Sunday, October 30, 2016

Bethune-Cookman Wildcats down DSU Hornets for Homecoming Victory

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Bethune-Cookman celebrated Homecoming 2016 in grand fashion Saturday, outdistancing an overmatched opponent by a lopsided score. Delaware State was the overmatched opponent, and 41-10 was the lopsided score in front of a Municipal Stadium crowd of 7,822 that briefly included Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Clinton spoke briefly to tailgating fans and was on the field for pre-game activities, including Senior Day ceremonies for the Wildcats' 2016 home finale. In all, 14 Wildcats played their final home game at "The Cage" under head coach Terry Sims.

Redshirt junior quarterback Larry Brihm, Jr. threw two touchdowns, and running back Cameron Rigby rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown as the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (2-5 overall, 2-3 MEAC) won their second consecutive game and posted their seventh consecutive Homecoming win dating back to 2010.



Brihm, who finished 14 of 24 for 167 yards, connected with Frank Brown and Brandon Brooks in the second half as the Wildcats scored on four consecutive possession in the final two quarters to pull away from a 13-3 halftime lead.

"Larry's still only at 85 percent, but 85 percent is pretty good," said B-CU Head Coach Terry Sims. "All wins are good wins. What I liked is that this was a good team win. We're continuing to hang in there; playing hard for each other and finishing games."

Rigby had 64 yards on B-CU's opening drive, scoring on a 1-yard run that gave Bethune-Cookman a 7-0 lead with 8:51 remaining in the opening quarter. He went relatively quiet until the final play of the third quarter when he gained 42 yards to set up a Wildcats touchdown.

Jamaruz Thompkins (Six carries for 44 yards) and redshirt freshman signal caller Akevious Williams also scored for the Wildcats, who outgained Delaware State 493-306 and forced three turnovers on the afternoon.

Uriel Hernandez had a pair of second quarter field goals – one set up by Jacquae Peart's interception, as the Wildcats settled for those scores while extending the lead to 13-3 just before the break.

Safety Diquan Richardson's interception on the Hornet's first possession of the second half helped Bethune-Cookman establish control, and Thompkins turned a draw play into a 39-yard romp that began the Wildcats pull away.

Aris Scott scored the lone Delaware State (0-8, 0-4 MEAC) touchdown on an 18-yard pass from reserve quarterback Gil Rivera in the fourth quarter.

Trevor Merrit registered the third Wildcats takeaway on a fourth quarter fumble recovery. Redshirt sophomore middle linebacker Trenton Bridges paced the defense with seven tackles, while Peart added a sack to his totals.

Freshman running back Tupac Isme added 52 yards to the Wildcats ground game, while Brown had four catches for 32 yards. Keavon Mitchell caught a 40-yarder from Brim that set up Hernandez's second field goal, and Jawill Davis extended his pass catching streak to 18 games.

Bethune-Cookman visits Morgan State next weekend in the first of three games away from municipal Stadium to conclude the 2016 campaign. The game against MSU is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 5, in Baltimore.

Follow Bethune-Cookman Football on Twitter (@BCUGridIron) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUathletics), Instagram (@BCUathletics), Snapchat (@BCUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/BCUathletics).

BOX SCORE

COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

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