DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Head coach Raymond Woodie Jr. makes his return to Daytona Stadium Saturday for his first home game as Wildcats head coach as Bethune-Cookman hosts old MEAC foe Savannah State, Sept. 9 at 4 p.m. at Daytona Stadium



Saturday, September 9
Opponent: Savannah State (1-0, 0-0 SIAC)
Time: 4 p.m. EST
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla. | Daytona Municipal Stadium
Live Stats: https://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statmonitr.php?gid=mem
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/cateyenetwork
Listen: https://wele1380thecat.com/
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com/2023-bcu-football-season-tickets-daytona-beach-florida-09-09-2023/event/22005E31E44ECD3A



Seth Henigan passed for 334 yards and a pair of touchdowns last Saturday evening, as Football Bowl Division (FBS) opponent Memphis proved to be too much for Bethune-Cookman 56-14 at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in the season opener for both programs.

In what was a rough offensive display for first-year head coach Raymond Woodie Jr. and the Wildcats, Bethune-Cookman was limited to just 91 yards of total offense on the night. Meanwhile, the Tigers of Memphis countered with 551 yards of offense – one of their highest productions offensively since the Mike Norvell era four years ago. It was a balanced attack for the Tigers, as they rushed for 208 yards and passed for 231.

A pair of defensive touchdowns were all the Wildcats could muster, with Amarie Jones returning an interception 69 yards for six, followed by a scoop and score by Ejike Brown that made it 56-14. 



Savannah State opened their 2023 season last Saturday with a win over Southeastern of Lakeland, Fla. SSU's 23-20 win was the Tigers' first season-opening win since 2009. 

SSU was ranked #5 in the latest D2 HBCU Football Top 10 Poll. The Tigers received votes in the latest BOXTOROW HBCU Division II Coaches Poll.



THIS WEEK IN WILDCATS HISTORY
This Week in Wildcat History This week in 1973, Wildcats gave Charles Wesley Moore a successful debut as Head Football Coach with a 13-7 victory over South Carolina State in Welch Memorial Stadium before a then home crowd record of 6,580.

PLAYING IT SAFE
Saturday's contest with Memphis saw the Wildcats docked with only five penalties, the first time they have recorded fewer than six in a game since Nov. 20, 2021.

It also marked the first game for B-CU without a turnover since Oct. 15, 2022 against Jackson State.

HE PUT THE TEAM ON HIS BACK
Amarie Jones dazzled last Saturday at Memphis, deflecting a pass into a 69-yard interception return for B-CU's first touchdown of 2023. It was the first pick-six for the Wildcats since Omari Hill-Robinson took a pass 99 yards to the house on Oct. 22, 2022 against MVSU.

DOWN UNDER
The Wildcats' kicking game is headed up by a pair of Australians in kicker Cade Hechter and punter Max Tulen. Tulen, a freshman from Melbourne, Victoria, Austrialia had a solid day agaist Memphis, averaging 39 yards on 11 punts including 2 50+ yarders downed inside the 20 yard line.

A DOUBLE DOSE OF DEFENSE
The Wildcats turned in two defensive touchdowns on Saturday at Memphis, one via a pick-6 and one on a scoop-and-score. It marked the first time the Wildcats have recorded two defensive scores in a single game since Sept. 1, 2019, when the Wildcats scored via a 96 yard fumble recovery and a 50 yard pick-6.




Saturday marks the 50th all-time meeting between Savannah State and B-CU. The Wildcats have lost only eight of those meetings, with three ties. Only two of those losses came in Daytona Beach. The Wildcats have more wins over SSU than any other single opponent. 


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