JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It’s been a long and challenging road for Bethune-Cookman’s football team. Since Hurricane Ian approached, the team has found a temporary home in four different cities.
Now, they’ll finally be able to return to Daytona Beach, albeit, after a difficult loss to Jackson State, 48-8 on Saturday at TIAA Bank Field.
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Jackson State came into the game undefeated and looked the part, scoring three touchdowns in the first quarter, and collecting a pair of second-half safeties en route to the Tiger’s sixth win of the year.
Bethune-Cookman, 1-5; 1-2 in SWAC games, had no answer for the Jackson State offense. Tiger’s quarterback Shedeur Sanders, son of the head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, completed 15 of his first 17 passes and finished the game with 272 passing yards and five touchdowns.
The Wildcats didn’t find the end zone until the early stages of the fourth quarter when Jalon Jones, a former Jackson State player, found Kemari Averett on a four-yard touchdown pass with 14:10 to play in the game. By then, the outcome was all but decided. Jones struggled against his old team, finishing 9/24 for 98 yards and the touchdown. He found himself under pressure most of the afternoon.
Originally, Sanders was not thrilled that the game was moved to an NFL stadium and expressed concern about fan attendance back in July.
“There’s so much momentum in the HBCU. So much momentum in the SWAC. Not playing in a place that could look far and thin with fans. I like sellouts. I like packed houses. That’s what we’re used to,” Sanders commented at the Southwestern Athletic Conference media day.
Contrary to Sanders’ comment, at the post-game conference, he recalled Saturday’s fan turnout as “phenomenal” with over 20,000 fans for both teams packing the stands.
“I’ve always been glad to come. I just like optics. When it comes to HBCUs, we got to give you the best optics we could possibly give you. So when they pan the audience on television, I like it packed; I don’t like emptiness.” Sanders said. “So, when you bring the HBCU team into a wonderful environment like this, the aesthetics are everything, but the fans’ support was phenomenal today. It was truly phenomenal and I am pleased. I am happy.”
Next up for Bethune Cookman is a chance to sleep in their own beds before heading to Mississippi Valley State for a matchup on Saturday. Jackson state returns home to face Campbell.