ORANGEBURG, SC. - For the third straight week to open the season, the Wildcats are on the road as the meet former Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe and Celebration Bowl representative, South Carolina State, Saturday, September 13 at 6 p.m. at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. 

The game will be streamed live on ESPN+. Fans can listen to B-CU's coverage of the game live for free at YouTube.com/CatEyeNetwork, BCUAthletics.com/Radio, and locally in Daytona Beach at 1380 WELE


Saturday, September 6
Opponent:  South Carolina State (1-0)
Time: 6 p.m. EST
Location: Orangeburg, SC | Oliver C. Dawson Stadium
Watch: https://plus.espn.com/
Listen: https://wele1380thecat.com/ / Youtube.com/CatEyeNetwork / BCUAthletics.com/Radio
Live Stats: scsuathletics.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
Tickets: https://t.co/Vk8sH1OQF2



No. 5 University of Miami racked up 543 yards of total offense Saturday evening as the Hurricanes defeated FCS opponent Bethune-Cookman, 45-3 in front of an announced crowd of 60,617 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
 
For Bethune-Cookman (0-2), the Hurricanes marked their highest-ranked FBS team ever faced, surpassing the previously eighth-ranked and eventual national champion Florida State in 2013.
 
With fifth-ranked Miami (2-0) leading 14- after the opening quarter, the Hurricanes pushed the lead to 21 on their opening possession of the second stanza.
 
A drive that took 5:01 off the clock saw a mixture of quarterback Carson Beck and running back CharMar Brown march 68 yards down the field for what was the third score on three drives for the Canes. Beck hooked up with CJ Daniels through the air for a 13-yard play down the middle, followed two plays later by a Beck completion to Ray Ray Joseph for 18 yards into Bethune-Cookman territory. After Beck hooked up with Elija Lofton to take the ball down to the Wildcats two yard line, it was a Brown plunge up the middle to put the hosts up 21-0.
 
Bethune-Cookman got on the board following its best drive of the game late in the second quarter.
 
Quarterback Timmy McClain went a perfect 7-for-7 passing on the drive, connecting with four different receivers, including a 21-yard strike to Josh Evans that saw the Wildcats reach Miami territory for the first time on the evening. McClain completed three consecutive passes before Marqui Johnson rushed for two yards down to the Miami 15 yard line, allowing Juan Dominguez to register his fourth field goal of the season – this one a 32-yard kick that brought the Cats to within 21-3.
 
The Hurricanes would respond to complete a half in which they never punted, driving 65 yards in just under three minutes to tally their fourth touchdown of the game. Despite Beck connecting on his first 15 passes of the game – before an incompletion on the final drive for the Canes of the first half, it was Mark Fletcher Jr. with 17 yards rushing on the drive. Beck would cap the drive with a five-yard connection with Daniels to the corner of the end zone for a leaping catch that advanced the lead, 28-3.
 
That's where the score would stand at the half.
 
Miami marched down the field 75 yards on nine plays and took 4:21 off the clock to begin the second half, as Fletcher went into the end zone for his second score of the gamer on the ground. That allowed the host Hurricanes to lead 35-3.
 
The Canes made it 42-3 at the start of the fourth quarter when a pair of Emory Williams completions to Ny Carr and Brock Schott were followed for the rushing score by a Girard Pringle Jr. 30-yard scamper through the line and to the end zone. The PAT was followed by Will Rocha.
 
It didn't take Miami long to open the scoring, as the Hurricanes took just 1:58 off the clock on their first drive of the contest, in a drive that spanned 90 yards on just five plays. Beck finished the drive a perfect 4-for-4 passing, connecting with Daniels for a 40-yard score down the middle through the air – followed by the extra-point from Carter Davis to make it 7-0 just over five minutes into the game.
 
The Canes would strike again on their next drive, using a heavy dose of Fletcher as he covered 51 yards himself on the drive, culminating in a 16-yard score up the middle for the 14-0 advantage.
 
The Canes would finish the game's scoring with two minutes remaining on the strength of a Bert Auburn 31-yard field goal to produce the 45-3 final score.
 
Miami's offense was paced by Beck's 22-for-24 passing performance for 267 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Fletcher added 86 yards and two scores on the ground. And it was receiver Malachi Toney finishing the night with six receptions for 80 yards, while Daniels tallied two touchdowns on five receptions for 63 yards.
 
The Canes defense was highlighted by Kellen Wiley Jr. with five tackles.
 
Bethune-Cookman got steady play from the quarterback dup of McClain and Cam'Ron Ransom. McClain finished 13 of 16 passing for 86 yards. Ransom turned in a team-high 39 yards rushing on just five carries. Running back Khamani Robinson had 38 yards on nine carries for the Wildcats.
 
The Cats defense used a game-high tying nine tackles from Stephen Sparrow Jr. and Gabe White, respectively. Sparrow also added a quarterback sack, while White had a pair of pass deflections. And it was Dominguez who continued his perfect start kicking to the season, now sitting 4-for-4 on field goals early in the campaign.



South Carolina State is off to a 1-1 start on the year after a narrow 16-15 win over Wofford and a 38-10 loss at the hands of #10/11 South Carolina on September 6. The Bulldogs entered the year off a 9-3 resurgence in 2024 under then first-year head coach Chennis Berry, culminating in a 28-7 loss in the Cricket Celebration Bowl on December 14.

The Bulldogs were picked to repeat as MEAC champions according to conference head coaches and sports information directors. Three Bulldogs were named to preseason All-MEAC teams. Defensive back Jarod Washington and defensive lineman Josh Barker were named to the first team, while offensive lineman Roger Smith was named to the second team. 

South Carolina State has rushed for 238 yards on the season on just over two yards per attempt while passing for an average of 339 yards per game. Two quarterbacks have appeared in both games to start the season, with William Atkins IV leading the way with 299 yards on 29-48 passing. The Bulldogs two touchdowns on the season, however came off the arm of QB Ryan Stubblefield.

Defensively, defensive end Mike Lunz has led the way with three sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss, as well as a hurry.



OLD FRIENDS
Saturday's meeting with South Carolina State is the latest chapter in a storied history between the two former conference-mates. The Cats and Dogs have not faced off since 2022, but Saturday marks the 62nd meeting all-time between the two squads dating back to 1956. Only Florida A&M has faced off with B-CU more often than South Carolina State

QB CAROUSEL
Two quarterbacks saw action in both games to start the 2025 campaign. Both Cam Ransom and Timmy McClain have started a game this season. McClain leads the way in the pass ing department with 250 yards and a 70% completion percentage to Ransom's 90 yards and 50% completion percentage. Ransom has been the more effective rusher, however, running for 35 yards on 4.4 yards per carry to -4 yards for McClain on 12 rushes.

KICKING IT
Redshirt Junior Kicker Juan Domin guez has been perfect in his first four field goal attempts at B-CU with a long of 35. He becomes the first Wildcat to connect on his first four kicks in a season since Xavier McDonald made five straight to open the 2019 season - McDonald made only six field goals that season and did not make his fourth until the seventh game of the year.

END ZONE ALLERGIES
The B-CU offense has consisted of only four field goals through two games. It marks the second straight season in which the Wildcats have failed to record a touchdown through their first two contests.

STAYING DISCIPLINED
Though the first two games of the 2025 season, B-CU is averaging 47 penalty yards per game. The Wild cats struggled in the category last season, averaging over 64 penalty yards per game.

WHOSE BALL IS IT ANYWAY
Time of possession has not been an issue in the early season for the Wildcats, with B-CU and opponent time of possession separated by only 12 seconds through two games.



Saturday marks the 62ns meeting all-time between B-CU and South Carolina State. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series, 35-25-1, and have won three straight dating back to 2018.


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.