DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The start was fast and the finish stronger as Bethune-Cookman downed Grambling State 36-19 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game before 6,343 at Daytona Stadium Saturday.

Darnell Deas scored two touchdowns – the first on an early kickoff return and the second a 37-yard pick six with 23 seconds that sealed a second half that saw the Wildcats pitch a second-half shutout and score the game's final 19 points.

Que'Shaun Byrd rushed for 162 yards while Jalon Jones completed 13 of 18 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns as the Wildcats (1-2 overall, 1-0 SWAC) defeated the Tigers (1-3,0-1) for the fourth consecutive time.

Dylan Moghaddam, who connected on all three field goal attempts, gave B-CU a 20-19 lead with his second of the game – a 22-yarder with 3:20 remaining in the third quarter that capped off a 76-yard drive.

Grambling moved into scoring position to start the fourth quarter, but came up empty when Jayden Loving blocked a field goal attempt and Uriah Ratliff returned it 37 yards.

Later in the quarter, Rosendo Louis forced a Tiger fumble that Amarie Jones recovered at the B-CU 44.

A 28-yard Jones to Marcus Riley connection gave B-CU first and goal. Two plays later, Jones connected with Kemari Averett on a nine-yard touchdown that gave B-CU a 27-19 lead with 9:22 remaining.

B-CU's defense stopped Grambling on its next possession. Byrd broke away for 43 yards to set up another first and goal, and the Wildcats got a 21-yard Moghaddam field goal with 55 seconds to play.

The Wildcats scored 17 points on their first three possessions as both teams started fast.

On the third play from scrimmage, Byrd darted 81 yards to set up a four-yarder from Jones to Riley two minutes in the game.

Grambling answered with a touchdown, but on the ensuing kickoff, Deas took a lateral from Jimmie Robinson III and broke away for a 97-yarder that gave the Wildcats a 14-7 lead.

B-CU took a 17-10 on the opening play of the second quarter on a 23-yard Moghaddam field goal.

Grambling scored the next nine points, taking the lead on a safety.

Averett finished with 65 yards on five catches, including a 32-yarder that set up the go-ahead field goal. Riley had four catches for 38.

Robinson rushed for 33 yards on eight carries.

Omari Hill-Robinson had six tackles and a second quarter interception.

B-CU travels to Alabama A&M next Saturday.

HEAD COACH TERRY SIMS

"Well today,  I thought it was a better day. Still got some things we had to clean up but playing a football team the caliber of Grambling, we saw a team that played Wildcat football."

"We did a lot of good things in our special teams game today."

"Jalen had a couple mistakes here and there, but he was moving the football team."

NOTES: Averett has now caught a pass in all 15 of his B-CU games … Byrd's 162 yards were the second highest in his career; he had 176 yards last year against Prairie View A&M … Grambling outgained B-CU 461-336 … B-CU's 36 points were its most since a 37-29 win at Howard on 9/28/19 … The last time B-CU's defense posted a scoreless half was 9/21/19 at Mississippi Valley State. Sims is now 4-0 versus Grambling State.