ORLANDO - Dennis Palmer and Maleek Huggins set career-highs in the highest-scoring Florida Classic since 2008, but it was not enough to stop Florida A&M's streak from reaching four straight as they took the victory, 41-38, Saturday night at Camping World Stadium. 



 B-CU (2-10, 2-6 SWAC) won the toss, deferring to the second half, while Florida A&M (5-5, 4-3 SWAC) quickly struck first on a few chunk plays and a Thad Franklin Jr. 17-yard rushing score to jump in front, 7-0.

The B-CU offense started strong, working down to the FAMU 13 after a 21-yard pass to Thomas Nance and a pair of Courtney Reese runs, but Cam'Ron Ransom's pass was tipped and intercepted by Nay'Ron Jenkins to cut off the B-CU momentum.

A FAMU three-and-out quickly turned into disaster as Gunner Trout punt turned into a 77-yard Maleek Huggins house call to tie things up at 7-7. 

FAMU closed out the first with a field goal drive to go ahead 10-7.

A short B-CU drive to start the second set the Rattlers up with solid field position before they drove down the field once again to go up 17-7 on a 12-yard Jamari Gassett touchdown. 

B-CU was able to answer quickly as freshman Dennis Palmer punched through a 19-yard touchdown run to knot things at 17-14. 

The Wildcat defense forced a quick three-and-out to receive the ball again with three minutes to the half. B-CU capped off an excellent offensive quarter with a 56-yard dart from ransom to Huggins to head into the half leading, 21-17. 

The Wildcats carried that offensive momentum into the second half as Palmer quickly moved the Cats deep into FAMU territory. An offensive pass interference call stopped the B-CU drive in its tracks and the Cats settled for a 43-yard field goal to make it 24-`17. 

The FAMU run game continued to be a problem for B-CU as Franklin Jr. rushed for a 17-yard score to tie things up once again at 24-all. They would go ahead a drive later on a 31-yard field goal to make it 27-24 with just a quarter to play. 

B-CU opened the fourth quarter by heading into Rattler territory, sitting at a fourth-and-three from the FAMU 30. The Wildcats elected to attempt the 47-yard field goal, which Hechter left short. 

Just one play later, Franklin Jr. took the rock 70 yards to the endzone to push the FAMU lead to 34-24. 

The Wildcats did not fade away, howerver, as an incredible trick play saw specialty man Darnell Deas roll out left and fire his first career pass 37 yards to Huggins to put the Cats in the redzone. Palmer did the rest as he muscled in a one-yard touchdown to return to within three at 34-31. 

A play later, FAMU QB Daniel Richardson's pass was tipped by Kevin Washington and picked off by Antwone Watts at the FAMU 45. 

The Cats called four straight running plays and were forced to punt the ball. 

FAMU's lead reached 10 once again, and again via the run, as Kelvin Dean ran in a 24-yard touchdown to move to 41-31. 

Again, B-CU did not quit, as another long Huggins reception and more ferocious Palmer runs led to the freshman's third score of the game to make it 41-38, Rattlers. 

The Wildcat defense held once again, and Bethune-Cookman recieved the ball at its own 13 and 18 seconds to play. B-CU nearly made it to midfield on another Huggins chunk play, but that was all they could manage in the 41-38 loss. 



CLASSIC CAM
Cam'Ron Ransom completed his season with his first ever Florida Classic start, finishing the game 11-21 for 196 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
 
HOUSE CALL HUGGINS
Wide Receiver and return-man Maleek Huggins did a bit of everything in his first-ever Florida Classic. He opened the scoring for B-CU with a 77-yard punt return touchdown to tie things at 7-7. It was the first return touchdown of his career, and third total touchdown of his Wildcat career. He followed that up with a 56-yard touchdown snag to give B-CU its first lead of the game at 20-17 late in the first half. Huggins finished his night with a team-high seven receptions for a career-high 177 yards – the most in a game by a B-CU WR this year - and the two touchdowns. His previous high in yards was 97 last week at Texas Southern. He was named team MVP.
 
DENNIS DELIVERS
Freshman phenom Dennis Palmer put a bow on his outstanding rookie season, with season and career-highs in rushing attempts (37), yards rushing (178), and rushing touchdowns (3).  He is the first Wildcat not named Cam'Ron Ransom to record three touchdowns in a game in 2024.
 
STOP THE COUNT
The Wildcats led at halftime, 21-17, only their fourth halftime lead of the season. They won only once – at Mississippi Valley State.
 
DO-IT-ALL DEAS
With less than 10 minutes to play in the game, running back and kick returner extraordinaire Darnell Deas was flipped the ball by Cam Ransom. He rolled out left and fired a 37-yard dart to Maleek Huggins to set up the Wildcats in the redzone. They would score just plays later to pull to within three of FAMU. It was the first pass attempt of Deas career.
 
WATTS THE BIG DEAL
With only minutes to play in Saturday's game, Kevin Washington tipped up a Daniel Richardson pass for Antwone Watts, who came up with the interception just past midfield. It was the second pick of Watts' career, and the ninth of the season for the Wildcat defense. Watts finished the game with a team-high 11 tackles – five solo.



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