DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Wildcats had their homecoming spoiled as a strong start was not enough to overcome No. 23 Jackson State, Saturday afternoon at Daytona Stadium.
After Jackson State (6-2, 4-0 SWAC) deferred the opening kick, the Wildcats began their most successful offensive start of SWAC play, as quarterback
Luke Sprague, making his first start of the season, needed only six plays to go 71 yards for an opening drive touchdown, finding
Maleek Huggins for six to open the game.
The Tigers quickly answered as a running back Irv Mulligan tied things up at 7-7 with a 39-yard touchdown run.
The strong start continued for B-CU converted on back-to-back third downs to set up Sprague for a 16-yard touchdown strike to
Lorenzo Jenkins - his second score in as many games - to make it 14-7.
The Wildcat defense stood strong on the ensuing Tiger drive, forcing a punt to enter the second quarter up, 14-7.
The B-CU defense continued to bend, not break, in the second, holding the Tigers to a field goal, which Gerardo Baeza coverted from 24-yards out to cut their deficit to 14-10.
The Wildcats took the three right back after chunk plays to Huggins, Jenkins, and
Marcus Velez gave
Cade Hechter a 25-yard field goal attempt, which he converted to put the Cats up, 17-10. It would be their final points of the afternoon.
Mulligan swung momentum back in JSU's favor with a 35-yard rush into B-CU territory. QB Jacobian Morgan found Joanes Fortilien a few plays later to knot things at 17-all with seconds to play in the half.
LUKE BACK IN ACTION
After his insertion into last week's contest at Mississippi Valley State, Quarterback
Luke Sprague made his first start of 2024 and first since October 21, 2023 against Southern at Everbank Stadium. He finished the day 15-23 with 190 passing yards and two touchdowns.
NO MORE FIRST DRIVE BLUES
For only the second time this season, the Wildcats converted their opening drive into points, as
Luke Sprague found wide receiver
Maleek Huggins for an 11-yard touchdown strike to cap off an eight-play 75-yard drive for the score.
CAN'T GUARD ZO
Lorenzo Jenkins hooked up with
Luke Sprague for his second touchdown in as many weeks. He becomes the first Wildcat with multiple receiving scores on the year, and joins
Courtney Reese (one rushing, one receiving touchdown) as the only non-quarterbacks to record multiple touchdowns on the year. He finished the day with three receptions for 43 yards and the score.
HAPPY NATIONAL TIGHT END DAY!
On the eve of National Tight End Day,
Thomas Nance and
Marcus Velez looked strong in the first half for B-CU as the Wildcats started both tight ends for the first time in 2024. Velez caught three passes for 43 yards, while Nance hauled in one for 22 yards.
NO SACK FOR YOU
For the first time on the season, the Wildcats were held without a sack on defense. The SWAC's second-leading unit in the catetory had a previous low of one sack, recorded at Western Michigan in the third game of the season. They had averaged nearly three per game on the season to this point.
NO WAY HOME
The Wildcats have now lost five consecutive homecoming games after previously winning nine straight. They drop to 50-28-3 all-time in recorded homecoming games.
The home finale and senior day are on deck for the Wildcats as they return to Daytona Stadium next Saturday, Nov. 2, to host Grambling State. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. The game will be streamed live on SWAC Digital Network.
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--#HailWildcats--
