Wildcats Outlast Spartans in Scoring Frenzy, 59-49

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In an entertaining offensive display that included 108 combined points and 1,090 combined yards of total offense, Bethune-Cookman celebrated Homecoming with a 59-49 victory over Norfolk State before an overflow crowd of 9,875 Saturday afternoon at Municipal Stadium.

Quentin Williams threw for career-bests of 386 yards and four touchdowns, and Michael D. Jones had a combined 248 yards and three touchdowns, as the Wildcats (6-2 overall, 4-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) pulled away from a 35-35 halftime tie, and registered the most points on homecoming since the 1961 team. That team was under the direction of head coach Jack “Cy” McClairen in his first season, defeating a Lane College squad by a count of 61-6.

GAME LINKS Game Stats Pregame Notes Postgame Notes Press Conference Season Stats Photo Gallery   SCORING SUMMARY 1st Quarter TD Anthony Jordan 3 yd run (Hernandez kick) TD Frank Brown 25 yd pass from Quentin Williams (Hernandez kick) TD Isaac White 9 yd pass from Greg Hankerson (Marouf kick) TD Anthony Smith 25 yd interception return (Marouf kick) TD Michael D. Jones 75 yd run (Hernandez kick) TD Isaac White 37 yd pass from Greg Hankerson (Marouf kick) 2nd Quarter TD Quentin Williams 4 yd run (Hernandez kick) TD Quintreil Chung 2 yd run (Marouf kick) TD Jontavious Carter 34 yd pass from Quentin Williams (Hernandez kick) TD Quintreil Chung 2 yd run (Marouf kick) 3rd Quarter TD Frank Brown 31 yd pass from Quentin Williams (Hernandez kick) TD Michael D. Jones 8 yd run (Hernandez kick) TD Gerard Johnson 58 yd pass from Greg Hankerson (Marouf kick) TD Michael D. Jones 89 yd pass from Quentin Williams (Hernandez kick) 4th Quarter FG Uriel Hernandez 30 yd field goal TD Isaac White 6 yd pass from Greg Hankerson (Marouf kick)   TEAM STATS   22 1st Downs 27 483 Total Yards 607 266 Passing 386 217 Rushing 221 8-84 Penalties 10-90 3 Turnovers 3 29:45 Possession 30:15   INDIVIDUAL STATS Passing   PLAYER C/ATT YDS TD INT Q. Williams 20/29 386 4 2 Hankerson 19/36 266 4 1 Rushing   PLAYER CAR YDS AVG TD M. Jones 14 136 9.7 2 G. Johnson 17 103 6.1 0 Receiving   PLAYER REC YDS AVG TD Brown 4 102 25.5 2 White 10 126 12.6 3

Bethune-Cookman never trailed, but could never completely put away a determined Norfolk State (2-5, 2-2 MEAC) team paced by Greg Hankerson's four touchdowns – and an opportunistic Spartans team that scored 14 points off Wildcats turnovers.

Even when Uriel Hernandez's 30-yard field goal gave the Wildcats a 59-42 lead with 4:23 left in the game, Norfolk State stayed in it, closing to within 59-49 on Hankerson's 6-yarder to Isaac White with 1:33 left. The Spartans then would recover the onside kick.

James Darby's interception in the end zone finally sealed the victory for the homestanding Maroon and Gold.

Bethune-Cookman had its share of big plays –Jones' first touch went for a 75-yard score, and Jones turned a wheel route into a 89-yard sideline scamper for a third quarter score.

Norfolk State erased early that 14-0 deficit to tie on Anthony Smith's 25-yard interception return, and was able to match the Wildcats' next three scores for a 35-35 halftime tie.

Williams' second strike to Brown gave the Wildcats a 42-35 with 10:35 remaining in the third quarter. After forcing a three-and-out, B-CU went up 49-35 on Jones' 8-yarder with 6:44 left.

The Spartans closed to within a single touchdown, but the Jones touchdown catch-and-run and a fourth-down-and one defensive stand spurred by Trenton Bridges helped the Wildcats gain control.

Jones finished with 136 yards on the ground and 112 in receptions. Frank Brown added 102 yards receiving on four catches. Marquis Drayton had 123 yards on kickoff returns, 75 on the opening kickoff of the second half. Anthony Jordan rushed for 46 yards and scored the first Wildcats touchdown on a 3-yard run just three minutes into the game.

That touchdown run early by Joran allowed him to move into sole possession of fourth place on the all-time rushing touchdown list in B-CU history.

Williams, who was 20-of-29 passing in the game, also rushed for a score and connected with Jontavious Carter for a second quarter touchdown.

Bethune-Cookman travels to Norfolk State next weekend for a Halloween contest slated to begin at 2 p.m., inside Alumni Stadium in Dover, Delaware.

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