INDIANAPOLIS – Untimely turnovers kept Bethune-Cookman from turning the Circle City Classic into an Instant Classic Saturday as the Wildcats dropped a 41-35 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference decision to Howard in Lucas Oil Stadium.

Bethune-Cookman (1-3,0-1) had two chances to pull off a fourth-quarter comeback after its defense registered consecutive three-and-out on the high-powered Howard (1-2,1-0) offense, the second with 1:08 remaining.

Akevious Williams connected with Jimmie Robinson for 24 yards to move B-CU into Howard territory, but on the play afterwards, a deflected ball fell into the hands of Howard's Tye Freeland, effectively sealing the game.

In all, B-CU had four turnovers, including two fumbles in the Howard red zone and an interception return to spoil a career day for Robinson, a senior from Palm Coast.

Robinson became the first Wildcat to return two kickoffs for touchdowns, and set a school single-game record for kickoff return yards with 202, breaking the previous mark of 165 set by Chris Stewart in 1986.

He also caught an 8-yard touchdown from Akevious Williams with 4:12 remaining in the first half as Bethune-Cookman turned a 28-14 deficit into a 28-28 halftime tie.

The Wildcats took the second half kickoff into the Bison red zone but fumbled the ball away. Howard QB Caylin Newton (301 yards passing, 40 rushing) manufactured a 95-yard scoring to put the Bison ahead 35-28 on a Josiah Crute run. On their next possession, the Bison extended their lead when Iggy Reynoso's 5-yard run made it a 41-28 game.

After a second red zone fumbled seemed to all but end the game, Bethune-Cookman found new life Devin James forced a fumble and Kennedy Nduke returned it 37 yards to the Howard 10. Williams scored one play later, cutting the deficit to six with 5:45 left.

Williams finished 17 of 29 for 216 yards and two touchdowns, the first to Steffon Francois in the first quarter.  Tupac Isme and Isaac Washington had 80 and 77 yards rushing, respectively. Keavon Mitchell (56 yards), Robinson (50), Malique Jackson (43) and Francois (34) each had three catches.

Defensively, Devan James had nine tackles. Ndukwe had seven, as did Hendrix, whose second quarter interception set up a Wildcat touchdown.

Bethune-Cookman travels to Savannah State for a MEAC game next Saturday.

HEAD COACH TERRY SIMS

"Great football game. We played a tough, well prepared team. We made plays, just not enough and not when we needed to."

[On the turnovers]: "We did not maintain our focus. Those turnovers are unacceptable."

[On the play of Akevious Williams] "Akevious didn't play bad today. He threw interceptions doing thing we didn't coach him to do. We need to correct that"

"Jimmie's been our return guy in practice. He'll have those duties until we figure out what's up with [injured Que'shaun] Byrd."

"Individual guys won't win you football games."
 
"This one's over with. It's about learning from mistakes and not letting this game beat us twice."