Sept. 15, 2007

Final Stats

Savannah, Ga. - Jimmie Russell collected his second three-touchdown performance of the year on Saturday afternoon as he helped to lead visiting Bethune-Cookman University past Savannah State University, 45-13 at Memorial Stadium in Savannah, Ga.

B-CU (2-1) capitalized on several Savannah State turnovers on the day, including the first fumble of the day by the Tigers. It took the Wildcats six plays to go 44 yards on the drive capped-off by Jimmie Russell first of three rushing TDs on the afternoon.

Russell took it in from 12 yards out to put the `Cats up 7-0 following the extra-point kick from redshirt-senior Lucas Esquivel.

Esquivel later put the B-CU Wildcats up 10-0 with a 38-yard kick on the `Cats next possession.

The Wildcats scored on their first three (3) possessions as Russell scampered in from two yards out to put his team up 17-0 right at the start of the second quarter.

SSU (1-2) was stung by the turnover bug once again before the end of the half when quarterback JaCorey Kilcrease completed a flag pass to A.J. Denson, but it was immediately stripped by Antwane Cox and scooped up Cox and returned down to the Tigers 20-yard line.

Jimmie Russell went 2-for-2 passing on the drive with a finalization of a 10-yard rush up the middle to put the Wildcats up 24-0 at the half.

In the third period, SSU got onto the board when Kilcrease hit Denson on a slant pass for a 39-yard TD strike down the middle to get his team back to within 24-7.

However, the quick strike offense of the "Wyattbone", utilizing the efforts of a two-quarterback system in the second half with both Russell and junior transfer McKinson Souverain, was just too much to handle for SSU. As Souverain rolled right to avoid a sack, he lofted a deep pass to the corner of the end zone that found 6-foot-4 Paul Neufville waiting to out-jump a defender to out the Wildcats up 31-7.

The Wildcats would get another score in the fourth quarter on offense as freshman running back Brian Sumlar was used on three straight rushes that ended up with the freshman from Orange Park taking it in up the middle from one-yard out to put the `Cats up by a lofty count of 38-13.

Nevertheless, the highlight of the second half was this past week's MEAC Special Teams Player of the Week, Corey Council. Council, having taken back a 98-yard punt return for a touchdown last weekend against South Carolina State, saw action on defense in the fourth quarter for the Wildcats. He stepped in front of a Greg McCrary pass at the BCU 15-yard line and intercepted it. The rest was history as the speedster from nearby Valdosta, Ga. raced down the field for his second return for touchdown in as many weeks ... this one on defense in his first-ever game at B-CU on the defensive side of the ball.

That score was the final margin of 45-13 in favor of the visitors from Daytona Beach.

For the game, however, the stats would never tell the tale of the game at a first glance. The Tigers of SSU out-gained the Wildcats on the ground, 160-139. Moreover, the Wildcats passed for 151 yards while SSU gained 141 through the air.

However, two fumbles and an interception was the difference for the Tigers as B-CU scored 21 points off turnovers.

Edwards led SSU on the ground with 79 yards on the ground through 16 carries. Kilcrease was 11-for-16 passing for the Tigers with 112 yards and one touchdown.

B-CU was anchored by the performance of Russell, offensively, with 65 yards rushing and 3 scores, as well as 112 yards through the air on 10-for-15 passing. Paul Neufville had five catches for 49 yards and one score, and teammate Joe Singleton had two receptions for 68 yards.

On defense, senior linebacker Ronnie McCullough with a game-high 12 tackles and a tackle-for-loss spearheaded the Wildcats. Behind him in double figures was All-America candidate free safety Bobbie Williams with 10 tackles and 3 pass deflections.

Bethune-Cookman will now face the heart of their schedule when they travel back into conference play for three consecutive games, beginning with newfound foe Norfolk State University next Saturday at 4 p.m. The game will be a part of the annual Fish Bowl Classic in Norfolk, Va. held at NSU's William "Dick" Price Stadium. For ticket information, please contact the NSU Ticket Office.

The last two games between these schools have been decided by three (3) points, including the epic four-overtime classic in Norfolk two years ago with the Wildcats winning 63-61 on a two-point conversion saving tackle by Bobbie Williams.