JACKSONVILLE --- Bethune-Cookman's return to Jacksonville saw the Wildcats drop a 48-8 Southwestern Athletic Conference decision to Jackson State before a TIAA Bank Field crowd of 22,373 Saturday.

The visiting Tigers (6-0 overall, 4-0 SWAC) got off to a quick smart as Shedeur Sanders completed 12 of his first 13 passes and led Jackson State to touchdowns on its first three possessions. Jackson State led 21-0 after the first quarter and 30-0 at halftime.

Kemari Averett registered the Bethune-Cookman touchdown on a four-yard from Jalon Jones with 14:10 remaining. Jones, a former Jackson State quarterback, added the two-point conversion.

Bethune-Cookman (1-5,1-2) had one scoring threat in the first half after a 37-yard Que'Shaun Byrd run put the Wildcats at the JSU 18. However, Jones' pass was broken up at the goal line.

Averett finished with 35 yards on three catches, while Dylaan Lee and Marcus Riley each had two catches for 36 and 11 yards, respectively. Byrd rushed for 55 yards on seven carries.

The Wildcat defense registered two interceptions, one each by Jerrold Pough and Uriah Ratliff, a Jacksonville Raines HS product.

B-CU plays at Mississippi Valley State next Saturday.

HEAD COACH TERRY SIMS

"We dropped too many balls today. We missed too many tackles. We just didn't make the plays we needed to make to win the football game. When you play a football team the caliber of Jackson State, you have to make the plays that are there for you."

"I don't think we were flat. I just think you saw a good football team take the ball and make plays. It was them being a good football team and executing."

NOTES: This was Bethune-Cookman's first game in Jacksonville since a 30-29 loss to Southern in 2006… Averett has now caught a pass in 17 straight games; Lee has caught a pass in all six games this season…. The team will return to Daytona Beach for the first time since Sept. 27 as a result of Hurricane Ian….The crowd was the largest for a Bethune-Cookman game in Jacksonville.