WASHINGTON, D.C. – Bethune-Cookman looks to avoid a third consecutive year of opening Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play with a loss to Howard when the Wildcats meet the Bison at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Howard (1-3) beat BCU (2-1) 41-35 in last year's Circle City Classic and squeezed out a 26-24 win two years ago.

Still, Wildcat Head Coach Terry Sims is trying to treat this as another day at the office.

"If you feel pressure in this game I think that's going to stop a little bit of your process," Sims said. "You don't worry about the size of the game or the opponent. You watch film, put a game plan together, and go out and execute it."

BCU is coming off a 22-6 road at Mississippi Valley State last week that saw the Wildcats outgain an opponent (357-244) in nine games. The defense pitched a second half shutout by stopping three potential scoring threats.

After scoreless first halves in the first two games, BCU's offense had a better start after a safety and two Isaac Washington TDs gave the Wildcats a 15-6 lead.

The Wildcats are looking for their first 3-1 start since 2015.

NOTES:  BCU's red zone defense is the second best in the MEAC at a stoppage rate of 30.8 percent … Washington is now 2^nd in the MEAC in rushing (75.3 yards per game) … Akevious Williams is eighth in total offense… Jimmie Robinson is first in kickoff return average and fourth in all-purpose yards. After 12 tackles last week, Marquis Hendrix  is seventh in the league in tackles at seven per game.