional and can’t win if they can’t run. Everyone who has been following the Rattlers know that their running game hasn’t been much of a threat this entire season. Though for both teams a good defensive showing will be important, it will be the performance of the quarterbacks that will decide who will win this game.

For both teams the offense revolves around the quarterback. In the case of the Bethune Cookman Wildcats their prize recruit of a couple years ago, Quentin Williams presents a threat running and throwing the football. Because of his ability to run, his play alone takes the Wildcat offense to another level. Without Williams, the Wildcats are stuck with placing more emphasis on play calling and team execution. For the Florida A&M Rattlers their starting quarterback is out for the season. With rookie quarterback Carlson Royal leading the offense against the Delaware State Hornets last week, the Rattlers had one of their best offensive outputs all season. Making his first start, Carlson showed that within certain limits he is a serious threat.

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Big-school transfers prop up Bethune-Cookman WRs

Daytona Beach, FL - Like most coaches, Bethune-Cookman's Brian Jenkins is well aware of the pattern. You start creating depth at a position and recruits begin to look elsewhere. All football players want to get on the field right away and few want to share playing time.

That's why wide receiver has become sort of an enigma at B-CU. The position seems to be a magnet for Football Bowl Subdivision transfers. For the second year in a row, the Wildcats will have four former major-college players sharing the receiver spots with B-CU veterans and freshmen



There is so much receiver talent on the team, you'd think there wouldn't be enough footballs to keep everyone happy. But these players welcome the influx of talent. The more the merrier.

And they may even have a major-college transfer throwing them the ball in former Maryland quarterback Jamarr Robinson, who is battling Jackie Wilson, David Blackwell and freshman Quentin Williams to be the starting signal caller in the Wildcats' no-huddle, spread offense.

The Wildcats will play their first game next Sunday against Prairie View A&M in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Orlando.

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B-CU football picked by MEAC to defend conference title

NORFOLK, Virginia – The Bethune-Cookman University football team was picked to defend its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title on Friday.

B-CU had 487 votes to top South Carolina State (457) and North Carolina A&T (338).

B-CU senior offensive center Andrew Edouard was named to the all-MEAC preseason first team.

Teammates LeBrandon Richardson and Marquis Drayton were selected to the preseason first team on defense.

Quarterback Quentin Williams and senior defensive lineman Rony Barrow made the all-MEAC preseason second team.

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Bethune-Cookman's Waters off and running at spring game

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - Bethune-Cookman fans finally got a glimpse of Quentin Williams in action. And while Florida's Mr. Football of 2010 did not disappoint in his first Wildcats spring football game, a quarterback who moved behind center just 10 days ago stole the show Saturday at Municipal Stadium.

Brock Waters, a transfer from Louisiana Tech, signed with the 'Cats in February as a wide receiver. But coaches wanted to take a look at him at quarterback.

He ran four times for 83 yards, including a 57-yard keeper on his first snap and a 1-yard touchdown run. He also completed three of five passes for 68 yards, including an 8-yard scoring pass to Courtney Keith.

"He did some good things at quarterback (Saturday)," B-CU coach Brian Jenkins said. "He's good at receiver too, so it will be good to see where he plays. He's played quarterback in the past, so we wanted to give him a shot.



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3 keys to success for Bethune-Cookman against South Carolina State

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats enter the national spotlight on Thursday as they host MEAC rival South Carolina State on ESPNU at 7:30 p.m.

B-CU has rebounded from a season-opening 45-0 drubbing at the hands of Miami to post four consecutive wins, most recently a 19-point road comeback against North Carolina Central. Elliott Miller blocked an 18-yard field-goal attempt to preserve a 28-26 victory.

Quentin Williams threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns, while Michael Jones and Anthony Jordan each added a rushing touchdown.

In a game with major Celebration Bowl implications, here are three keys for the Wildcats to continue their hot streak.

Locate Javon Hargrave

Above all else, the Wildcats have to keep defensive tackle Javon Hargrave out of the backfield.

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