JACKSON, Miss. - The Wildcats open conference play for the 2023 season with a SWAC matchup against defending champions Jackson State in the W.C. Gorden Classic, Saturday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium. 

The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Those without a subscription can listen to the action on the CatEye Network. 



Saturday, Oct. 7
Opponent: Alabama State (1-3, 0-2 SWAC)
Time: 3:00 p.m. EST
Location: Montgomery, Ala. | ASU Stadium
Live Stats: https://statb.us/b/480055
Watch: https://hbcugo.tv/
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/cateyenetwork
Tickets: https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2new/team.asp?SponsorID=16589



A fumble returned for a touchdown and a long scoring run helped Jackson State fend off visiting Bethune-Cookman, 22-16 on Saturday night at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) football contest. The game was played as the W.C. Gordon Classic.

Trailing 9-8 midway through the third quarter, Jackson State (3-2, 1-1 SWAC) stepped back out in front when Athen Smith returned a Terry Lindsey fumble 32 yards for a touchdown.
 
After Bethune-Cookman (1-3, 0-1 SWAC) turned the ball over on downs with 5:11 remaining in the fourth quarter, Irv Mulligan scampered 66 yards for a touchdown, extending the Tigers lead, 22-9.
 
However, the Wildcats answered with a quick four-play drive that saw BCU quarterback Walter Simmons III complete all three of his pass attempts, and eventually find Dacarri Allen-Johnson for a strike down the middle for 17 yards and the score. The ensuing Cade Hechter point-after attempt was good, and BCU trailed just 22-16 with 2:05 left in the game.
 
Having forced eight punts on the night – the most since Nov. 13, 2021 (vs. Grambling), the Wildcats appeared to have made it nine, giving them the ball at their own 30 yard line with 1:29 remaining. But an illegal substitution penalty – one of just three on the night committed by the Cats, allowed JSU a first down. Two kneel downs from quarterback Jason Brown would run out the clock and seal the win.
 
Bethune-Cookman carried a 9-8 lead into the locker room at the half after falling behind early-on courtesy a safety on a quarterback sack of the Wildcats' Simmons by Isaac Peppers. The safety for JSU was the fourth of its kind for the Tigers against the Wildcats in three meetings since BCU joined the SWAC.
 
Midway through the second quarter, Simmons went 3-for-4 passing on a drive that mixed in a run with the Wildcats signal-caller, using a four-yard rush up the middle from Jouvensly Bazil to put the visitors ahead, 6-2 with 9:07 remaining in the second quarter. The extra-point attempt from Cade Hechter was blocked.
 
On the ensuing drive, JSU used an eight-play drive to march 68 yards down the field, culminating in a Brown touchdown connection through the air with receiver Seven McGee from eight yards out. The two-point conversion attempt was no good.
 
The Wildcats answered on their next drive, including a 19-yard hook-up between Simmons and Tink Boyd to put BCU down to the Tigers 25 yard line. Hechter would later connect on his second field goal of the season from outside 40 yards – this time from 42 yards out – putting BCU back on top, 9-8.
 
On the night, JSU's Brown finished 13 of 24 passing for 90 yards and a touchdown, adding one interception as well. Mulligan totaled 174 yards rushing and a touchdown for the Tigers. The Tigers defense was led by Ke'Vric Wiggins Jr. and Peppers with six tackles each. Peppers also had 2.5 tackles for loss on the night.
 
For BCU, Simmons ended the night 19 of 34 passing for 172 yards and a touchdown. He linked up with seven different receivers, most often Kahlil Overton (10 rec., 34 yds). Allen-Johnson and Boyd each added four receptions. Dearis Thomas led the Wildcats defense with a game-high 10 tackles, followed by Shelton Quarles Jr. with eight tackles of his.


Alabama State is 1-3 this season and 0-2 in SWAC play. The Hornets took out Southern, 14-10, in a non-conference contest to open the season, but have since lost three straight. Those losses include a pair of SWAC losses at Florida A&M and against Alcorn State, as well as a 21-17 defeat at the hands of DII Miles College.

The Hornets are averaging just over 15 points per game this season, and allowing just over 22. The Hornets average 200 yards passing and 128 yards on the ground per game.

Ja'Won Howell leads the team in rushing with 173 yards.

The Hornets have split time between sophomores Damon Steward and Damatrius Davis at quarterback. They have combined to complete 57 passes through four games, completing 63 percent of their attempts. Each QB has thrown a pair of interceptions to one touchdown.

Sophomore receiver Kisean Johnson is the only Hornet with double-digit receptions. He has hauled in 18 receptions for 218 yards and a touchdown.



NEW PRACTICE FIELD, WHO DIS?
On Sunday, October 1st, the Wildcats held their first full practice at the John L. Bryan, Sr. Practice Field. The artificial turf field, located behind B-CU's Athletic Training Facility, began construction back in April of this year. The field allows the Wildcats to hold practice on-campus, rather than making the 8-mile drive to Daytona Stadium

PLAYING IT SAFE
The Wildcats have had the fewest penalties called against them in the SWAC with only 19 through four games. The next closest team, Alabama A&M, has racked up 14 more penalties than B-CU. The Wildcats rank 16th in all of FCS football in fewest penalties. The Wildcats have also thrown only two interceptions, second only to Grambling State in the SWAC.

NEW RETURN POLICY
In 11 games, the 2022 Wildcats returned 51 kickoffs, led by All-SWAC return man Darnell Deas with 28 returns for 745 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Through four games this season, B-CU has returned only four total kickoffs. Deas has handled two of them for an average of 26 yards per return.

DOWN UNDER
The Wildcats' kicking game is headed up by a pair of Australians in kicker Cade Hechter and punter Max Tulen. Hector nailed a 45 yard field goal against Savannah State on Sept. 9, the longest field goal for a B-CU kicker since Uriel Hernandez recorded a 46 yarder against Tennessee State in 2018's season-opener. He also added a 42-yarder against Jackson State. Two of the SWAC's top four longest field goals belong to Hechter.

DT ON TOP 
Dearis Thomas has been a force defensively through the first four games. The sophomore linebacker and FAU transfer leads the Wildcats in tackles with 34 and tackles for loss with 5. He is one of only four Wildcats with a sack this season, and one of only five with a QB hurry.

HALF THE BATTLE
After leading, 8-6, at halftime at Jackson State two weeks ago, the Wildcats have now led at the half in five conference games since joining the SWAC. B-CU is 2-3 in those games.



Saturday marks the 19th time in the history of the two programs that Bethune-Cookman and Alabama State will meet on the gridiron. The Wildcats hold a 12-6 advantage in the series, while Alabama State has a 4-3 advantage at home. 

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