Oct. 24, 2009

Final Stats

Contact B-CU SID Mark Johnson (386) 481-2206 -

Daytona Beach, Florida -

RAMS RUIN B-CU HOMECOMING FOR SECOND TIME IN THREE YEARS

Winston-Salem State stopped the Wildcats on the one yard line with 19 seconds remaining to preserve a 16-10 win over Bethune-Cookman.

B-CU's Androse Bell was stopped near the goal line on a fourth down play from the three yard line, lifting the Rams (1-6) to their first win of 2009.

Winston-Salem State edged the Wildcats (2-5) on Cookman's Homecoming for the second straight time as it beat B-CU 14-9 in the 2007 Homecoming game at Municipal Stadium.

FRANCOIS AT QB ON FINAL DRIVE

Sophomore QB Maurice Francois started the game at slot back and Junior QB Matthew Johnson was the starter and played most of the game, until Francois was inserted at QB in the final 5 minutes. B-CU drove the ball 72 yards in 11 plays in the final 5:21 with many of the yards from Francois. "He was better with the reads on the option and we went to Francois," said B-CU Coach Alvin Wyatt.  The Wildcats had two plays -third and goal from the four yard line with Francois being stopped on an option play and then Bell on a run up the middle. "We usually can put the ball in there with two tries," said Coach Wyatt. "We had fumbles (earlier in the game) and those were huge. We can't give the ball away and expect to win."

Bell's one yard run in the second quarter broke open a scoreless game. The Wildcats drove 80 yards in 19 plays with the TD drive taking up 11:25 minutes of possession time. Johnson had two first downs passing (8 yards to Ali Green and 13 yards to JeVaughn Reams) on the drive. And B-CU was also helped by a 15-yard interference penalty giving the Wildcats a first and goal from the six yard line.  Jonathan Moment rushed for three yards, Bell rushed two yards to the one yard line and scored with 3:29 remaining in the half.

A Francois fumble in the final two minutes gave the Rams the ball on the B-CU 21 with 1:14 to play in the half. WSSU's Jarrett Dunston threw 12 yards for a TD to cut the B-CU lead to 7-6 (extra point missed).

B-CU went ahead 10-6 on a 31 yard field goal by freshman kicker Kory Kowalski with 8:44 left in the third quarter.

10 POINT FOURTH QUARTER WINS IT FOR RAMS

Winston-Salem State, 275-pound fullback Cedrick Hickman rushed for 97 yards, most of them in the final 30 minutes. His runs keyed scoring drives in the fourth quarter. Hickman's 12 yard go-ahead TD run capped an 86-yard drive with 9:15 to play, giving WSSU its first leasd 13-10. Place kicker Landen Thayer booted a 36 yard FG with 5:29 to play upping the margin to 16-10 - setting up B-CU final drive.

WSSU had 267 total yards (205 rushing, 62 passing), and B-CU gained 217 (164 rushing, 53 passing).  Defensive leaders for the 'Cats included Ryan Davis and Kentrell Harris with seven tackles each. Harris forced and recovered a fumble in the ball game.  B-CU dominated the time of possession with 39:06 to WSSU's 20:54, and ran 69 plays to the Rams' 41 offensive plays in the contest, played in 80+ degree weather and sunshine.

Bethune-Cookman will be on the road back in MEAC play at North Carolina A & T's Homecoming game next Saturday, 1:30 PM kickoff in Greensboro.  B-CU's final home game of 2009 (not including the Florida Classic in Orlando, November 21 vs. FAMU) - is Senior Day at Municipal Stadium, 4 p.m., November 7.