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ORLANDO – As with every Bethune-Cookman Football season, it all comes down to this – the Wildcats are set for the 45th-annual Florida Blue Florida Classic as they take on the Rattlers of Florida A&M on Saturday, November 22 at Camping World Stadium.
After four straight losses in the nation’s largest HBCU Football game, the Wildcats will look to return to glory with a win over their bitter rivals Saturday.
Tickets are available at FloridaClassic.org and Ticketmaster.
The game will be streamed live on ESPN+, with a tape delayed broadcast available on ESPNU later in the day Saturday.
Fans can listen to B-CU’s coverage of the game live for free at YouTube.com/CatEyeNetwork, BCUAthletics.com/Radio, or on local radio waves at 1380 WELE in Daytona Beach.
Saturday, November 22
Opponent: Florida A&M (5-5, 4-2 SWAC)
Time: 3:30 p.m. EST
Location: Orlando, FL | Camping World Stadiuma
Watch: https://plus.espn.com/
Listen: 1380 WELE / Youtube.com/CatEyeNetwork / BCUAthletics.com/Radio
Live Stats: http://famuathletics.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/220062B4D96D3051?CAMEFROM=CFC_FCS_WEB_FBFC_HOMEPAGE
The Wildcats were able to hang around against Jackson State, but couldn’t come up with enough big plays as they were defeated 28-13 at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. The loss dropped B-CU to 0-6 away from Daytona Beach this season.
Jackson State opened fast against Bethune-Cookman, scoring on its second play from scrimmage when QB Jared Lockhart hit Jameel Gardner Jr. for an 82-yard touchdown.
The Wildcats answered immediately as Javon Ross returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards to tie it—his second kick-return score of the season.
After the early fireworks, the game slowed. Both teams traded three-and-outs before JSU again drove into B-CU territory, but the Wildcats forced another punt. B-CU managed one first down on its next drive before punting back.
Jackson State leaned on its run game on the following possession but missed a 36-yard field goal. The Tigers then forced another quick punt and needed only four rushing plays to score again, with Travis Terrell Jr. punching it in from 25 yards for a 14-7 lead with 8:13 left in the half.
JSU’s defense continued to pressure B-CU, and another three-and-out set up a Tigers drive deep into Wildcats territory. This time, Matthew McKenzie intercepted a pass to stop the scoring chance. With :20 seconds left, Cam’Ron Ransom hit Josh Evans for 45 yards, setting up a 37-yard field goal to cut the deficit before halftime.
B-CU opened the third quarter with another field goal, pulling within one. Jackson State again drove deep into Wildcats territory, but Jaden Williams broke up a fourth-down pass to give B-CU the ball.
The momentum didn’t last long, as JSU forced a sack-fumble on Ransom. Six straight runs later, the Tigers extended their lead to 21-13 on a 6-yard score by Donerio Davenport.
Ransom pushed the Wildcats back inside JSU territory, but a costly block-in-the-back penalty led to a fourth-and-long. B-CU went for it, and Kam Sallis intercepted the pass.
After a series of punts, B-CU had one final chance with 1:46 left, advancing into the red zone. But on 3rd-and-5, B.J. Washington intercepted Ransom and returned it for a touchdown, sealing Jackson State’s 28-13 victory.
In the second year under head coach James Colzie II, the Rattlers have struggled to find their way, entering play this weekend with a 5-5 record and 4-2 record in SWAC play. FAMU is winners of back-to-back road games at Arkansas – Pine Bluff and Alabama A&M, but took healthy losses at home against the teeth of the SWAC East, with a 42-14 loss and 41-16 loss against Alabama State and Jackson State, respectively.
The Rattlers rank in the bottom half of the SWAC in scoring at 22.6 points per game and defense, allowing over 33 points per game to opponents. They rank above only Mississippi Valley State in rushing offense at only 125 yards per game on the ground. In the passing game, however, FAMU sits behind only B-CU at 234 yards per game and 14 touchdowns to only five picks.
Quarterback RJ Johnson has been a steady hand for FAMU, completing 66 percent of his passes for over 2000 yards and only one pick. Redshirt junior wideout Kenari Wilcher has been a reliable target, hauling in 31 passes for nearly 500 yards and three scores.
Defensively, the Rattlers have been most susceptible against the run, allowing the second-most yards per game on the ground in the SWAC at 192. They have been more formidable against the pass, allowing 215 yards per game in the air.
Redshirt Sophomore Antonion Camon leads the team with four sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss along with three pass breakups. Senior linebacker Jason Riles tops FAMU in tackles with 65 as well as six tackles for loss, three hurries, and a forced fumble.
JUST THE CLASSICS
Saturday’s game at Camping World Stadium marks the 45th-annual Florida Classic after the game began back in 1978. B-CU heads into this year’s game with a 19-25 overall record in the event. The Wildcats enter play Saturday having lost four straight Florida Blue Florida Classic games. The Wildcats had previously won nine straight in the historic HBCU Rivalry from 2011-2019.
WHO HAS THE EDGE
The Wildcats hold the edge over FAMU in total offense, rushing offense, rushing defense, passing offense, offensive efficiency, kick returns, sacks for, sacks allowed, interceptions, forced fumbles, fewest penalties, red zone offense, and time of possession.
BLINK AND YOU’LL MISS IT
In two out of the last three weeks, B-CU has returned its first kick of the game for a touchdown. Most recently, Javon Ross ran back B-CU’s first kickoff return 98-yards for a touchdown – the longest of his career. Ross also ran back the opening kick at home against Missisippi Valley State.
BIG HUG
With one game left to play, Maleek Huggins has already surpassed his own high-mark in receiving yards and touch downs from a year ago with 808 yards and seven scores on the year – more than any B-CU pass catcher since 2021, and the most by a Wide Receiver since Jawill Davis finished the 11-game 2015 season with 788 yards and six scores. Davis went on to sign with the New York Giants following the 2018 NFL draft.
WATTS WRAPS UP
B-CU Defensive Back Antwone Watts quietly ranks 12th in all of the FCS in solo tackles at over five per game. He leads all SWAC defensive players in the stat.
HOME FOR THE WEEKEND
Fourteen Wildcats on the 2025 football roster hail from Orlando or its surrounding areas.
OUTKICKED
In Saturday’s contest at Jackson State, kicker Juan Dominguez set the all-time single-season B-CU record in points scored by a kicker in a season at 72 with still one game to play. He surpassed the previous record of 69, set by Jesus Cortez in 2005.
A WIN OVER FLORIDA A&M WOULD…
• Mark the sixth win of the season for the Wildcats, setting a program-high since joining the SWAC and under the tenure of Coach Woodie.
• Be the 25th win all-time for B-CU over the Florida A&M in 79 meetings all-time.
• Mark B-CU’s fifteenth win since joining the SWAC in 2021.
• Set a program-high in SWAC wins in a season (5)
• Notch win number 12 in the career of Head Coach Raymond Woodie.
• Mark the first win of the season for the Wildcats away from home
• Notch the 20th Florida Classic win for B-CU
Saturday marks the 79th meeting all-time between B-CU and FAMU. The Rattlers own a 53-24-1 edge in the rivalry, having won four straight in the series.
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–#HailWildcats—
