Wildcats Beat Stuffing Out of Tigers 49-7 to claim Second MEAC Title

I Got Next!

Special to West Orlando News Online

By Karsceal Turner

I hit the road Saturday morning at a little past 0700 armed with my trusty camera, a sexy sidekick, my Bethune-Cookman Letterman jacket with the Basketball pin on it and my lucky Desert Storm Veteran ball cap on top of my shiny, bald peanut head. The three hour, forty-two minute, 233 mile drive to Savannah, Georgia was a welcome switch-up from Florida’s sunny rays.

Bethune-Cookman University’s 49-7 bashing of Savannah State pretty much went the way I imagined it might unfold during the drive. In my mind, I replayed comments from my former partner in crime Opio Mashariki (Associate Athletic Director for Sports Media Relations at SSU). He told me the Tigers had more talent than we’ve seen and that it should turn out to be a very feisty and interesting game. No offense, “Doggy Dogg” but no, it really wasn’t.

Still, I enjoyed checking out another HBCU campus and the sights at Ted A. Wright Stadium did not disappoint. However, did I mention the weather was 68 degrees? True, it was fantastic football weather and to top it off, it was Veteran’s Day weekend but Bloody hell; I couldn’t feel my feet in my red boat shoes! I walked to and fro around the field with fellow photographer and mentor John Reeves of B-CU. Up and down, up and down, we watched the Wildcats score touchdowns time and again.

By the way, I’m providing a heartfelt thanks to my fellow veterans I was United States Naval sailor for five years and a Desert Storm Vet. Shout outs to the VFA-87 “Golden Warriors”. You didn’t know your boy was a Desert Storm hero right? Yeh man!

Anyway, back to football. The Wildcats, (8-2 overall, 7-0 MEAC) pretty much ran a clinic on SSU (1-9, 0-7 MEAC). They scored 35 points in the first half, including another 28 points in the second quarter. Unfortunately for the tigers, it was campus/community/high school band day at SSU. It also was Senior Day for the football team. Picture me doing the infamous Kanye’ West shrug.

Is it any wonder B-CU is ranked No. 11 in the Football Championship Subdivision in rushing offense and No. 1 ranked rushing offense in the MEAC with 237.7 yards per game? Don’t answer that, the Cats validated it by racking up 377 yards on 55 carries against SSU. The Tigers ran 28 times for 80 yards and threw 30 times for 120 yards

I mentioned earlier, up and down the field. This is how it went down. I love it when the defense opens up the scoring. You can almost bet the offense doesn’t want to be shown up. It went down like that starting with blocked punt, and ensuing 4-yard scamp by Torre Price in the opening quarter. This began a feeding frenzy that saw B-CU capitalize on SSU mistakes and turn the game into a laugher…really.

I’m not kidding, while still in the second quarter, I saw a two yard run by Isidore Jackson, coupled by Rodney Scott’s 10-yard TD run, along with an Eddie Poole TD reception pass from Quentin Williams. I took off my ball cap, rubbed my head and said, ‘Damn, that’s ugly.’ The frenzy ended when right before the half, Williams found QB turned receiver David Blackwell in the back of the end zone for a 36-yard touchdown strike as time expired. I couldn’t have painted a better picture of how pretty that was. The Cats struck the scoreboard on five of six drives and took a 35-0 halftime lead.

Again, Defense set a tone and got things started. Dig these defensive stats. Tyrone Bouie Jr and Jazz Moss each blocked an SSU punt. The Cats now have seven blocked kicks as a team on the year. The defense was also good for three interceptions on the night, including two in the fourth quarter. The Cats have now registered multiple interceptions in three of the last four games. For desert, have this final stat. For the second consecutive week, linebacker Dawud Lane blocked a field goal attempt. Really, you like that…don’t you?

Second Championship outright, no sharing in 2012 beby!

Dig this. There has been much dialogue about which team was better tween B-CU’s current offering and the 2002 team who won the title outright without having to share it with a pool of other MEAC teams with similar records.

In this case, a loss earlier Saturday by North Carolina Central, (whom beat B-CU), allowed the Cats to claim sole possession of the MEAC title. You ask who beat NCCU? It was none other than your good friends at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). This was B-CU’s second championship in three years under head coach Brian Jenkins.

I’ve had the joy of watching both teams compete. Here is my short assessment. This current team has the edge when speaking of finesse and technique (sorry Crayton), while 2002’s team was a group of straight bruisers who earned the moniker “Dream Killers” because they consistently spoiled opponents Homecomings (That was cooler than a fan). Still, it really boils down to whether you’re a finesse person or a bruiser. Me? I write stuff.

Showdown in the City Beautiful

Guess who’s coming to do battle with the Wildcats and try and play spoiler to their perfect season? Yes, it’s those pesky Rattlers of FAMU. B-CU will look to secure the school’s first 8-0 MEAC record in the Florida Blue Florida Classic next Saturday in Orlando. The game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. kickoff at the Citrus Bowl, and will be televised live by ESPN Classic. Yes your boy will be at EVERYTHING including the Battle of the Bands for WONO because I simply gots to have it! When you see me, give me a shout and remember… I Got Next!