DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman scored the most points the Wildcats have amassed since 1925, as BCU Football got back on the winning track Saturday afternoon with a 79-16 defeat of Virginia University of Lynchburg at Daytona Stadium.
 
Bethune-Cookman (1-1) opened the game with a 30-point first quarter. It was the most points in a quarter for the Maroon and Gold since scoring 28 in a come-from-behind win at Grambling State in 2015.
 
The Wildcats took just 1:25 off the clock and marched 61 yards down the field on five plays, capped off by a David Israel connection to Jonathon Thomas through the air for 23 yards to score the first touchdown of the 2018 campaign. That allowed BCU to claim a 7-0 lead less than five minutes into the game, following a Uriel Hernandez point-after attempt.
 
On its next possession, Bethune-Cookman took just 14 seconds to score when Que'shaun Byrd stepped underneath an Akevious Williams pass to scamper 70 yards for the second score of the game.
 
For redshirt junior quarterback Akevious Williams, he would finish the night 12-of-13 passing for 297 yards and four touchdowns – all career-highs for the Madison, Florida native. Williams would add another touchdown via the ground.
 
As for Israel, the transfer from West Virginia would complete his home debut 6-for-11 passing for 150 yards and two scores.
 
Already leading 14-0 in the first quarter, Tydarius Peter stepped in front of a Chameron Stevenson pass, picking it off and returning it 38 yards for the touchdown. It was the first interception returned for a touchdown by the Maroon and Gold since Diquan Richardson at North Texas in 2016.
 
The Cats would add a safety to end the quarter's scoring, leaving BCU up, 30-0.
 
Israel rushed up the middle for an eight-yard run to increase the BCU lead, 37-0.
 
Virginia University of Lynchburg (1-1) countered with nine unanswered points to begin the second quarter, cutting into the lead at 37-9.
 
After a safety on the Cats when the ball went through the back of the end zone on a fumble, VUL's Elijah Stewart rushed in from seven yards out to give the Dragons their first touchdown of the afternoon.
 
However, BCU would counter with a pair of long scoring plays before the end of the half.
 
Malique Jackson was on the receiving end of a 77-yard strike from Israel, while Jimmie Robinson caught a 51-yard scoring pass Akevious Williams.
 
Hernandez, a senior kicker from Homestead, Florida, finished the contest a perfect 11-of-11 in extra-point attempts.
 
In the third quarter, Que'shaun Byrd returned a kickoff from the Dragons 88 yards for the first kickoff return for touchdown since Eddie Poole in 2010. That allowed the Cats to hold a 65-16 advantage.
 
BCU's Byrd would add another one-yard score after Jackson added a 58-yard receiving touchdown from Williams.
 
Jackson would end the contest with a game-high162 yards receiving on just four catches, adding a pair of touchdowns in the process.
 
Bethune-Cookman had nine different receivers catch a pass in the contest, as well as 14 different players rush at least once. LaDerrien Wilson led the BCU rushing attack with 25 yards on two carries.
 
The Cats defense was headlined by Marquis Hendrix with eight tackles, (six assists), adding 1.5 tackles for loss. Marques Ford pulled in five tackles, as well as 1.5 quarterback sacks. In all, the defensive unit for the Cats accumulated five sacks in the game.
 
Bethune-Cookman returns to action Saturday, Sept. 15, when the Wildcats travel to Boca Raton for a meeting with Florida Atlantic at 6 p.m.
 
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