GRAMBLING, La. – Hayden Benoit's four touchdown passes helped Grambling defeat Bethune-Cookman 31-23 at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium. The loss dropped the Wildcats to 4-2 in the SWAC and snaps a three-game winning streak.


 Bethune-Cookman (5-5, 4-2 SWAC) turned the ball over on the first play from scrimmage as Grambling's Marcellius Johnson forced a sack fumble on quarterback Cam'Ron Ransom. The fumble put the Tigers in great field position at the BCU 14-yard line, but the Wildcats' defense held strong, forcing the Tigers to settle for a field goal.

After each team exchanged punts, the Wildcats had a 3rd & 1 from their own 42 yard line, but could not convert. B-CU then decided to leave the offense on the field on 4th & 1. Once again, the Tigers made the stop as B-CU fumbled on the fourth-down rush attempt. Grambling quickly took advantage of the good field-position, scoring a 38-yard touchdown off a pass from Hayden Benoit to Andrew Frazier.

On B-CU ensuing drive, Timmy McClain replaced Ransom at quarterback. After two three-and-outs by both side, the Wildcats were able to put together a drive deep into Grambling territory. Timmy McClain completed two passes to his tight-end Myles Morales to bring B-CU inside the 10-yard line going into the second quarter. The Tigers were able to keep the Cats out of the endzone, as Juan Dominguez booted a 30-yard field-goal to make it a 10-3 game.

Defensively, the Wildcats forced another three-and-out on the Tiger's next drive. Timmy McClain was then able to guide his team down the field, eventually scoring an 11-yard touchdown on a designed run. For the drive, McClain completed three of his four attempts for 44 yards along with the rushing score.

Grambling quickly responded with a touchdown drive of their own. The Tigers began the drive with a 21-yard run by Andre Crews. Three plays later, Hayden Benoit threw his second touchdown pass, a 59-yarder to Nae'Saan Dickerson to take the lead 7-10.

The Wildcats struck back immediately, as Timmy McClain threw a 61-yard touchdown pass to Maleek Huggins to tie the game on the first play of the drive.

The offensive back-and-forth continued as Grambling once again found the end zone thanks to a five-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Williams II, giving the Tigers a 24-17 lead.

B-CU was able to cut into the lead before the half on a 39-yard Juan Dominguez field-goal.

The second half began with tempers flaring on both sides as nine players were given unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on the opening kickoff.

Both sides punted on their first drives of the half. On Grambing's second drive, the Tigers were able to get to inside the Wildcats' 35-yard line, but Johnny Harris III collected his second interception on the season to eliminate the scoring threat.

With the ball and momentum on their side, the Wildcats found themselves driving into GSU territory. But Timmy McClain suffered an injury on a five-yard rushing attempt, which drew a personal foul penalty on the Tigers. Cam'Ron Ransom returned as quarterback to replace him in the fourth quarter.

Three plays later, the Tigers' Quintin Talley forced another sack fumble, with Grambling able to recover at their own 33-yard line.

B-CU's defense forced a punt on the next drive, but the punter Johnny Schifano was able to pin the Wildcats back deep inside their own 5-yard line, where they struggled to operate.

After a B-CU punt gave them great field position, the Tigers were able to put the game away thanks to a strong rushing attack. The drive was capped off by a touchdown pass to Keith Jones Jr., Hayden Benoit's fourth touchdown pass of the game, to make it 31-20 with 4:23 to go.

Following a quick field-goal drive, B-CU failed to recover the onside kick, giving Grambling the 31-23 victory.

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• Timmy McClain finished 15/18 with 224 yards and two touchdowns (one throwing and one rushing). He also added 27 yards on the ground in a little over two quarters of game action.
• Malik Huggins led the Cats in receiving with six catches for 122 yards and a score.
• B-CU averaged just 0.9 yards per carry.
• Antone Watts once again led the Wildcats in tackles with eight total.
• Johnny Harris III collected his second interception of the season.

The Wildcats will be back on the road next Saturday to take on Jackson State. The game will kickoff at 1 p.m. from Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.


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