GREENSBORO, N.C. – Bethune-Cookman's third quarter lead over 11
th ranked North Carolina A&T faded as the Aggies rallied past the Wildcats 24-20 in a crucial Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference matchup on Saturday.
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 Lamar Raynard threw three touchdown while Marquell Cartwright rushed for 91 yards on 20 carries for the Aggies (8-0, 5-0 MEAC) as they snapped a two-game Wildcats (3-4,2-2) winning streak.
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The Wildcats led 20-14 entering the fourth quarter after limiting the Aggies to five first downs for most of the first 45 minutes.
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With Bethune-Cookman driving, Deion Jones picked offÂ
Akevious Williams and returned it to the B-CU 43. The Aggies conducted a 10-play drive but settled for Noel Ruiz's 30-yard field goal to make it 20-17.
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The Aggies defense forced a three-and-out the offense took it 52 yards on four plays, culminating with Raynard's 4-yard touchdown pass to Trey Scott with 8:26 remaining
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The Wildcats had one last possession, but
Larry Brihm, Jr.'s pass was batted away in the end zone on the final play.
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Brihm completed 16 of 25 passes for 144 yards and one touchdown while rushing for another.
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That 1-yard keeper gave the Wildcats a 20-14 lead with 8:47 remaining in the third quarter.
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Bethune-Cookman took an early 3-0 lead on the opening drive as
Uriel Hernandez booted a 33-yard field. He also had a 31-yarder in the second quarter.
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The Wildcats regained the lead at 13-7 on a 30-yard Brihm to
Frank Brown touchdown connection in the second quarter, only to see the Aggies answer with a 45-yard Raynar strike to Xavier Griffin three minutes that put the home team up 14-13 at halftime.
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Jamaruz Thompkins (49 yards on 11 carries) and
Akevious Williams (five carries for 42 yards) paced the Wildcats on the ground while
Keavon Mitchell (six catches for 28 yards) and Brown (three for 36) paced the receivers.
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Marquis Hendrix's eight tackles and a sack led the Wildcat defense.
Marques Ford also had a sack.
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Bethune-Cookman celebrates homecoming next Saturday when it hosts Hampton at 4 p.m. at Municipal Stadium.
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