I Got Next!
Karsceal Turner
Special to West Orlando News Online
Rumor has it that Daytona Beach doesn’t get cold. Tell that to the 9,649 fans who braved chilly temperatures combined with a cold, wet, substance and whipping winds to cheer on the Wildcats for homecoming 11’.
Folks let me snap you back to reality in case you need a check. This IS November. Some of you may have forgotten that little fact but Mother Nature didn’t.
Funky new Helmets Boosts Cats Swagger
Brian Jenkins’ boys did not disappoint the B-CU faithful on a day built for football. B-CU scored on its opening possession for the fifth time this year. Those fresh new helmets certainly didn’t hurt things. You had to like the Gold joint with B-CU’s football logo on each side. The edge and bottom of the helmet had maroon trimming. The look was hot. I really think the helmets may have given the Cats a mental boost. Hey, look good, play good.
This columnist saw B-CU (6-3, 4-2 MEAC) round up 476 yards offensively. The ground game is on folks. B-CU amassed 290 yards on the ground as the freight train known as Fullback Jonathon Moment was good for 78 yards and two touchdowns. He also broke one for 28 yards. That scamper was good enough to warm the hearts of everyone dressed in Maroon and Gold.
Keep up with me here. This was fourth consecutive victory for the Wildcats after that foolishness at NCA&T. There is still an outside chance of getting in on the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title for the second year in a row.
Stay with me, if the Bears beat Norfolk State next week, it will force a tie for first-place between multiple-teams with two losses apiece. However, I need you to pump your brakes. Any pieces of the championship has to go through arch-nemesis, FAMU (4 – 2 MEAC, – 6 – 3 Overall). The Florida Classic goes down Nov. 19 in the “City Beautiful”. The matchup will be epic.
A championship is a damn championship!
There is some trash-talk about co-championships among some guys in a Facebook group called “B-CU Football Alumni (Wyatt Years!) Some of those guys won a championship outright and think lightly about sharing one. Other B-CU fans and alumni say “to hell with that notion!”
Anyway, now that I’ve given a free pitch for the Classic and given a FB group a quick shout-out, let me digress to the game against Morgan State.
B-CU ground game shows resurgence
The Bears were outgained 476-310 and played Bethune-Cookman tough during the early going as they trailed 14-10 in the first half. The ‘Cats outscored the Bears 21-0 in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.
MSU’s defense, which allowed just 2 rushing yards last week against Delaware State, had a much tougher time keeping the ‘Cats ground attack in check. The 290 yards allowed were the most yielded by the Bears since Oct. 30, 2010 when Florida A&M recorded 251 rushing yards.
MSU’s Travis Davidson rushed for a game-high 133 yards on 17 carries to lead Morgan State. Freshman quarterback Seth Higgins completed 15 of 26 passes for 178 yards, including two touchdowns. He was picked off twice.
Jenkins says “Stick to the game-plan”
Defensively, B-CU was as sharp as they wanted to be, especially after some halftime adjustments. “We could have had similar results in the first half, but kept shooting ourselves in the foot with penalties and missed assignments,” said B-CU coach Brian Jenkins. “We reviewed our game plan and stuck with it. It was up to the players to be responsible for their own actions and to execute.”
Execution was indeed what the defense did. Your boy Ryan Lewis was good for seven tackles, including two for a loss. Jean Fanor and Ryan Lewis also each had seven tackles. Defensive Back, Tim Burke was good for an interception.
Jackie Wilson continued his consistency is conducting the spread-offense. Fans marveled at No. 5, as he crossed the goal-line three times. Wilson finished 10-of-15 for 186 yards for the Wildcats (6-3, 4-2) finished the ballgame with seven rushing touchdowns. As I said, Wilson was about consistency, even after the antics of Wilson, Moment, Isidore Jackson had to get some “face-time. He rumbled 16 yards for a 42-10 B-CU lead in the fourth to cap things off.
B-CU now looks forward to preparing for another showdown amongst cats when the Savannah State Tigers come to Daytona Beach next Saturday at 4 p.m. for Senior Day. B-CU decapitated SSU 42-7 last year. The tigers will surely be looking for some get back. Although the players and coaches aren’t looking past the tigers, the title to the column allow me to say I ready to wrap this up and press fast forward because I Got Next!
