ITTA BENA, Miss. – What Bethune-Cookman will remember from this 21st night of September is a career half from
Isaac Washington and a defensive effort that maintained the status quo as the Wildcats downed Mississippi Valley State 22-6 at Rice-Totten Stadium.
Washington rushed for 149 yards – 117 in the first half as the Wildcats (2-1) registered their eighth consecutive victory over a Southwest Athletic Conference opponent dating back to 2006 in their first appearance at the stadium where Jerry Rice played his college ball since 1968.
"That's the kind of back Isaac is," said BCU Head Coach
Terry Sims. "We always knew he was a hard runner who has a good speed and great vision. The game is slowing down for him -- he understands it better and did a good job of keeping us in the game."
The Delta Devils (0-3) took a 6-2 lead on Jarius Clayton's nine-yard pass from Dejeric Bryant with 25 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
BCU answered on Washington's longest run of his career – a 57-yard burst that made it 9-6 with nine minutes remaining in the half. Later, Washington capped off an 84-yard drive with a 21-yard run that let the Wildcats take a 15-6 halftime lead.
The Wildcat offense struggled in the second half, managing just three total yards in the third quarter, but the defense stopped three potential scoring threats to preserve the lead.
"We got a little too comfortable and went away from what we were doing in the second quarter," said Sims, particularly annoyed with BCU's giving up eight third down conversions. "We can't play a football game like that and move forward in conference play. We'll take the win as it is, but we have to put a better product on the field."
Rashon McNeil's interception and
Marques Ford's fourth down sack were among the key plays.
Akevious Williams added an insurance touchdown with 5:30 remaining, turning the corner and getting a block on a third down run into a 38-yard that made it 22-6.
After two scoreless first halves in the first two games, the defense registered the first points thanks to a
Bryce Coward punt that
Marcus Riley downed at the MVSU 2. Two plays later,
Marquis Hendrix and
Judas McKenzie combined to register the safety.
Williams finished with 98 yards rushing and completed 10 of 21 passes for 76 yards.
Jimmie Robinson caught three passes for 29 yards. BCU finished the total yards battle ahead 357-244.
Hendrix finished with 12.5 tackles to pace the defense. Four of Coward's seven punts landed inside the 20-yard line.
"Bryce was huge," Sims said. "He flipped the field and changed the field position many times. That was a great job of placing the ball."
BCU opens Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play next Saturday at Howard.
NOTES: BCU is 2-1 for the first time since 2015 ... MVSU's six points were the fewest for a BCU opponent since the Wildcats beat Lane 7-3 in 2015 ... This was the first time in nine games BCU has outgained the opponent. The last time? MVSU at homecoming last year ...
Que'shaun Byrd made his return to the field with eight carries for 27 yards ... The defense finished with six sacks -- most since Morgan State last year and only gave up three plays longer than 20 yards .. Sims is now 21-0 when leading at halftime.
