I Got Next!
Special to West Orlando News Online
By Karsceal Turner
Seriously, in the first half, I actually looked up at the scoreboard it read 21-7. I thought to myself, ‘Had this been a Madden ’12 game, we’d be off the sticks early. Game over. The truth was that I would gander at the scoreboard many times as Bethune-Cookman University scored it seemed at will and convincingly “spun-out” on the Norfolk State University Spartans 48-3 Saturday.
Perhaps conquered would have been a better look. Anyway, the “spin-out” comment was in reference to the game’s billing as the Second Annual Biker Classic. It coincided with the City of Daytona Beach’s Biketoberfest celebration. The weather was prime football weather (if you know what I mean). Attendance for the game was a sparse-looking 6,243 but I’ll take over the rain and wind during homecoming.
Side-line shenanigans
After arriving about three hours before game time, I was making my way to the press box when I came across B-CU’s president, the illustrious Edison O. Jackson. You know I was ready for the photo op of the pres. (or so I thought). I poised him for the shot pressed the shutter and nothing happened. I tried again, nothing happened again. Bloody hell, I learned that there was no card in the camera.
It was a simple mistake but no matter, I was ashamed. However, my mind went from shame to rectifying the problem. After all, NSU brought their band “The Marching Spartan Legion” along with their dancers “Hot Ice”. You know dang well that K.T. loves the dancers. Back to the battle of the bands later.
At first, I thought of using my trusty Samsung Galaxy S3 to get shots but also thought of how awkward that would be. After a few minutes deliberation, I decided to drive to my estate in Ormond Beach to retrieve the card. After a short drive up I-95 and back in less than two hours, I made my way to the sideline in time for pre-game festivities featuring whom other than the illustrious Edison O. Jackson, president of B-CU. I promptly took an even better shot than before the “camera malfunction”. Boys and girls, the morals to this excerpt is be prepared and be persistent.
That wasn’t the only sideline SNAFU. Just as the Marching Pride was playing the fight song for the team to run through the Wild E. Cat blow-up tunnel, the bloody thing collapsed. The players proceeded to run through the blow-up standup anyway. I liked the vigor. It carried over into their handling of the visitors from Virginia. This is NOT Sparta!
It was a tad difficult to see this NSU team as the defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) football squad. The Spartans came into Daytona Beach with a 0-4 conference mark and a 2-5 record overall. To pour salt in the wound, NSU allowed a season-high 435 yards of total offense after coming into the game as a defensive powerhouse despite tough losses.
Revved up after the BYE
B-CU took the opening kickoff and went 75 yards in 16 plays, capped by a 5-yard TD pass from Quentin Williams to Eddie Poole. The key play in the drive, though, was Williams’ 17-yard completion to K.J. Stroud on 4th-and-13 from the Spartans’ 30-yard line. On B-CU’s next possession, back-to-back fumbles ended up with back-to-back scores for the cats.
Dig this, NSU’s Terrence Pugh sacked Williams and forced a fumble recovered at the Wildcats’ 30. But on the very next play, NSU fullback Conley Smith was stripped by B-CU’s Nesly Marcellon. D.J. Howard scooped up the loose ball and returned it 69 yards for another B-CU score, making it 14-0 with 3:41 left in the first quarter.
It was beginning to get ugly right here. This team acts like sharks in the water when churning up points. The second quarter was no different as Williams continued to show his prowess by putting together touchdown drives of 76, 76 and 66 yards. Williams finished 9-of-11 passing for 157 yards, with another 27 yards rushing.
Isidore Jackson scored on runs of 33 yards and 1 yard to extend the B-CU lead to 34-0. Jackson was good for 57 yards on 11 carries. Meanwhile B-CU’s receiving corps also racked up accolades. Five receivers caught passes, three for touchdowns. You have to like those stats. But wait, they weren’t done. Broderick Waters, B-CU’s other quarterback out of three eligible signal callers, also proved he can do as well as his counterparts by taking over for Williams at quarterback in the second half and rushing for 103 yards and a touchdown while throwing a 13-yard TD pass to your boy Jhomo Gordon.
The Spartans did manage a field goal before the half but would not taste the scoreboard again for the rest of the contest.
All around balanced B-CU defensive attack
Four Wildcat defenders registered a sack. Here is where I shout out the sack-getters; namely your boys Spencer Harris, Branden Bryant, Dwayn Montgomery, and LeBrand Stevenson. Nick Addison was good for a pick while Jarkevis Richards registered 5 tackles and a pass breakup on the afternoon. Donald Smith led all defenders with six stops.
For B-CU, this game proved the first in which Head Coach Brian Jenkins was quoted as kind of saying “good job” to his players. “A tremendous team victory, this is one that players can be commended for,” he marveled.
Combined effort to eradicate Breast Cancer
A look around Municipal Stadium revealed a lot of folks wearing Pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which runs all October. The game also served in the Wildcats’ contest to show support continuing research for breast cancer. Head football coach Brian Jenkins and his team hosted an auction for a limited edition pink Bethune-Cookman football helmet through BCUathletics.com and also at the stadium throughout the first half of the game. Bids for the helmet were held Thursday with, donations collected throughout Saturday’s game from fans in attendance in B-CU’s show of support in continuing research for breast cancer. Totals were not available as of WONO press time, sorry.
“Wearing pink and supporting such a good cause like breast cancer awareness keeps everyone alert, and the NCAA is doing a great job of awareness with so many teams accepting the challenge and wearing pink in some fashion,” Jenkins said. This columnist is proud to say I saw a great amount of pink worn stylishly around the stadium.
Again, I was ashamed that I did not have any pink on but hey, I wrote a column about it. I‘ll do you one better. Here is a link for an upcoming November Orlando Cancer Awareness event. It seems we just missed those for October by a few days. http://participate.freetobreathe.org/site/TR?fr_id=1720&pg=entry. Be sure to check with https://westorlandonews.com/ for more breast cancer awareness events and venues.
Welcome to halftime: Marching Pride vs. Marching Spartan Legion
My fraternity brother and good friend, also, B-CU’s Media relations director Bryan Harvey hipped me to the fact that the next two games at home will host the visiting bands from two more MEAC schools. Next week is the Marching Sound Marching Sound Machine of NCCU. Anyway, back to the legion.
Just as sure as I checked my camera to make sure all was at the ready as I floated my narrow frame across the field toward a small sea of Green and Gold…the visitors side. I could barely get passed those cheerleaders. Lord lord, Virginia women. I said this last week. You really want to be a sports columnist.
The band also brought some Virginian sass with them and started jawing at B-CU as soon as they settled into the stands. It was Ballsy. I dug that. As I maneuvered closer for a shot of the dancers, I heard the NSU band repeating a chant. I asked one of their drum majors what the chant was.
Would ya like to read it? Here it goes…”Raise up Raise up Raise up! You’re in the Legion’s House!” That was it folks.
Not only did they bring some sass, they had some routines and an additional dance team. Along with their cheerleaders I estimated a loose total of nearly 25 collegiate coeds in form-fitting dancing attire smiling at yours truly. I recall one NSU cheerleader telling the others to remember to smile’. They did a good job of it.
Down on field, NSU’s band performed an energetic, well choreographed show. Aside from those loud, shiny bloody helmets, it was hard not to like their showmanship. That didn’t save them as they walked past B-CU’s student section while exiting the field. All I heard is this is not Sparta over and over. It was funny. B-CU’s VP of Student Affairs, Dwaun Warmack (another of my frat) was in the mix with his beautiful family (Yeah I saw you PHI). I dug Mr. Donovan Wells’ reaction to his Virginian Counterparts. He was proud of them. Yes, Mr. Wells is from Virginia.
Meanwhile, the pride commenced to sweep up the legion and send them back to Virginia with a lesson and statement again…this is NOT Sparta!
The Wildcats (5-2, 4-0) remain tied for first place in the conference with North Carolina Central. It is just as well because the Eagles descend on Daytona Beach Next Saturday at 4:00pm in a classical show down pitting cats against birds. By the way, the NCCU Eagles are unbeaten too beby! Look for me floating across the field towards the band and it dancers because you know, I got next!
we gave it to bethune small and all