DURHAM, N.C. – Jimmie Robinson and
Akevious Williams each scored two touchdowns as Bethune-Cookman won its fourth straight and remained unbeaten in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play by defeating North Carolina Central 27-13 Thursday at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.
Robinson scored the first half's only touchdown on a 54-yard second quarter screen pass and a 79-yard kickoff return after the Wildcat defense held the Eagles to a field goal to start the fourth quarter.
"He's beyond special," BCU Head Coach
Terry Sims said of Robinson. ""He's a young man any coach would love to have. He's always going to be exciting. Any time you can get the ball in his hands, you have to do it."
Williams capped off a 10-play, 59-yard tone-setting drive in the third quarter that gave the Wildcats (5-1 overall, 3-0 MEAC) a 14-3 lead  on his 19-yard run with 6:30 remaining. In the fourth quarter, Williams was on the receiving end of a "Philly Special" from wide receiver
Marcus Riley that made it 27-6 with 5:01 to play.
Robinson finished with 174 all-purpose yard while Williams rushed for 58 yards, threw for 95 yards … and caught that touchdown for three.
After winning thrilling finishes in three of the past four years, BCU controlled this one from the outset as the Wildcats improved to 6-0 life time in Durham and to 5-1 for the first time since 2015. Though it gave up 391 total yards, the Wildcat defense forced the Eagles (2-5, 1-2) to settle for two field goals before a late touchdown.
The second field goal came after
Rashon McNeil and
Vernon Walker III stuffed Eagle running back Isaiah Totten for a three-yard loss on third-and-goal. Robinson, who also had a kickoff return in last year's meeting, shook off an early facemask on the return as BCU took charge with a 21-6 lead.
"Jimmie did a great job on that return," Sims said. "He broke that tackle, which shows you how strong he is despite his size."
Leading 7-3, BCU capitalized on an NCCU defensive holding penalty and got a fourth-down run from
Que'shaun Byrd (10 carries, 59 yards rushing and two catches for seven yards) to matriculate the ball 59 yard for an 11-point lead on Williams' 22
nd career rushing touchdown.
"That drive was huge," Sims said. "It gave us the shot we needed, both offensive and defensively."
Marquis Hendrix led the BCU defense with 13 tackles, followed by
Tydarius Peters with 10.
Uriah Gilbert and
Jamarquis Reeves each had a sack.
BCU begins a two-game home stand October 19 against Norfolk State at Daytona Stadium.
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