Bethune-Cookman 31, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 17

September 10, 2005

(DAYTONA BEACH, Fla) Bethune-Cookman College remained unbeaten and move to 2-0 on the year as they clawed past the Golden Lions of Arkansas-Pine Bluff by a count of 31-17 on Saturday afternoon in front of 5,624 patrons at Municipal Stadium in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Failing to get a first down until late in the first half, B-CC (2-0) found themselves in harsh waters early-on as UAPB (0-2) seemed to move the ball with ease until the defense stepped up to the challenge.

UAPB quarterback John Pierce, who threw for a game-high 94 yards (8 comp.-15 att.-2 int.), rolled to his right and tried to escape a sack by throwing the ball away, but it was scooped out of the air by the Wildcats’ Larry Summers (three tackles / two breakups) who then raced 70 yards down the sideline to the end zone to give B-CC a 6-0 lead. Place kicker Jesus Cortez (1-for-2 field goals) nailed the extra-point, and the ‘Cats led 7-0 midway through the first quarter.

But the Golden Lions of UAPB were here for a “Cat Fight”, and it showed early in the second quarter. Trailing 7-6, UAPB used a 43-yard punt return by Mauriel Covington to start 1st-and-10 at the Wildcats’ 27 yardline. A great defensive stand led by B-CC’s Ben Ballard and Terrance Cato forced UAPB’s John Heflin to connect on a 45-yard attempt to put the Golden Lions ahead, 9-7, midway through the second quarter.

B-CC senior quarterback Lawrence McCloud (2-for-4 passing / six yards) started the game, but Jimmie Russell entered with 12:14 remaining in the first half to mark his first play of the 2005 season.

Once in the game, the B-CC offense started to rev-up as the ‘Cats drove 39 yards in six plays that took up 3 minutes and 17 seconds … capped off by an Eric Weems rush from Russell’s option-pitch to the left side from six yards out to put the ‘Cats on top for good at 14-9.

Just before the half, defensive back Bobbie Williams snagged in his fourth interception of the season as he picked off UAPB’s John Pierce at the B-CC 38 yardline. That eventually set up a 30-yard field goal by Cortez to put the Wildcats of B-CC up 17-9 at the break.

In the third quarter, both defenses stepped up the challenge as neither team mustered up any points. Coincidentally, that ended B-CC’s scoring by quarter streak at six (6).

But in the fourth quarter, the “Wyatt Bone” offense seemed to take its toll on Mo Forte’s Golden Lions as the ‘Cats of B-CC scored 14 points on plays by Eric Weems (60 rush yds. / 53 receiving yds.) and Richard Woodbury (21 rush yds. / one TD). Weems scampered in on an option-pitch from Russell, and Woodbury did the same thing from the opposite side as the ‘Cats held a 31-9 lead late in the fourth quarter.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff immediately marched down the field on a methodical drive of nine plays that covered 62 yards in just under five minutes to chip into the B-CC lead at 31-15. The score was escorted by Martell Mallet’s four-yard run up the middle, and followed up with a two-point conversion run from Golden Lions’ quarterback Johnathan Moore to the right side.

With the victory, Taurean Charles led the way on defense for the ‘Cats with 12 tackles (eight assisted) which included two sacks and a fumble recovery. Bobbie Williams also jumped in with 10 tackles, one pass breakup and one interception. The only other ‘Cat in double-figures for tackles was Ben Ballard (nine assisted).

For the Golden Lions, they were paced defensively by Justin Bass and Clarence Fuller who each registered nine tackles.

Both offenses had positive days, but the Golden Lions were spotlighted by running back Tony Joseph who rushed for 72 yards, as well as quarterback Pierce who connected on eight passes for 94 yards and one touchdown.

As for the ‘Cats, they were sparked by Weems’ 60 yards and two touchdown performance. Also helping out in ways that stats couldn’t record was the entire offensive line that allowed holes to open up on the option by Russell who recorded 88 yards passing on 8-of-13 passing and chunked up 50 yards on the ground.

Bethune-Cookman will now prepare to face-off against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) foe South Carolina State at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida for the “Gateway Classic”. It will be the conference-opener for both teams. Meanwhile, the Golden Lions of UAPB will look to collect their first win of the season as they host Alabama State in their season home-opener in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.