DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A 55-yard Leonardo Cabrera field goal sailed through the uprights as Clark Atlanta pulled the upset over Bethune-Cookman, 38-37, Saturday night at Daytona Stadium.



Bethune-Cookman (0-4) opened the contest with scores on four straight drives, putting up 28 points in the first quarter.

Quarterback Cam'Ron Ransom started hot, with a 12-12 start throwing the ball with 242 yards, finding Courtney Reese, Darnell Deas, and Kobe Stewart for scores, plus a rushing score in between.

Clark Atlanta (3-0-1) grabbed a score of its own in the first as David Martin found David Wright III for six. 

The Wildcats added three more in the second half as Cade Hechter nailed a 23-yard field goal to put B-CU in front, 31-7.

From there, the Panthers rattled off three touchdowns, - on 98 and 99 yard drives - while Hechter pushed a pair of field goals through, to cut the B-CU lead down to 37-28.

Another long touchdown drive pulled CAU to within two with four minutes to play. 

The Wildcats took the ball, but after six plays, B-CU was forced to punt the ball. Punter Anthony Frederique sent the ball out of bounds at the Clark Atlanta one-yard line. 

With just 1:41 to play, the Panthers marched down the field to their own 41-yard line. An imcomplete pass on a Raymond Woodie III breakup turned into a first down after a B-CU unsportsmanlike conduct call put the Panthers in Wildcat territory with 15 seconds to play. The Panthers completed one more short pass to the B-CU 38 and brought out the field goal unit.

At the buzzer, Cabrera nailed the 55-yarder to pull the upset, 38-37.

• Making his third straight start, quarterback Cam Ransom opened the contest with 12 straight completions for 242 yards, only two completions shy of his season high and nearly double his previous single-game high. On the whole, Cam finished the game 22-31 for 382 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed 11 times for 105 yards and a touchdown.
• The Wildcats opened the game with scores on four straight drives. 28 points is the most points scored in a quarter since October 2, 2021, when the Wildcats put up 28 points in the fourth quarter of a 42-35 loss at South Carolina State. It is the most in a first quarter since Sept. 8, 2018, when the Wildcats put up 30 in the first against Virginia Lynchburg at home.
• For the first time in their last six games, the Wildcats finally completed a touchdown pass to a wide receiver, as Kobe Stewart hauled in a 54-yard pass from Cam'Ron Ransom to make it a 28-7 game.
• Make it three touchdowns for RB Darnell Deas in his last two weeks. The dynamic utility man hauled in the first catch of his career for 70 yards and a touchdown to push the B-CU lead to 21-0 in the first quarter.
• Punter Anthony Frederique was outstanding on the afternoon – each of his three punts pinned the Panthers inside their 20, with two pinning them inside the five.
• Wildcat kicker Cade Hechter finished the afternoon 3-3 kicking, setting a career-high in field goals made in a game. He attempted three field goals in the 2023 season against Mississippi Valley State, but only converted on two of them. Saturday, he connected on 23, 27, and 37-yard kicks.
• QB Cam'Ron Ransom found nine different receivers Saturday. Omari Stewart led the way with 5 receptions for 18 yards, while three different pass catchers hauled in passes for touchdowns.

The Wildcats stay home for the week and get set for the 2024 SWAC opener, set for Saturday, Sept. 28 at 3 p.m. against SWAC preseason No. 1 Alabama State.

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--