Late thunderstorms prepared the landscape for the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats before they were beaten 9-33 by the reigning Celebration Bowl Champion, South Carolina State University Bulldogs.
After Saturday’s game, Terry Sims acknowledged the team’s shortcomings and then vowed to take responsibility for them. “We did not play well at all as a team, but that’s on me,” Bethune-Cookman’s head coach said postgame. “I have to shoulder that one. I have to get it corrected.” Sims’ Wildcats were blown out mainly due to four turnovers on offense and proves unable to slow the de facto Black college football national champions’ big plays on defense.
The quarterback rotation at Bethune-Cookman
During fall camp, Jalon Jones, Tyrone Franklin, and Walter Simmons III battled for the starting quarterback job.
Last week against Miami, Jones started and threw for 243 yards, though both Franklin and Simmons saw action. Despite beginning the game at quarterback against South Carolina State, Jones took the majority of the snaps, but the Wildcats used all three players. According to Sims, playing all three quarterbacks is something they must do for now.
All 3 quarterbacks fought hard against the Bulldogs. In the first quarter, Jones threw two interceptions in enemy territory and was taken out. On Bethune-Cookman’s first possession of the second quarter, Franklin entered the game. He threw four passes—three of which were incomplete and one of which was intercepted—in two drives. In the first half, Simmons completed two of three passes for nine yards and added 23 yards on the ground. He rode out the rest of the half, finishing with a field goal. Bethune-Cookman got close to field-goal range late in the second quarter, but the kick was blocked as time expired. After halftime, Jones stayed on the field for the final three minutes of the game, at which time Franklin returned and coughed up a pick-six. Jones completed 8 of 23 passes for 127 yards with two interceptions. He gained 99 yards on the ground to lead the Wildcats. Franklin completed 2 of 8 passes for 22 yards and two interceptions.
The ground was dominated by South Carolina.
At 5.3 yards a pop, the Bulldogs rushed for a total of 237 yards against Bethune-Cookman. Kendrell Flowers accounted for two of their three touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving. The longest run of the game, a 67-yard sprint in the third quarter, came on a flower-blowing breeze. He gained 153 yards on 16 runs.
Jacory Benson had 65 yards on 13 carries following Flowers.
A Break to Regroup
Next weekend, Bethune-Cookman is off before returning to the field on September 24. The Wildcats play host to Grambling State at 2 p.m. at Daytona Stadium.
