MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Fresh off their best start since joining the SWAC, the Wildcats will look to make it three in a row as they take on the Hornets of Alabama State on Saturday, October 4 at ASU Stadium in Montgomery, Ala. 

The game will be streamed live on SWACTV online . Fans can listen to B-CU's coverage of the game live for free at YouTube.com/CatEyeNetwork,  BCUAthletics.com/Radio, or on local radio waves at 1380 WELE in Daytona Beach.



Saturday, October 4
Opponent:  Alabama State (3-1, 1-0 SWAC)
Time: 3 p.m. EST
Location: Montgomery, Ala. | ASU Stadium
Watch: https://tv.swac.org/
Listen: Youtube.com/CatEyeNetwork / BCUAthletics.com/Radio
Live Stats: https://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statmonitr.php?gid=alst
Tickets: https://alasu.flicket.io/



Bethune-Cookman Football is 1-0 in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play for the first time in program history as they defeated Alabama A&M, 41-34, Saturday evening at Daytona Municipal Stadium. 
 
In the absence of usual starting quarterback Cornelius Brown, backup Eric Handley converted on a pair of third downs as the Bulldogs (3-2, 0-1 SWAC) stormed down to the B-CU 33. A Wildcat (2-3, 1-0 SWAC) sack and pass breakup set up a third-and-long before Handley scrambled to the 22.

A false start made a 4^th-and-2 a 4^th-and-7, forcing a field goal attempt for the Bulldogs. The first kick of the collegiate career of David Faulk sailed through the uprights to put the Bulldogs up 3-0.

That lead didn't last long as Cam Ransom took a deep shot to Javon Ross on B-CU's very first play from scrimmage. He took it 79 yards to the house to put B-CU on top, 7-0.

The B-CU defense held firm on the ensuing drive as a costly hands to the face penalty backed AAMU out of field goal range.

The Bulldogs grabbed some momentum back with an interception of Ransom at their 40-yard line. A 40-yard rush on third down set the Bulldogs up within the 10. Kolton Nero punched things in for AAMU to put them on top again, 10-7.

Just after the start of the second quarter, the Wildcats punched back. The Javon Ross show continued as he took a handoff from Ransom 41 yards into the endzone to make it a 14-10 game after a seven-play, 83-yard drive. It marks the first rushing touchdown in the career of Ross.

The furious back-and-forth continued as the B-CU defense forced a fumble just past midfield – Antwone Watts knocked the ball free from Nero before Naim Lassiter jumped on it to give the Cats possession early in the second quarter. B-CU could not turn it into points as Ransom was intercepted again deep into AAMU territory.

Yet another explosive play – this time for the Bulldogs, saw the visitors retake the lead at 17-14 on 72-yard touchdown pass to Frank Pierre.

A lengthy B-CU drive saw the Cats hold the ball for over six minutes, working 14 plays for 83 yards capped off by a Khamani Robinson 24-yard rushing score to make it 20-17 after a missed PAT.

Just eight seconds of game action later saw Gabe White intercept the first pass of the drive for AAMU, giving B-CU one more chance to add to the lead before the half with just over a minute to play.  
 
B-CU did just that, as Ransom found Rickie Shaw II on a 27-yard dime to send the Wildcats to the half with a 10-point lead at 27-17.
 
Alabama A&M recovered a bit after the break, forcing a quick B-CU punt and driving down the field to pull to within three at 27-24.

After Timmy McClain entered at QB for B-CU following a brief exit from the banged-up Ransom, Lorenzo Jenkins hauled in an excellent reaching grab, setting up Alihaja Scott Jr. for a rushing score to make it a ten-point lead once again for B-CU at 34-24.

The Bulldog offense continued to push back, answering yet again on third down with another touchdown as Handley found the tight end Travaunta Abner for the score to pull to within 34-31.

After a Bulldog drive that nearly ended in a fumble and an interception, AAMU converted on two fourth downs to get within the B-CU 10. A redzone stand saw the Cats stuff the Bulldogs at the two, forcing a field goal attempt that tied things at 34-34.  

The B-CU run game led the way as the Cats made their way down to near the AAMU 30 at the two-minute timeout. B-CU took the lead with a minute remaining as Ransom pitched it to Scott Jr. for the rushing score to make it 41-34.

The Bulldogs pushed towards midfield, facing a third and long at their own 45 with just 18 seconds to play. An incomplete pass brought up fourth down with 13 to go. Handley found a receiver at the B-CU 26 to give AAMU one last shot with six seconds left. Johnny Harris III broke up the final pass of the game to ice things at 41-34.



One of the preseason favorites heading into the 2025 season, Alabama State is off to a 3-1 start on the year and a 1-0 SWAC record after a 42-14 beatdown of Florida A&M a week ago in Tallahassee. The Hornets' lone loss of the season came at the hands of UAB in a tightly-contested 52-42 in the 2025 season opener. 

The Hornets own the top offense in the conference, scoring 37.8 points per game behind the efforts of quarterback Andrew Body. The Texas Southern transfer has completed nearly 70 percent of his passes this season for 12 touchdowns without an interception in four games. He has also rushed 38 times for 235 yards and three scores on over six yards per carry. Running back Jamarie Hostzclaw has rushed 56 times on the year for nearly five yards per carry as well as a score. 

The Hornets rank second in the SWAC in points allowed at 20.5 per game, allowing just over 200 yards per game on the ground to 225 in the air. DB Keane Lewis has one of two Alabama State interceptions, while safety Deontre Morris leads the team with one full sack on the season. 



OPENING ACT
For the first time in program history, the Wilcats are 1-0 to start SWAC play after defeating Alabama A&M, 41-34, on Saturday at Daytona Stadium. The Wildcats have won three straight at home dating back to a Nov. 2, 2024 win over Grambling State. It is the first three-game home winning streak for B-CU since the 2018-19 seasons. The Wildcats sit .500 or better in conference play for the first time at any point since joining the SWAC.

CATS IN THE POLLS
Bethune-Cookman Football finally saw its return to HBCU Coaches Polls this week, checking in at No. 10 in the D1 Top 10 poll according to HBCUSports.com, as well as No. 10 according to BOXTOROW and No. 10 according to Stan Becton's HBCU Power 10.

WATTS' WEEKLY HONOR
For the second straight week, the Wildcats earn a SWAC Player of the Week honor. This time it's safety Antwone Watts, who was named Co-Defensive Player of the Week after 13 tackles, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup in Saturday's win over Alabama A&M. It is the first weekly honor of Watts' career and the fourth of the season for the team.

PICK ME
After zero interceptions as a team through the first three weeks of the season, the Wildcats snagged four against Edward Waters and a fifth against Alabma A&M. This jolted the Cats to first in the SWAC in the stat, as well as 12th in the nation at the FCS level in total interceptions as a team.

SPREADING IT AROUND
Six different Wildcats have caught touchdown passes through five games this season, led by Maleek Huggins with four. Huggins' four receiving scores marks a career-high - it also surpasses any total by a B-CU wideout last season. Four touchdowns in a season is the most by a B-CU wide receiver in a season since tight end Kemari Averett hauled in seven scores in 2022. It is the most by a receiver since Marcus Riley finished that same season with five.

RUNNING WILD
Four different Wildcats have scored rushing touchdowns through five games this season, with Khamani Robinson, Cam Ransom, and Ali Scott Jr. recording two each, and Javon Ross with one of his own. Only four different Wildcats scored rushing touchdowns in the 2024 season.The Wildcats also have four different rushers with over 100 yards on the ground on the season, surpassing the 2024 total of three.

JUST GIVE IT TO "BON-BON"
In his freshman season, local product Javon "Bon-Bon" Ross - out of DeLand High - posted 10 receptions for 86 yards in nine games. Through five games in 2025, he has recorded 17 catches for 263 yards with a receiving and rushing touchdown.

A WIN OVER ALABAMA STATE WOULD...
• Mark the third win of the season for the Wildcats, tying a program-high since joining the SWAC.
• Be the 14th win for B-CU over Alabama State in 21 games, and their first win over the Hornets since joining the SWAC
• Mark the earliest B-CU has notched three wins in a season since they started the 2019 season 3-1.
• Be the first road win of the season for B-CU.
• Mark B-CU's twelfth win since joining the SWAC in 2021.
• Tie a program-high in SWAC wins in a season (2)
• Notch win number eight in the career of Head Coach Raymond Woodie.



Saturday marks the 21st meeting all-time between Bethune-Cookman and Alabama State. B-CU leads the all-time series, 13-7, but have lost four straight. Last time out, the Cats dropped a 26-21 decision to the Hornets at Daytona Stadium a season ago. B-CU has yet to defeat the Hornets since joining the SWAC. 


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