One more FCS game tonight

[Big Dawg]

Bethune Cookman vs. Tennessee State

Yeah I know...MEAC and OVC blah blah blah...but this has the potential to be a great game. I would not sleep on these two teams at all

[Mr. C]

This game would have been a better ESPN television matchup than putting Mississippi Valley State against Florida A&M. Looking forward to this game between teams that are under-appreciated by a lot of FCS followers.

MVSU was out of its league with FAMU.

It is on ESPN3 for those who want to watch.

[Mr. C]

There is a lot of individual talent on these two teams. Tennessee State had three players on the College Sports Journal FCS Preseason All-Amerca Team and Bethune-Cookman has one.

(Link: http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/709-david-coulson)

Tennessee State-Kadeem Edwards, Steven Godbolt, A.C. Leonard.

Bethune-Cookman-LaBrandon Richardson.

[Mr. C]

B-CU holds defensively on the first series of the game to force a TSU punt.

[Mr. C]

Quick pass to move B-CU to the TSU 24 on the second play for the Wildcats offensively.

[Mr. C]

B-CU is just short of a first down around the TSU 17. Going for it on fourth and 3. Read option by Waters for a first and goal at the 7.

[Mr. C]

White to the 3.

[Mr. C]

3rd and four for B-CU after a nice defensive play.

[Mr. C]

TSU knocks away a pass at the goal line to force a field goal attempt of 21 yards. It is good.

7:13 left in the first

Bethune-Cookman 3, Tennessee State 0.

[ASU33]

I'm here at the game and BCU brought a nice group up with them.

[Mr. C]

Tennessee State looks like it is missing its quarterback Michael German tonight. German, a big-time playmaker, is out for two games after some eligibility issues. B-CU forces another punt.

[Mr. C]

Anyone know of another stream for this game? ESPN3 stalls too often for my liking.

[Mr. C]

I'm here at the game and BCU brought a nice group up with them.
What is the atmosphere like?

[Mr. C]

B-CU converts another zone play for a first down on 4th and short. Wildcats in the red zone again.

[Mr. C]

Godbolt, the TSU All-American CB, almost got a pick six.

[Mr. C]

TSU's defense comes up big again in the red zone. B-CU going again on 4th and short.

[Mr. C]

After a time out, B-CU decides to kick the field goal.

6-0 late in the first period.

[ASU33]

Its live. Both fan bases are definitely into it and so are the bands.

[Mr. C]

Wrap-around jet sweep to A.C. Leonard gets the Tigers to the B-CU 40. Nice call for TSU.

[Mr. C]

Well-time blitz for B-CU to force a 10-yard loss to midfield.

[Mr. C]

Its live. Both fan bases are definitely into it and so are the bands.
Both of these schools have great fans.

[Mr. C]

The color commentator is trashing on TSU's offensive line. Usually o-line play is a source of strength for the Tigers.

[Mr. C]

Some good looking food outside from today's tailgate. That catfish looked awesome and I have had dinner yet.

[ASU33]

This game should have been the ESPN game instead of the FAMU/Valley game. This atomsphere is much better than the past few John Merritt Classics I've been to.

[Mr. C]

One of these years, I'd love to expand my usual four games in three days and make it five in four days by covering one of these Sunday games. This would have been a fun one to be in the stadium for.

[Mr. C]

This game should have been the ESPN game instead of the FAMU/Valley game. This atomsphere is much better than the past few John Merritt Classics I've been to.
It starts with having the right teams on hand. The SWAC hasn't been very wise in who it has decided to send to the SWAC-MEAC Challenge is some recent years.

[Mr. C]

End of the First Period

Bethune-Cookman 6
Tennessee State 0

[Mr. C]

Blocked punt disaster for B-CU. TSU ball inside the 10. Mishandled snap for the Wildcats.

[Mr. C]

Hooks runs inside the five on first and goal.

[Mr. C]

Butler with a QB draw to the 3. 3rd down.

[Mr. C]

For some reason, the Tigers run again on 3rd down and Hooks is stacked up around the two. TSU field goal makes it 6-3 with 11:28 left in the half.

[Mr. C]

That drive shows how much TSU misses German. They are afraid to let Butler throw in key situations. B-CU is calling defense accordingly.

[Mr. C]

Big kickoff return by speedy freshman Darien Baker past the 40 and a personal foul out of bounds on TSU moves it into Tiger territory.

[Mr. C]

The PF was on TSU's place kicker, Godfrey.

[Mr. C]

B-CU is shuffling quarterbacks on each series. Jackie Wilson is on right now and has a 3rd and 2 at the 34. 1st down completion to Jordan.

[Mr. C]

Another 3rd down (and 8) coming up for B-CU at the 29. False start backs it up to the 34.

[Mr. C]

Wilson misses big-play WR Eddie Poole in the end zone.

[Mr. C]

TSU refuses a delay of game penalty so B-CU has to punt from the 34. Ball goes out inside the 10 with nine minutes left for the half.

[ASU33]

Both of these teams are having shaky play from the quarterbacks.

[Mr. C]

Three penalties on TSU and B-CU on the same play, holding, illegal block below the waist and face mask.

[Mr. C]

Both of these teams are having shaky play from the quarterbacks.
That is understandable for TSU with German sidelined. Not so much for B-CU.

[Mr. C]

Fumble on a pass for TSU that was short of the first down and the Tigers are lucky to recover at the B-CU 39 for a first down.

[Mr. C]

Butler finally makes a nice pass for 22 yards after two fakes to Wilson at the B-CU 17.

[Mr. C]

3rd and 10 for TSU after B-CU brings pressure again.

[Mr. C]

Sack for B-CU up the middle with 1:54 left in the half. 45 yard FG upcoming.

[Mr. C]

Godfrey's low kick from 44 yards just gets over the bar.

Tennessee State 6, Bethune-Cookman 6.

[Mr. C]

Halftime, 6-all in the John Merritt Classic.

[ASU33]

Tennessee State is retiring the jersey of Richard Dent at the half. Coach Herm and a few of the ESPN guys are also in the house tonight.

[dgtw]

Its live. Both fan bases are definitely into it and so are the bands.

Weren't you in Montgomery last night? I was there, but would have hated to drive to Nashville today. (Hope you liked the JSU band).

Enjoy the game.

[Mr. C]

Second half is underway, with B-CU getting the kickoff.

118-112 edge for B-CU in total offense in the first half.

[Mr. C]

Broderick Waters is starting the 2nd Half at QB for B-CU and has a big read option run of 14 yards on 1st down. The Wildcats are quickly into TSU territory.

[knucklehead]

Barnburner

[ASU33]

Weren't you in Montgomery last night? I was there, but would have hated to drive to Nashville today. (Hope you liked the JSU band).

Enjoy the game.


Yep! The Southerners were amazing! You guys have an outstanding marching band. We stayed in Montgomery last night and made the drive to Nashville around noon today. We'll be here until mid-day tomorrow then its back to the Atl. I'm off until Thursday so I'll have enough recovery time.

[Mr. C]

Only the second carry of the night for Ike Jackson pushes the ball to the TSU 35.

[GAD]

It starts with having the right teams on hand. The SWAC hasn't been very wise in who it has decided to send to the SWAC-MEAC Challenge is some recent years.
The conference doesn't decide who plays ESPN does.

[dgtw]

Glad you liked them. I did like your new stadium. The field looked great and I really liked the big screen in the end zone, especially since I was sitting right under it and couldn't see the other end of the field. The grassy knoll in the end zone was nice, would be fun to sit there on a warm afternoon (with dry grass). Everyone I came into contact with was nice.

[Mr. C]

A Waters fumbled snap sets the Wildcats back and then he throws a pick to FS Van Dyke on the next play at the five.

[Mr. C]

The conference doesn't decide who plays ESPN does.
I am sure that the conference has some input. Not sure why MVSU was picked when the Delta Demons have been down for so long.

[ASU33]

Glad you liked them. I did like your new stadium. The field looked great and I really liked the big screen in the end zone, especially since I was sitting right under it and couldn't see the other end of the field. The grassy knoll in the end zone was nice, would be fun to sit there on a warm afternoon (with dry grass). Everyone I came into contact with was nice.

I certainly think we should play you guys more often. I think both fan bases genuinely enjoy each other.

[Mr. C]

Leonard shows his stuff in getting yardage after tackle to near midfield for TSU.

[Mr. C]

Nice to see TSU getting Leonard involved in the 2nd Half. The Florida transfer makes another catch and the Tigers run for a 1st down down to the B-CU 38.

[Mr. C]

Another completion to Devon Wilson for a first down to the 27.

[Mr. C]

TSU is mixing its plays better and this nice drive that started at the 5 is down to the 16 for a first down.

[GAD]

I am sure that the conference has some input. Not sure why MVSU was picked when the Delta Demons have been down for so long.
I think they are just trying to get everybody in so they pair a team with a stong fan base(FAMU, Southern) vs. a team with a small fan base (Delaware State, MVSU)

[Mr. C]

Butler scrambles inside the 15, but TSU has an illegal motion penalty.

[Mr. C]

Butler with a nice scramble inside the 10. 3rd and short with 2:23 left in the third period.

[ASU33]

Great job by TSU mixing it up on this drive. BCUs linebacker and safeties have been very aggressive against ths run. Time some good ole play action.

[Mr. C]

I think they are just trying to get everybody in so they pair a team with a stong fan base(FAMU, Southern) vs. a team with a small fan base (Delaware State, MVSU)
Unfortunately, that doesn't always make for a good game in one of the marquee TV spots for the SWAC, the MEAC and FCS in general.

[Mr. C]

B-CU comes through again on 3rd and 3. 4th down and Godfrey is on for another FGA.

[Mr. C]

Godfrey hits from 26 yards out with 1:14 left in the third quarter.

Tennessee State 9, Bethune-Cookman 6.

[ASU33]

Another field goal! TSU up 9-6

[Mr. C]

Third Quarter has ended

[Mr. C]

Jackson runs past midfield for B-CU, which looks like it is determined to get physical.

[Mr. C]

Double move for Poole, but Wilson's pump fake and throw goes long. 4th and 5 and the Wildcats fail to continue the drive again. The punt just misses the coffin corner and TSU gets a touchback.

[Mr. C]

B-CU gets a good stop on a pass to Leonard. 4th and 1 at the 29.

[Mr. C]

Best punt of the night for TSU puts the ball at the B-CU 29, but an unsportsmanlike penalty on TSU with move it 15 yards to the 44. Bad mistake.

[Mr. C]

Wilson is sacked on an attempted screen on 1st down.

[Mr. C]

TE Jordan Murphy with a big 1st down pick up on 2nd and 14. Ball on the TSU 46 and Murphy goes in motion for a catch to the 30.

[ASU33]

BCU need points on this drive!

[Mr. C]

Poole down to the 25 on an out from Wilson

[Mr. C]

Counter to the 22. 3rd and 2.

[Mr. C]

Wilson read option with a nice fake to Jackson. 1st down at the 13.

[Mr. C]

Jackson inside zone play to the 11, 2nd and 8.

[Mr. C]

Play action pass and Poole is covered to force Wilson to throw it out of the end zone. 3rd and 8.

[Mr. C]

Wilson feels pressure and runs up the middle for 7. 4th and 1.

[Mr. C]

Waters runs from a weird formation and gets down to the 3. 1st and goal.

[Mr. C]

Jackson to inside the one.

[Mr. C]

B-CU jumps. 2nd and goal from the 6 with 5:19 left.

[Mr. C]

Bootleg pass from Wilson to Murphy, who leaps to the pylon for the first TD of the game. Murphy was huge on that drive. PAT is blocked.

B-CU 12, TSU 9 with five minutes to play.

[knucklehead]

Blocked PAT? Still no 7 pointer in this game. haha. But a TD at this point should seal it.

[ASU33]

That blocked extra point was big. It felt like a big momentum swinging play.

[Mr. C]

Martin Stevenson returns it to the TSU 47.

[Mr. C]

Offsides on B-CU

[Mr. C]

Huge unsportsmanlike penalty on TSU after the Tigers had moved near a 1st down on a run in B-CU territory

[Mr. C]

After a catch, Leonard fumbles. It goes out of bounds at the TSU 40. Leonard is having leg cramps. 3rd and long.

[Mr. C]

Incomplete after more B-CU pressure on Butler. A punt coming with 3:45 left.

[Mr. C]

Big punt return for the Wildcats to the B-CU 48. Two or three first downs should finish this one.

[Mr. C]

Delay of game when the clock is STOPPED isn't smart.

[Mr. C]

Jordan for a couple. 2nd and 13.

[Mr. C]

Bootleg run for Wilson. 3rd and 10 upcoming. TSU time out with 2:15 left.

[Mr. C]

Draw play to Jordan and B-CU will have to punt it back to TSU. The Tigers will need to go a long way in the two-minute drive.

[Mr. C]

Great return by Whitaker to the TSU 34. Great burst there.

[Mr. C]

Butler scrambles, but need to stay in the pocket and throw. Ball at the 35.

[Mr. C]

Dumb unsportsmanlike penalty at the 39 on B-CU will give TSU a first down at the Wildcat 46.

[Mr. C]

Ball to the 45 on a pass. 2nd and 9. False start on TSU.

[Mr. C]

2nd and 14 for TSU, and Butler is sacked by B-CU's Richardson. Great time for this big-time player to make a play.

[Mr. C]

It will be 3rd and 19 after a TSU time out with 51 seconds left.

[Mr. C]

Butler to Whitaker for a 1st down at the B-CU 43, but ineligible receiver downfield wipes it out. Butler started to run, but held up and found a receiver on the play.

[Mr. C]

Completion to Kelly for a first down at the B-CU 35.

[Mr. C]

TSU needs about 10 more yards to have a reasonable shot at a FG with 23 seconds left.

[Mr. C]

Scramble by Butler, who fumbles at the 32 with less than 10 seconds left.

[Mr. C]

Butler spikes the ball with 4 seconds left.

[Mr. C]

The clock is reset to six seconds.

[Mr. C]

After another spike, Godfrey is on for a 49-yard field goal with a second left

[Mr. C]

The kick is short and B-Cu wins 12-9.