I Got Next!
By Karsceal Turner
Special to the West Orlando News Online
Please allow me to begin this column by talking trash immediately. Dammit Man! The Wildcats handled business by thrashing the Savannah State Tigers 59-3 in front of a so-so 4,964 attendance at Municipal Stadium Saturday. They certainly sent their seniors out in style for Senior’s Day.
Upset? What upset?
Savannah State drops to 1-9 overall and 1-7 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play. Welcome to the MEAC….dammit!
This was a fitting end to home schedule for B-CU and their fifth win in a row. David Blackwell sent a message concerning how the evening would end with his 80-yard touchdown rush on the first play from scrimmage. It was the beginning of what would become an ugly game if you were a tigers fan.
I appreciated SSU bringing down their band the “Coastal Empire Sound Explosion”. If you’ve never seen two HBCUs go at it in the stands, you missed a treat. Although SSU couldn’t match the sheer numbers of the Marching Wildcats, they certainly sounded pretty damn good.
Yeah, yeah there was strong talk about a possible upset. B-CU’s Brian Jenkins downplayed it as usual. Let me tell you, after seeing Blackwell handle his business, the Cats were intent on “killing all that noise about an upset by the lesser cats.”
Practice still makes perfect!
Jenkins has repeatedly said whomever won the battle of the weekly quarterbacks would get the nod for Saturday’s contest. Blackwell later said he didn’t know he was the starter until he “came out of the locker room bathroom to get ready to get dressed for the game. Cool right?
Blackwell looked right at home in the starting role as he had touchdown rushes for 37 yards and 59 yards. This went down in the first half. Heck, before long I was beginning to get bored but B-CU just kept scoring and scoring. The count was 24-3 at the half. Blackwell had 6 carries and ended with a total of 203 yards by his damned self. He was effective in the air too and was 8 for 10 for 147 yards passing.
Jenkins was pleased to say the least. This guy is all about the bottom line, a “W”. He was generous about his QB’s play. “He’s a tremendous athlete and I’m comfortable with him being the trigger puller. Everything worked right and the result was productivity.”
Productivity is right. Dig it, the Cats racked up 625 yards of offense with only one turnover. Oh yeah, some other guys helped in the scoring effort too, let me spread the wealth in print. Isidore Jackson scored two third-quarter touchdowns. He was good for a 46-yard screen from Blackwell and another on 7-yard run. Jackson finished with Johnathan Moment added a 16-yard reception. Rodney Scott and Anthony Jordan rushed for 78 and 50 yards respectively, while Keith (64 yards), Jackson (47) and Eddie Poole each caught two passes. Sven Hurd was 8-8 on PATs and made a 30-yard first quarter field goal
Going out in style was a good thing for Jamarr Robinson
Senior Quarterback Jamarr Robinson also had a great contribution in the fourth with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Courtney Keith I really dug how he ended his collegiate career with both a pass for a TD and 7-yard keeper. In case you forgot, the Maryland transfer was the starter in the beginning of the season. He went out in style.
As my old company commander used to say to us in boot camp….Outstanding! I really want to fast forward to the next game but I must give some love to B-CU’s defense. David Allen blocked a SSU punt to set up one of Jackson’s TDs, thereby contributing to the scoring onslaught.
Here is the point where Jenkins zoned in to improvements the defense will focus on. “We gave up 140 yards rushing, which is too many,” Jenkins said. “I think it was a fair day (on defense), but we could have played better.”
Linebacker Ryan Lewis had an interception at the goal line at the end of the second quarter to as a solid ignition for the defense. Defensive tackle Harold Love III was good for a career-high 12 tackles Saturday.
Now the Wildcats take their (7-3 overall, 5-2 MEAC) to “Jamlando” for the 43rd Florida Classic. Yes folks this is what you wanted all along.
It’s all about pride for the 43rd Annual Florida Classic.
Let me drop a bomb on you about B-CU’s title run. Norfolk State killed that talk and clinched the MEAC title with a 47-14 win over Morgan State on Saturday. B-CU is the only MEAC team to beat the Spartans this year. They needed Morgan State to win its homecoming. Well, now fans can concentrate on the rivalry.
The Wildcats could still possibly win an at-large bid into the playoffs if they beat FAMU
Dig this too. Both teams will enter the game with overall records of 7-3 and conference marks of 5-2, so the folks clinging for an edge will claim a better year. Jenkins has already said the season is a success. Still, when asked about the implications for this year’s Florida Classic. Jenkins gave a hearty hand clap and said exclaimed “I’m ready for it! Just knowing we could’ve and should’ve won the ballgame. I was upset at the manner in which we lost. Knowing we had a chance to win that game … That’s why I’m excited, why I’m jacked up to play.”
That’s Coach Jenkins for you, intensity at a high level, just like his high-powered football team. I saw the Omega Psi Phi persona jump out of him when he started clapping.
Let me tell you this about the rivalry. Last year coach didn’t really; REALLY know what the rivalry was all about. B-CU beat everyone handily then lost the rivalry battle, which in most minds was more important than even a championship…depending on whom you ask.
Trust me, B-CU folks are still salty about that loss and are looking for some get-back. Jenkins is very involved with the Alumni chapters. You can believe they gave him an ear-full to go along with his own salty memories. Yes Yesss, folks, like I said before. This is what you wanted all along.
B-CU and FAMU fans don’t give a damn about anything but beating one another. Look for me on the Wildcats Sideline dressed in my Ancient City Temple #63 BDU’s ready to cheer for the home team and ready to talk trash to anyone wearing Orange and Green cause I Got Next!
