DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Under the watchful eye of first-year head coach Raymond Woodie Jr., Bethune-Cookman Football held its first intrasquad scrimmage of #CatsCamp 2023 on Saturday afternoon at Daytona Stadium. The offense held off the defense by a count of 74-61 using a modified scoring format.
 
Immediately afterwards, several members of HailWildcats cooked fish, burgers, hot dogs and more for students-athletes representing Bethune-Cookman Athletics in attendance at the stadium.
 
Weather Conditions
With weather conditions ranging from the low-to-mid 90s, winds were extremely calm at around four miles per hour out of the southeast. The skies were partly cloudy, but the sun was in full effect throughout the entirety of the scrimmage.
 
Scrimmage Details
In a thrilling display of athleticism and teamwork, Bethune-Cookman Football went through an intense 18-period intrasquad scrimmage in preparation for the season opener at Memphis on Saturday, Sept. 2. Held as an open scrimmage, the day's contest provided fans and coaches with a tantalizing glimpse into the Wildcats' potential strengths and areas for improvement.
 
The offense wasted no time showcasing its versatility, with all four quarterbacks displaying pinpoint accuracy on a number of deep throws, and the running backs exhibiting explosive bursts of speed through the line. One of the young men looking to stamp his name as starting quarterback for the Maroon and Gold is former Delaware State signal-caller Tylik Bethea. The Brooklyn, New York native began the scoring for the offense in the second period, scampering into the end zone from nine yards out after connecting on a 39-yard pass down the left sideline to a receiver just moments before.
 
The offensive line demonstrated remarkable cohesion, giving all participating quarterbacks, including the likes of Ethan Dattilio ample time to make decisions and open up lanes for as many as six running backs whose services were utilized on the day. Wide receivers showcased their agility and catching prowess, creating exciting connections with the quarterbacks and racking up impressive yards after the catch.
 
On the defensive end, both the linebackers and safeties alike proved to be a force, effectively shutting down rushing attempts and disrupting passing plays. The secondary exhibited tight coverage and remarkable ball-hawking skills, creating turnovers that injected energy into the scrimmage, with the inclusion of an interception return 96 yards to the end zone for a score in the 12th period.
 
The defensive line consistently applied pressure on the quarterbacks, showcasing a formidable pass rush that will undoubtedly pose challenges for opposing offenses throughout the upcoming campaign. The unit up front for the Cats also forced a fumble upon a running back looking to go into the end zone for a score in the fourth period, recovering the ball for what would award them points.
 
On the special teams side of things, Head Coach Raymond Woodie Jr. individually noted the performance of kicker Cade Hechter, a 6-foot-2 redshirt sophomore from New South Wales, Australia, and a product of Moriah College. He connected on all point-after attempts, as well as three field goal attempts.
 
With the first of two intrasquad scrimmages now behind them, BCU is set to channel the lessons learned and the promising performances displayed on the afternoon. The coaches will analyze the scrimmage footage to fine-tune strategies and identify areas of growth for next weekend's second intrasquad scrimmage.
 
Coach's Remarks
"I liked special teams today for what they did in all phases of that part of the game. I saw some good things out of Cade [Hechter], as he's really growing more and more into this game and what he can do for us going forward."
 
"I was really impressed by the play of Eddie [Walls III] today. He anchored down that defensive line, and he's doing everything the coaches are asking him to do. He continues to get better and better for us, and we're going to rely on him a lot at this rate."
 
"I tell you what, the quarterback play continues to improve from the spring. Those guys each want to play and start. Obviously, you can only have one guy behind center, but they all want to get reps, and they're all earning a shot at that starting spot."
 
"We got to see a lot of things that we wanted to see. They were faster; played aggressively; made smart decisions. The team is beginning to gel, and that's a good thing. That's a really good thing."
 
Follow Bethune-Cookman Football on Twitter (@BCUGridIron) for all the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUathletics), Instagram (@BCU_Athletics) and BCUathletics.com.