HOUSTON - A game-tying field goal attempt came up short at B-CU dropped the 2024 road finale to, 17-14, to Texas Southern, Saturday afternoon at Shell Energy Stadium. 



The afternoon opened on a strange note as B-CU (2-9, 2-5 SWAC) deferred the coin toss to the second half, and a Cade Hechter squib kick turned into a six-yard loss that stranded the Tigers (4-6, 3-4 SWAC) at their 18 to start the game.

Though both sides crossed into opponent territory on their opening drives, neither converted as the first quarter ended scoreless.

It was B-CU who went ahead first as Cam'Ron Ransom found Maleek Huggins for a 62-yard bomb to open the scoring with the Wildcats in front, 7-0. 

On the very next drive for Texas Southern, the Tigers ran only four plays as quarterback Jace Wilson was intercepted by Naim Lassiter at the Wildcat 19. Lassiter's returned his first pick as a Wildcat 45 yards down to the Tiger 36. 

The turnover did not come back to hurt the Tigers as a B-CU holding penalty cut the ensuing drive off at it knees before it could begin, and the Wildcats were forced to punt. 

The Wildcats had a chance to add to their lead as the half neared its end, but Hechter's 25-yarder missed wide left, and a 9-play, 61-yard drive went for naught and the two teams headed to the locker rooms.

After a quick drive out of the half for B-CU, Texas Southern tied up the ballgame with an 11-play, 84-yard, nearly six-minute drive culminating in an Athean Renfro touchdown run to make it 7-7. 

The Tigers added three more on a 27-yard field goal after a 35-yard Renfro rush set TSU up deep in B-CU territory. 

The two teams headed into the final frame all tied up before TSU worked another long drive - this time 10-plays, 90-yards, and four minutes off the clock. Another Renfro rushing score gave the Tigers the 17-7 advantage with just nine minutes to play. 

B-CU was not finished yet, as Ransom and the Wildcats marched down the field with help from two TSU penalties. After a 26-yard dart to Huggins brought the Cats to the TSU six-yard-line, Ransom found Lorenzo Jenkins for his second score in as many weeks to pull to within 17-14. 

With six minutes to play, the Wildcats forced a Tigers punt, taking over at their 19 with three to play. 

B-CU chipped away on 13 plays, creeping down to the TSU 37 as they set up for a 54-yard field goal with just eight seconds to play. Hechter's kick came up short as the Tigers held on for the 17-14 win. 



CAM BACK IN THE SADDLE
Cam"Ron Ransom made his second 10^th start of the season and second straight after the injury to Luke Sprague in the Grambling State game. He completed 22 of 34 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns in the game. It is his fourth game this season, and third straight game, with multiple passing touchdowns,
 
HUG ME BROTHA
Maleek Huggins enjoyed a career-night as the junior wideout hauled in four passes for 97 yards – a career-high – and a touchdown. His 62-yard snag in the first half gave B-CU an early lead on his second score of the season.
 
ZO KNOWS
Lorenzo Jenkins grabbed his team-leading third receiving touchdown of the season on an acrobatic catch-of-the-year candidate in the fourth quarter. He finished the game with four receptions for 12 yards. Twice this season have both Huggins and Jenkins recorded touchdown grabs in the same game.  B-CU dropped both games (Jackson State, Texas Southern)
 
DON'T DOUBT THOMAS
Tight End Thomas Nance overtakes Maleek Huggins for the B-CU team lead in receptions, as he grabbed a team-high eight receptions for 74 yards on the afternoon. It is his third-straight game with over 70 receiving yards after managing only 124 total through B-CU's first seven games.
 
THE BEST FOR LASSITER
Sophomore corner Naim Lassiter came up with an impressive interception and 45-yard return to give B-CU the ball in the second quarter. It was his second pick of the season, and the ninth of the season for the Wildcats as a team. His 45-yard return is the second-longest of the season for B-CU behind Johnny Harris III's 91-yard pick-six at AAMU. It is the sixth-longest return by anyone in the SWAC this season.
 
FIGHT TO THE FINISH
Saturday's game marked only the third halftime lead of the season for B-CU, but their second straight. B-CU led Southernn, 3-0, at halftime a week ago. They also led Clark Atlanta and Mississippi Valley State at the break. Only against MVSU did the Wildcats come out on top.
 
ONE TO MATCH
With one game remaining on the season, the Wildcats will need a win at the Florida Blue Florida Classic over Florida A&M to match Coach Raymond Woodie Jr.'s win total from his first season at the helm. B-CU finished the 2023 season 3-8.




The biggest event of the HBCU football season is up next as the Wildcats get set for the 2024 Florida Blue Florida Classic. Kickoff is set for Saturday, November 23 at 3:30 p.m. from Camping World Stadium in Orlando.


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--#HailWildcats--