After a trip across Interstate 4, the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats dropped their first game of the 2024 season against a Football Bowl Subdivision squad Saturday.
South Florida sped to 14 points in the first quarter and never trailed at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Powered by five rushing touchdowns, the Bulls defeated the Wildcats 48-3.
Byrum Brown threw for 152 yards and a touchdown and scrambled for 74 yards and another score. Kelly Joiner compiled 78 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Two other USF rushers — Mainland High School alum Ta’Ron Keith and Nay’Quan Wright — added a touchdown apiece.
Bethune-Cookman’s lone score came via a 48-yard field goal by Cade Hechter with 22 seconds left in the first half. The Bulls led 31-3 at halftime.
Lorenzo Jenkins was the Wildcats’ most effective weapon, with five catches for 53 yards. They used three quarterbacks — Cam Ransom, Luke Sprague and Micah Bowens. Ransom completed 12 of his 19 passes for 85 yards.
Bethune-Cookman tossed two picks, resulting in 14 USF points. The Bulls did not turn the ball over.
The Wildcats’ defense racked up three sacks and four tackles for loss. Dearis Thomas had a game-high eight tackles.
For South Florida, Mainland product Rodney Hill tied for the team lead with seven tackles.
Next Saturday, Bethune-Cookman will welcome Mercer to Daytona Stadium for its home opener at 3 p.m.
Stetson 41, Ave Maria 3
Ninety seconds into the second quarter, Ave Maria kicked a field goal to take a 3-0 lead.
That seemed to wake up the Stetson Hatters .
They grabbed a 6-3 advantage with two Daniel Holbrook field goals of their own before intermission and then exploded for 35 unanswered points in the second half to win their season opener 41-3 at Spec Martin Stadium.
LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES: Lake Mary celebrates 1st Florida LLWS champs with massive parade
Quarterback Brady Meitz tossed three touchdown passes, two to Dalton Bailey and another to Brayden Miller. Trey Clark ran for another score before Matt O’Conner tacked on a final one with a connection to Aanjay Feliciano in fourth-quarter garbage time.
Meitz went 26 of 38 for 338 yards. Bailey tallied eight catches for 157 yards.
Overall, the Hatters outgained the NAIA Gyrenes 497-174. Ave Maria fumbled twice. Stetson did not turn the ball over.
Defensively, Andrew Martin collected a Stetson-leading seven tackles, including 2½ for loss and 1½ sacks.
The Hatters will host Warner at 6 p.m. Saturday.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Bethune-Cookman falls to USF, Stetson beats Ave Maria in Week 1
Local News
Comments / 0