Bethune-Cookman coasts to win at Citrus Bowl

Before Sunday's season opener, Bethune-Cookman^[1] coach Brian Jenkins said the decision on who to start at quarterback was a tough one.

Jamarr Robinson and his Wildcats teammates made it look like a no-brainer as they stomped Prairie View A&M 63-14 in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge before a Florida Citrus Bowl^[2] crowd of 17,337 and an ESPN^[3] national audience.

Robinson, a Maryland transfer, rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another as B-CU stormed out to a 42-7 lead at halftime matching the school record for most point in two quarters. The Wildcat offense also racked up 318 total yards in the opening half, finishing with an even 500.

Robinson totaled 251 yards passing and 30 rushing before yielding to David Blackwell after B-CU took a 49-7 lead on the opening drive of the second half. Isidore Jackson scored that touchdown, his second of the game. Jackie Wilson^[4] saw fourth-quarter action and led B-CU to a pair of scoring drives.

"It was a tight battle up to the very end," said Jenkins about the competition to replace Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference^[5] Player of The Year Matt Johnson^[6] at QB. "We're still confident with the other guys, but we felt that Jamaar should be the guy."

After Jarkevis Fields stuffed Prairie View A&M on fourth down to end the Panthers' opening possession, Robinson made his first impression quick and memorable, leading the Wildcats on a 64-yard scoring march.

He completed all four passes on the drive and capped off the drive with a 10-yard keeper that gave B-CU a 7-0 lead with 10:11 remaining in the opening quarter.

"I expected to come out quick," Robinson said.



"It just felt good to be back out there and to compete."

The punting game set up the next two Wildcat scores Isidore Jackson's 1-yarder with 1:24 remaining in the opening quarter and Robinson's second rush as Patrick Harris made a 27-yard return sparked by a Tavaris Bell block and Nick Addison's blocked punt return.

After that, B-CU's vaunted defense made the most of its opportunities to score as DJ Howard and Reggie Sandilands returned Panther fumbles for two of the Wildcats' four touchdowns in the second quarter.

"We're selfish on defense, even though we're a family," Sandilands said. "We all want to make a big play. Defense doesn't get to touch the ball that often. We execute our plays - -alignment, assignment and technique is what wins games."

Byron McLeod, one of eleven different Wildcat receivers to catch at least one pass, made it 42-0 on a three-yarder from Robinson 5:09 before halftime.

The Panthers broke the shutout on an 11-yard pass from Jonathan Troast to Deandre Cooper with 3:45 remaining in the half. Still, six turnovers spoiled the coaching debut of Heish Northern.

"Bethune-Cookman finished plays and we didn't," Northern said. "Mistakes turned the game into a calamity for us."

References

1. ^{^} Bethune-Cookman University (www.orlandosentinel.com)
2. ^{^} Florida Citrus Bowl (www.orlandosentinel.com)
3. ^{^} ESPN (tv network) (www.orlandosentinel.com)
4. ^{^} Jackie Wilson (www.orlandosentinel.com)
5. ^{^} Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (www.orlandosentinel.com)
6. ^{^} Matt Johnson (www.orlandosentinel.com)