One of the SWAC’s top offenses started slow on Saturday but got rolling in the second half to take down the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
Bethune-Cookman defeated UAPB 31-14 at Daytona Stadium in Daytona Beach, Fla.
UAPB (3-5, 1-3 SWAC) held the Wildcats, who entered the game with the fourth-highest scoring offense in the SWAC, to 7 points on their first five drives. The Golden Lions fell behind 7-0 but tied the game with 3:15 remaining in the first half.
Bethune-Cookman (4-4, 3-1) responded to UAPB’s game-tying touchdown by scoring three touchdowns and a field goal on its next five possessions to pull away.
Wildcat quarterback Cam’Ron Ransom completed 13 of 20 passes for 170 yards and rushed 13 times for 28 yards and 2 touchdowns. Redshirt freshman Josh Evans led the receivers with one 53-yard catch. Three other Wildcats finished with at least 25 receiving yards.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Bethune rushed for 247 yards, led by freshman Khamani Robinson’s 9 carries for 62 yards and a touchdown. Eight Wildcats carried the ball, and 6 of them finished with at least 27 yards.
UAPB linebacker Danarius Hilliard led the defense with 10 tackles, including 1.5 sacks.
On offense, the Golden Lions punted seven times, lost one fumble and were stopped on fourth down twice. They scored one touchdown in each half.
After three punts and a fumble to start the game, UAPB got its first break late in the first half when defensive back Tavon Hardwick blocked a Wildcat punt. Defensive end Elijah Jenkins picked up the ball and returned it to the 1-yard line, setting up running back Jaylen Jennings for a touchdown run one play later to tie the game at 7 with 3:15 remaining before halftime.
Bethune-Cookman retook the lead on its next possession. Redshirt senior running back Ali Scott Jr. made it 14-7 with a 5-yard touchdown run. It was one of Scott’s six carries for 41 yards on that nine-play, 65-yard drive and ensured the Wildcats took a lead into halftime.
The Golden Lions forced a Bethune punt on the Wildcats’ first drive of the second half, but Ransom made it 21-7 on the next drive with a 2-yard touchdown run.
UAPB quarterback Christian Peters responded with a 34-yard touchdown pass to D’Avery Robinson to get the Golden Lions back within a possession, but the Wildcats outscored UAPB 10-0 the rest of the way. The touchdown pass was one of a handful of deep passes Peters attempted, but several others didn’t connect, either because the throw was slightly off target or because the receiver couldn’t hang on to the ball.
Peters completed 20 of 41 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown. True freshman Ellis Stewart led with a career-high 56 yards on 4 catches. Robinson followed with 5 grabs for 44 yards and a touchdown.
Jennings led UAPB’s rushing offense with 11 carries for 42 yards and a touchdown. Peters added 34 yards on 9 carries.
The Golden Lions are now 0-4 on the road this season with two more road games to go next month. This was Bethune-Cookman’s first homecoming win since 2018.