Bethune-Cookman defeats Hampton on controversial call

By Uba Okereke

Bethune-Cookman held on for a 35-31 win over Hampton early Friday in another Black college football showdown in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).

Pirates QB David Legree threw an assumed game winning 12 yard touchdown pass to Isiah Thomas as time expired but officials ruled via instant replay that Thomas did not have full possession as he was being tackled in the end zone.

BCU led 14-3 early in the first quarter before Hampton scored 21 unanswered points to lead 24-14 at halftime.

Bethune-Cookman was aggressive on the opening drive of the second half which ended with a six yard touchdown catch by Eddie Poole, cutting Hampton’s lead to 24-21. The Wildcats scored another touchdown following a Pirates’ 3-and-out to lead 28-24 with 37 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Hampton swung momentum back into its favor in the fourth quarter with an interception for a touchdown to lead 35-31.

BCU got their final score a miraculous 13 yard touchdown pass from QB Jackie Wilson to Eddie Poole with 2:50 left in the game. Wilson filled in for starting QB Jamarr Robinson who was sidelined with a leg injury.

The contest was aired on ESPNU and was delayed 52 minutes due to inclement weather.

Bethune-Cookman (2-1, 1- 1) won its fourth consecutive game against Hampton (2-2, 1-1).

Rodney Scott had 131 yards rushing for the Wildcats. Bethune-Cookman’s next game is at Miami (FL) on Oct. 1 while Hampton has a bye before playing Princeton on Oct. 8.

FAMU’s comeback nets  12^th win in Atlanta Football Classic

Florida A&M defeated Southern University 38-33 Saturday in the 22^nd annual Atlanta Football Classic at the Georgia Dome.

Southern led 19-17 at halftime on a 1 yard touchdown run by Sylvester Nzekwe with 36 seconds remaining in the half.

The Jaguars increased their lead to 33-17 in the third quarter following a punt return and an interception returned for a touchdown.

FAMU’s rally started late in the third quarter and into the fourth quarter with two touchdown runs by running back Lavante Page, cutting the SU lead to 33-31 with 11:09 to play.

Page then scored the go-ahead touchdown with 3:38 left in the game and the Rattlers completed the comeback with 21 unanswered points in a 15 plus minute span. Cornerback Marvin Ross sealed the win for Florida A&M with an interception with less than a minute to play in regulation.

Levante Page ended the day with 73 rushing yards on 15 carries and a school record five touchdowns.

This was FAMU’s 12^th win in 16 appearances at the Atlanta Football Classic. Southern has only two wins in five contests.

The Rattlers join Tennessee State, Southern and South Carolina State as the only schools to participate in the game since its inception in 1989. It was played at Grant Field for three years and moved in 1992 to its permanent home at the Georgia Dome.

The Classic was sponsored by Bank of America and 100 Black Men of Atlanta and aired on the Versus Channel, a division of the NBC family of networks.

Okereke is a contributing writer for Regal Black Men's Magazine, a publication dedicated to the African American community.