PINE BLUFF, Ark. – The Wildcats will look to take things one game at a time as they face a tough road test against Arkansas - Pine Bluff at Simmons Bank Field.

Bethune-Cookman is coming off an important home victory over Jackson State and will look to win a third game in a row for the second-consecutive season.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. EST on Halloween, with the game being streamed on SWAC TV.



Saturday, October 31st
Opponent: Arkansas - Pine Bluff (4-3, 2-2 SWAC)
Time: 3 p.m. EST
Location: Pine Bluff, Ark. | Simmons Bank Field
Watch: https://tv.swac.org
Listen: https://wele1380thecat.com/ / Youtube.com/CatEyeNetwork / BCUAthletics.com/Radio
Live Stats: https://uapblionsroar.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
Tickets: https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2new/team.asp?SponsorID=19270

Bethune-Cookman (5-3, 3-1) pulled off a thrilling 24-20 upset over No. 22 Jackson State at Daytona Stadium, scoring the game-winning touchdown with just 34 seconds remaining.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 17-7 halftime lead behind a touchdown pass from Tyler Jefferson to Josh Evans and a 33-yard touchdown run from Rashon Brown.

Jackson State battled back in the second half, eventually taking a 20-17 lead with 3:00 remaining after a B-CU special teams miscue.

With their backs against the wall, the Wildcats marched down the field, highlighted by a 36-yard run from Deanwar Johnson.

On third-and-11 from the JSU 19, Jefferson scrambled and found Rickie Shaw II in the corner of the end zone for the game-winning score.

Jackson State reached field-goal range on the ensuing possession, but Andrew Ivaniciuc missed a 49-yard attempt as the Wildcats secured the upset victory.

Arkansas - Pine Bluff is 4-3 overall this season and 2-2 in conference play. They have picked up road wins over Southern and Florida A&M but lost to Alabama State at home and Alcorn State in Memphis at the Southern Heritage Classic.

The Golden Lions are a strong offensive team, ranking fifth in the SWAC in scoring and yards per game. They are known for a stout running attack, sitting second in rushing yards per game and yards per carry.

UAPB's running back duo of Za'Marion Webber and Jaylen Jennings have combined for 137 carries, 752 yards, and nine rushing touchdowns (5.4 yards per carry).

Garrison Davis and Jack Schierholz have both seen significant action at quarterback this season. The redshirt freshman Davis leads the team with 709 passing yards and 11 touchdowns. 

Meanwhile Schierholz and running back Jalen Williams combined for just 140 passing yards in the Golden Lions' win over the Rattlers.

Defensively, UAPB sits sixth in points allowed but 11th in yards allowed per game. They are excellent against the run, allowing just 127.3 yards on the ground per game (3rd), but they are getting gashed for 317.9 yards per game through the air, second-worst in the country.'

Tylan Cole leads the team with 5.0 sacks and is coming off a two-sack outing against FAMU. Keiyhaun Wilks owns a team-high 7.5 tackles for loss, while MIchael Henderson and Raylen Spratt each have two interception in the secondary.




SCOREBOARD WATCHING
It's the latest in any season since joining the SWAC that the Wildcats find themselves firmly within the SWAC 
Championship Game conversation, with B-CU currently sitting tied atop the SWAC East standings with Alabama 
A&M at 3-1 in conference play. After the 55-17 drubbing of the Wildcats in Huntsville, the Bulldogs control the 
head-to-head, but, should the Wildcats win out, a Bulldog loss down the stretch (which includes tough matchups 
like Prairie View A&M and Alabama State in the Magic City Classic) would place the Cats in pole position to not 
only represent the SWAC East in the game, but potentially host it. 

ROAD WOES
B-CU has struggled mightily on the road since joining the SWAC in 2021. The Wildcats have won only four road 
games in that span, with three of the four coming at the home of Mississippi Valley State. The only other road win 
for B-CU in that span came all the way back in 2021, when B-CU defeated Grambling State, 31-14 in "The Hole" for 
their second win of the season at the time. With two of the final four games of the season sending B-CU on the 
road, the Cats will need to improve that record for a shot at a title.

GROUNDED
Bethune-Cookman's offense has excelled on the ground, averaging a conference-best 220.9 yards per game rushing. 
That number ranks sixth nationally at the FCS level. They have done so on the back of Rashon Brown, who has already 
reached nine rushing scores on the year (1st SWAC, 11th FCS). The aerial attack has not enjoyed the same success, with 
B-CU sitting in the bottom-10 nationally in passing offense, passes had intercepted, completion percentage, passing 
yards per completion, and passing efficiency. 

POUND THE ROCK
In 2024, the Bethune-Cookman rushing attack topped 100 yards in five of 
twelve games on the year. In 28 games since over the 2025 and 2026 season, 
B-CU has topped the century mark 24 times, including in all eight games 
to start this season. Saturday's game against JSU was only the second game 
this season - the first being UCF - that B-CU did not record a rushing score. 

BIG WASHBURN
Through eight games this season, Isaiah Washburn has recorded 10 tackles
for-loss and 3.5 sacks. His 10 TFLs are the ninth-most by a SWAC defender 
this year, and the most by a Wildcat in a season since Dearis Thomas record
ed 13.5 over 12 games in 2023. 



Bethune-Cookman has never lost to Arkansas - Pine Bluff (3-0).


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