JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Southern University accumulated 338 yards of total offense Saturday afternoon as the visiting Jaguars earned a 28-18 win over Bethune-Cookman in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) matchup inside EverBank Stadium.
 
Leading 14-10 at the half, Southern (4-3, 3-1 SWAC) scored 14 unanswered in the second half to widen its lead.
 
A five-play, 66-yard drive was capped by a 57-yard touchdown reception by August Pitre off the end of a Harold Blood pass across the middle that saw the Jaguars grab a 21-10 lead following the extra point from Joshua Griffin with 5:51 showing in the third quarter.
 
George Qualls came through untouched on a Bethune-Cookman punt attempt by the Wildcats' Anthony Frederique to block the kick and scoop up the ball in the end zone for the touchdown.
 
Southern led 28-10 with 9:04 remaining in the fourth quarter.
 
Bethune-Cookman (1-6, 0-4 SWAC) used reserve quarterback Tylik Bethea on the final drive of the game, with a nine-play, 65-yard drive resulting in a score. Bethea went 5-for-6 on the drive as the former Delaware State signal-caller connected with Jaylin Terzado for nine yards in the corner of the end zone on a diving catch. That was followed by a two-point conversion from Bethea to Daveno Ellington, bringing the Maroon and Gold to within 28-18.
 
BCU jumped on top in the first quarter when starting quarterback Luke Sprague delivered a deep pass to Omari Stewart down the middle for 43 yards to put the Wildcats up 7-0.
 
The Jaguars knotted the game at 7-7 in the second quarter off the strength of several strong runs from Southern's Kendric Rhymes from the running back position. The drive culminated with Blood rushing up the middle for the score. After a Sprague interception was collected by Southern's Kriston Davis at the BCU 38 yard line, the Jaguars stepped ahead in the game with a 23-yard drive up the middle for the touchdown.
 
Griffin's extra point was converted to put Southern up 14-7.
 
BCU's Cade Hechter connected on a 37-yard field goal at the end of the opening half to make it 14-10 at the break.
 
Southern's Rhymes led all rushers with 128 yards and a touchdown in the contest. Blood finished 10 of 20 passing for 156 yards and a touchdown. Rodney Johnson had nine tackles and a breakup to lead the defense of the Jaguars.
 
Bethune-Cookman was led on the day by Sprague with 159 yards passing on 19 of 31 and one touchdown. Bethea added a touchdown through the air, while Dacarri Allen-Johnson had seven catches for 57 yards. The defense was sparked by Dearis Thomas with a game-high 13 tackles, including one for loss.
 
BCU is back in action next weekend when the Wildcats travel to Grambling State in Grambling, Louisiana on October 28. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET.
 
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