Sept. 4, 2010

Box Score /Complete Stats in PDF Format

CAT CHRONICLES: First Play Long Pass A Statement? Nah.

VIDEO: Highlights / VIDEO: Post-Game Press Conference

By Dan Ryan
B-CUathletics.com

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The 70 points and 635 total yards were cool, but Bethune-Cookman coach Brian Jenkins was looking at other aspects of the Wildcats' convincing 70-10 victory over Edward Waters before 5,664 at Municipal Stadium.

There weren't any turnovers, but a flurry of fourth quarter penalties along with a delay of game and one late hit call were the downers in an otherwise splendid debut for Jenkins' new program.

"It's good we got the win, but we still have a lot of work to do," Jenkins said. "We haven't jumped the horse yet. There are things that we have to and will correct if we are to improve as a football team."

Matthew Johnson racked up 281 total yards (159 passing and a career-high 122 rushing) and accounted for three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) while Troy Dannehower connected with Courtney Keith for a pair of second-half touchdown passes as the Wildcats lit up the Municipal Stadium scoreboard with the most points since a 70-7 rout of North Carolina A&T on October 26, 2006.

Johnson set the tone with his first quarter rushing - scoring the first touchdown with a 12-yard run and setting up another with a 53-yard run as the Wildcats scored on their first three possessions. Then the senior did it passing -

Johnson completed 9 of 11 passes and registered his first two-TD passing game since 2008.

Edward Waters broke the shutout on the final play of the first half when Brandon Turman connected with Jacquez Stephenson on a 24-yard touchdown pass.

B-CU answered by scoring on the first play of the third quarter when Johnson hit Eddie Poole for 36 yards, making it 42-7. Dannehower made the most of mop-up time as the freshman's first college pass went to Keith for an 18-yarder with 2:54 remaining in the third quarter. Dannehower finished 6-6 for 74 yards, with Keith catching four passes for 52 yards.

Jackie Wilson quarterbacked the Wildcats in the second quarter, rushing five times for 38 yards and one score.

"All the quarterbacks are contributing," Jenkins said. "Each week, everyone is going to have to bring their A game."

Isidore Jackson also registered two touchdowns on a 27-yard pass from Johnson and a 30-yard fourth quarter run.

Poole led B-CU receivers with five catches for 79 yards.

The Wildcats are idle next week and host Savannah State on September 18.

NOTES:  When Johnson threw that second quarter touchdown to Jackson, it ended a 27-quarter run of no touchdown passes by B-CU at Municipal Stadium ... The last TD pass was a 37-yarder from McKinson Souverain to Jeff Pope in the second quarter of a November 11, 2008 game against North Carolina A&T ... Johnson also had his longest run of his career with the 53-yarder in the first quarter; his previous long was 42 last year against Savannah State .... The 70 points were the most ever for a B-CU coach in his first game; Larry Little's 1983 defeated District of Columbia 51-0 ... Sven Hurd went 10-10 on PAT tries, matching Jesus Cortez' efforts against North Carolina A&T the last the Wildcats put up 70 ... Johnathan Moment finished with a career-high 69 yards rushing ... Keith caught four passes for 52 yards, doubling his career reception to eight in the process ... DJ Howard finished with four pass break-ups and 2.5 tackles on the defensive side.