In a game that featured only three total punts, Bethune-Cookman put on an offensive show, but Prairie View A&M stormed back to shock the Wildcats, 58-48, Saturday afternoon at Panther Stadium.
How It Happened
The Wildcats (1-6, 1-3 SWAC) got right to work as they won the toss and elected to receive. Jalon Jones took the Wildcats 75 yards on seven plays, finding Marcus Riley for the 36-yard score.
Prairie View A&M (5-3, 4-1 SWAC) answered on the ensuing drive, taking the ball down the field to knot things at 7-7 on a long touchdown run.
The back-and-forth continued at the Wildcats again drove the length of the field, with Jalon Jones finding Kemari Averett for his fourth touchdown of the season.
The Wildcats kept pouring it on as they forced a Panthers fumble deep in Prairie View territory. B-CU quickly capitalized as Que'Shaun Byrd powered into the endzone for the 21-7 lead.
Prairie View took the ensuing kickoff past midfield and into B-CU territory, finishing off a scoring drive with a 1-yard rushing touchdown to cut the B-CU lead to 21-14.
Jalon Jones showed off his legs midway through the second quarter, juking a defender on the way for a 14-yard rushing touchdown, his third rushing score of the season.
The scoring frenzy continued as Prairie View pulled to within a score again with a 31-yard rushing score that made it 28-21.
Marcus Riley's monstrous day continued as Jones found him in the endzone again to put the Wildcats up 35-21 with the first half winding down.
The second half began with the first punt of the afternoon by either side as the Wildcats opened their drive at their own 43. The B-CU offense continued humming as Byrd found the endzone once again on a 9-yard touchdown run.
The Panthers kept pace with yet another touchdown of their own, but the extra point try sailed wide to keep the Wildcats up 12.
Prairie View seized momentum on the afternoon, forcing a Marcus Riley fumble and converting on a 5-yard touchdown run that made it 37-42. On the next drive, the Panthers forced a Jalon Jones interception that again turned into points on a QB sneak, pulling PVAMU in front for the first time at 44-42.
That was not all for B-CU, as the Wildcats battled back with a long drive resulting in Byrd's third touchdown of the day. The two-point try was unsuccessful, but B-CU re-took the lead at 48-44.
The teams traded scores again, again thanks to a long touchdown drive from Prairie View A&M that made it 51-48.
The Wildcats forced a punt in the final minutes, taking over at their own ten with a chance to win the game. On the second play of the drive, Jones fumbled. Prairie View recovered for a touchdown, sealing the Wildcats fate at 58-48.
Notes
- The Wildcats tallied 35 points in the firsthalf, their most in a half since Sept. 18, 2018, when the Wildcats put up 58 against Virginia University of Lynchburg. 48 total points is their most in that span as well.
- The Wildcats punted only a single time Saturday afternoon.
- Que'Shaun Byrd enjoyed a career day, racking up 156 yards on 21 carries, as well as 4 receptions for 16 yards with a career-high three touchdowns – a career-high.
- TE Kemari Averett has caught a pass in every game since joining the Wildcats. He extends his streak to 19 games with six catches for 48 yards and a touchdown today – his fourth this season.
- Marcus Riley extends his streak of a catch in all eight games this season. He also tabbed his fourth and fifth touchdowns of the season, his second straight game with a score. He totaled a monstrous 167 yards on 9 catches, breaking his career-high of 139 he set last week. It is the first multi-touchdown game of his career.
- 514 all-purpose yards is the most by B-CU in a game this season. 244 rush yards also sets a season-high.
- B-CU was a perfect 6-6 in the redzone. Prairie View was a perfect 5-5.
- The time of possession for each team was separated by just over a minute.
Homecoming is up next for B-CU as they return to Daytona Stadium to take on the Hornets of Alabama A&M. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5. B-CU football and cheerleading seniors will be honored prior to the game.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up