JACKSON, Miss. – 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.
 
Bethune-Cookman has a week off before traveling to Montgomery, Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 7, for a meeting with Alabama State. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. CT.
 
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.