Southern Beats Bethune-Cookman 28-18 | Jaguars use big plays to defeat Wildcats

Southern University Jaguars #6 Kendric Rhymes Running Back touchdown Second Quarter

Shelton, Jake Jarius, Karli LeFlore, Brooklyn Taylor, Coree Green, Kalani Green, Kourtney Cole, Kelsie Rodgers, Aisha Grant, Mya Mingo, Autumn Austin, Sandy Pitts, and Taylor Moore Southern University Jaguars Cheer Team

October 24, 2023

The Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats (1-6,0-4) were looking for a favorable outcome when they visited Everbank Stadium last Saturday, but that outcome did not happen. For the second season in a row, the Wildcats hosted another SWAC opponent in Jacksonville, this time keeping the game score closer and the action more competitive.

Before a sparse crowd of 10,186 fans, The Southern Jaguars of Baton Rouge, LA (4-3,3-1) delivered a solid 28-18 defeat to the host team from Daytona Beach.

Bethune-Cookman got their momentum started early in the first quarter, but a fourth down fumble by redshirt junior quarterback Luke Sprague set the jaguars up at the Wildcats 47-yard line.

On their first drive, Southern found it tough going, as they were only able to move the ball 23-yards, and a four and out series returned the ball back to B-CU.

Using an up-tempo offense, Sprague hit a wide-open Omari Stewart for a 43-yard touchdown. Anthony Frederique’s PAT made the score 7-0 with 4:05 left in the first quarter. Neither team could move the ball throughout the remainder of the quarter.

Starting this first drive of the second quarter, deep in their own territory at the six-yard line, Southern used pinpoint passing by quarterback Harold Blood and select running by Kendrick Rhymes to go 94-yards for a 6-yard score by Blood. This ten-play drive that took 4:02 seconds seemed to spark new life in the Jaguars.

After a Sprague interception by Kriston Davis, Southern drove 38-yards in just under two minutes to post their next score by Rhymes from 23-yards. Joshua Griffin’s PAT made the score 14-7.

The Wildcats pulled to within four points on a Cade Hechter 37-yard field goal, as they trailed 14-10 at the intermission.

On their second drive in the third period, Southern put together another strong drive covering 66-yards in about two minutes, as Blood hit August Pitre on a 57-yards toss, and the Jaguars kept their scoring momentum going, as they would go up 21-7.

While B-CU had opportunities to score, inconsistent passing and the defensive pressure applied by Southern limited the Wildcats effectiveness. With 9:52 remaining in the game, and on a fourth down punting situation, a high snap to punter Frederique was fumbled, and the Jaguars George Quarles recovered the ball in the endzone for their final score, taking a 28-10 lead.

With all momentum gone, the Wildcats continued to play hard. Back-up quarterback Tylik Beathea replaced Sprague to try to spark the offense. However, the Southern defense continued their onslaught, sacking Bethea, giving the ball back to their offense.

Hoping to seal the game and run down the clock, Rhymes fumbled the ball at the B-CU 25-yard line. The Wildcats drove 65-yards, as Beathea hit Jaylin Terzado for a 9-yard score. Daveno Ellington scored the 2-pt. conversion to make the score 28-18. After a failed Wildcat onside kick, Southern ran out the clock and got their fourth win of the year.

Coach Raymond Woodie said: “ I was proud of the guys fighting and not quitting at any point during the game. We had a few miscues we gotta clean up.”

Woodie on the Southern 96-yard scoring drive, Woodie said: “That drive did sorta cause the momentum to shift, and we talk about bend but don’t break, since we had them backed up in their territory, we needed to get them off the field. Those things breed confidence for the opposing team.”

Omari Stewart, B-CU Receiver: “I was happy with the long reception [43-yards], but I felt I could have done more. If we start playing fast tempo and keep playing fast, I feel we will be successful.”

Conroy Cunningham, B-CU Defensive lineman: “We showed our Wildcat pride tonight and we come dominate our opponents, no matter who they are. We work on things we can do as a defense each week in practice.”

NEXT GAME: BCU at Grambling @ 3:00 PM

GAME RESULTS

SCORING       1Q       2Q        3Q        4Q        TOTAL

Southern              0       14          7            7          28

B-CU                    7          3          0            8          18

Attendance: 10,186

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter

BCU (4:05) – Stewart 43 yd. Rec. / Frederique PAT

Second Quarter

Sou (8:46) – Blood 6 yd. Run / Griffin PAT

Sou (6:46) – Rhymes 23 yd. Run / Griffin PAT

BCU (0:00) – Hechter 37 yd. FG

Third Quarter

Sou (5:51)  – Pitre 57 yd. Rec. / Griffin PAT

Fourth Quarter

Sou (9:04) – Qualls 0 yd. Punt Return / Griffin PAT

BCU (0:48) – Terzado 9 yd. Rec. / Ellington 2-pt. Rec.

TEAM STATISTICS

SOU                 BCU

First Downs                    15                     19

Rushing Att./Yards           42/182               33/43

Passing Att./Comp/Int.     10/20/1              28/46/1

Passing Yards                 156                   237

Punts/Yds.                     4/147                6/179

Punt Return Yds.             2/39                  1/9

Kick-Return                   2/26                  2/50

Penalties                        13/115               5/45

Fumbles – Rec/Loss         1/1                    1/1

Interceptions/Yds.           1/0                    1/8

Time of Possession          30:08                29:52

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING

Sou (182): Rhymes 22-138; Blood 9-55; Quarles 10-24;

Dillion 1-0

BCU (43): Robinson 15-36; Bivens 7-13; Bethea 4-2;

Sprague 7- (-8)

PASSING

Sou (156): Blood 10-20-1 / 156 Yds.

BCU (237): Sprague 19-31-1 / 159 Yds. ;

Bethea 9-15-0 / 78 Yds.

RECEIVING

Sou (156): Pitre 1-57; Washington 3-48; Allen 2-30; Whtifield 2-11; Qualls 1-7; Rhymes 1-3

BCU (237): Stewart 6-62; Johnson 7-57; Boyd 2-30; Bivens 2-20; Robinson 2-18; Ellington 3-16; Moore 2-14; Terzado 3-13; Overton 1-7

TACKLES

Sou: Johnson 9 Roach 5; Williams; 5 Tate 5; Campbell 5; Givens 5

BCU:  Thomas 13; Walls 6; Jaudon 5; Quarles 5

Cunningham 5

__________________

By W. Earl Kitchings

Photos by Frank M. Powell III

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