DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Wildcats avoid a winless season at home with a 14-point comeback to pull the upset win over Grambling State, 24-21, Saturday afternoon on senior day at Daytona Stadium.

With the win, the Wildcats jump Alabama A&M for the fourth-place spot in the SWAC East standings at 2-3 in conference play. 



Grambling State (4-5, 1-4 SWAC) won the toss, electing to defer, handing the ball to B-CU out of the gate. The opening drives for both squads stalled before B-CU starting quarterback Luke Sprague was forced out of the game with an injury following a second-and-20 sack that forced the senior to limp off the field. He would not return in the game. 

The Tigers jumped on the board first after a 39-yard pass play set up a 22-yard rushing score by Keilon Elder.

The Wildcats (2-7, 2-3 SWAC), now under the leadship of Cam'Ron Ransom at QB, managed another short drive before punting it away once more to end the first quarter of play. 

The Tigers opened the second quarter with another drive deep into B-CU territory, marching all the way down to the B-CU two-yard line. A fourth-and-one run play was quickly snuffed out by a host of Wildcats, forcing a turnover on downs. 

As the Wildcats offense continued to struggle before an Anthony Frederique punt turned into a 72-yard house call by Javon Robinson that put Grambling in front 14-0 with six minutes until the half. 

B-CU was finally able to answer the Tiger attack as Ransom marched the Cats down the field on eight plays, finding tight end Thomas Nance for a 14-yard score - the first of Nance's career as a Wildcat and the first touchdown to a tight end on the year for B-CU - to send B-CU into the half down only a score at 14-7. 

Grambling, receiving the ball out of the half, immediately went up two scores again on a nine-yard rushing score from Deljay Bailey to make it 21-7.

The B-CU offense found some success again as Cade Hechter connected on a 40-yard field goal to inch closer at 21-10. 

The B-CU defense stepped up for another massive fourth-down stop with just under seven to play in the third, as a QB keeper was snuffed out by Dallaz Corbitt and Earl Miller Jr. to give the Cats the ball at their own 40. 

Ransom made the Tigers pay immediately, finding dynamic return man Darnell Deas for a 58-yard bomb to inch the Wildcats to within 21-14 with three minutes to play in the third. 

After another great defensive sequence, B-CU moved in front for the first time on the afternoon one drive later as freshman rusher Dennis Palmer found a huge hole in the Tiger front for a 42-yard touchdown run that put the Cats up, 24-21.

Grambling State opened the fourth with a three-and-out, following it up with a drive down to the B-CU 39 before a Baily pass found Wildcat hands as nickelback Caleb Blake came up with the ball, his first interception as a Wildcat. 

The Wildcats moved to the Tiger 21 before attempting a 21-yard field goal that was blocked to keep Grambling to within a field goal with 1:50 on the clock.

A fourth-down pass interference call kept the Tigers alive at their own 36 with 1:37 to play, but an Orin Patu sack and a pair of incomplete passes quickly brought up fourth down again. With 20 yards to go for the first, Baily looked downfield, and B-CU's Joshua Thornhill came up with the Cats' second pick of the night to ice the game at 24-21. 



LUKE EXITS EARLY
Luke Sprague returned to his post as starting quarterback for the second consecutive week. He exited early with a minute remaining in the first after completing 5 of 7 passes for 36 yards. He was sacked three times. He was replaced by Cam'Ron Ransom, who finished the game 18-20 with 199 yards and two passing touchdowns.
 
SLOW STARTS
After another scoreless first quarter, the Wildcats have now come up empty in seven of nine first quarters on the year. Only against Clark Atlanta and Jackson State have the Wildcats managed to put up points in the opening frame of play.
 
TOMMY TOUCHDOWNS
Tight End Thomas Nance became the first B-CU tight end to find the endzone this season as he put the Wildcats on the board courtesy of a 14-yard pass from Cam Ransom. He finished the day with four receptions for 71 yards and the score, all season-highs.
 
CADE GOES LONG
Cade Hechter improves to 5-8 on 40+ yard field goals in his B-CU career after connecting on a 40 yarder in the third quarter.
 
BIG DEAS SEND IT
Specialist extraordinaire Darnell Deas entered the 2024 season with zero career catches and no touchdowns from scrimmage. Saturday, he hauled in his second touchdown pass of his career, and second of the season as Cam'Ron Ransom found him for a 58-yard strike to pull B-CU to within four points in the third quarter. It is the eighth total touchdown of his career – six have come via kick returns. He finished the day as B-CU's leading receiver with five catches for 76 yards and the score
 
PALMER FINDS PAYDIRT
Dynamic freshman running back Dennis Palmer finally broke through the endzone in his sixth collegiate game as he gave the Wildcats their first lead of the game, 24-21, on a 42-yard touchdown run to close out the third quarter. Palmer finished the day with 93 yards rushing on 20 attempts with a touchdown.
 
THIRD DOWN DOMINANCE
The B-CU defense was stellar on third and fourth down Saturday. Grambling State did not manage its first third-down conversion of the day until the six-minute mark in the fourth quarter. The Tigers finished the day 2-12 on third down and 0-4 on fourth down
 
CALEB'S SENIOR DAY SURPRISE
Playing in his final game at Daytona Stadium, nickelback Caleb Blake came up with an enormous interception on fourth down to stop Grambling State just outside of field goal range. It is his first pick as a Wildcat, and the third of his collegiate career.



Saturday's game wraps up the home slate for the 2024 Wildcats. They will now head on the road in back-to-back weeks before the Florida Classic, beginning with a trip to Baton Rouge to take on the Southern Jaguars Saturday, November 9 at 3 p.m. EST. 


Follow Bethune-Cookman Football on Twitter and Instagram (@BCUGridiron) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUathletics), Instagram (@BCUathletics) and www.bcuathletics.com.
 
--#HailWildcats--