Daytona Beach, Fla. — A rough afternoon in the rain saw Southern University struggle to find rhythm on offense as Bethune-Cookman rolled to a 45-14 win Saturday at Daytona Stadium.
Despite a quick strike to open the game, the Jaguars couldn't sustain momentum as the Wildcats scored 38 unanswered points before a late Southern touchdown.
Southern (1–5, 0–2 SWAC) jumped ahead early when quarterback Cam'Ron McCoy connected with Darren Morris for a 71-yard touchdown on the Jaguars' first possession. But Bethune-Cookman (3–4, 2–1 SWAC) answered with a methodical 13-play, 83-yard drive capped by quarterback TD run 13-yard scoring run to tie it 7–7.
Southern found the end zone again in the fourth when backup QB Ashton Strother led an 11-play, 78-yard drive capped by a 15-yard touchdown pass to Malachi Jackson, but it was too little, too late.
BY THE NUMBERS
-
Total Yards: BCU 498 | SU 267
-
Rushing: BCU 227 (5.3 avg) | SU 65 (3.0 avg)
-
Passing: BCU 271 (30–39–0) | SU 202 (14–26–0)
-
Time of Possession: BCU 41:41 | SU 18:19
-
Third Downs: BCU 8–13 | SU 1–9
SOUTHERN LEADERS
KEYS TO THE GAME
-
Possession & Pacing: Bethune-Cookman dominated time of possession by more than 23 minutes, keeping Southern's defense on the field.
-
Third-Down Execution: The Jaguars went just 1-of-9 on third downs, struggling to extend drives.
-
Defensive Fatigue: 82 offensive plays by BCU wore down Southern's front; four different Wildcats scored rushing touchdowns.
-
Early Momentum Lost: After the opening 71-yard strike, Southern gained just 196 yards the rest of the way.
5. Wildcat Balance: BCU's 271 passing yards and 227 rushing yards showcased a complete, mistake-free effort (no turnovers, no interceptions).
UP NEXT
Southern will be back in action on Saturday, October 18th for Homecoming 2025 and the take on Prairie View A&M Panthers. The Game is slated for a 4 PM kickoff and will be live on HBCU GO.
FOLLOW THE JAGUARS
For complete coverage of Southern University Athletics, please follow the Jaguars on social media at @SouthernUsports(Twitter), @SouthernUJaguars(Facebook), @southernusports(Instagram), or visit the official home of Southern University Athletics at www.gojagsports.com.
#GoJags #SouthernIsTheStandard #ProwlOn #BeyondTheStandard #TeamNow #SeanStrong25