Bethune-Cookman Edges Jackson State 24-21 as Tigers Drop Second Road Game

Bethune-Cookman put up two touchdown passes from Tyler Jefferson to build a 14-point first-quarter lead, then held off Jackson State for a 24-21 win in Daytona. The Tigers reached the Wildcats' 20-yard line on three occasions but scored on just one of those trips. Bethune-Cookman converted two of three redzone chances.

Jackson State opened its first three possessions with a missed field goal, a botched punt attempt and a completed punt. The Tigers were penalized once for 10 yards over the game. Total yardage between the two teams was nearly even, according to the Jackson Advocate's game account.

T.C. Taylor said the first half cost his team. "We been kind of sleepwalking in the first half and it finally caught up with us," he said. "We got to figure out ways to come out with a faster start rather than just figuring out ways to make adjustments at halftime." He added, "That's on me as a head coach."

Taylor also credited Bethune-Cookman coach Woodie Raymond's staff. "It was a great battle in Daytona," Taylor said. "Two teams got after each other and it came down to a last second kick. Hats off to Coach Woodie (Raymond) and that staff, they did a great job of taking away the running game and causing turnovers (on downs)."

The result left Jackson State at 6-2 overall and 3-2 in conference play. Both conference losses have come away from Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, where the Tigers have won consistently. The team had returned to form at home after a loss at Grambling two weeks earlier and a win over Florida A&M the week after that.

Jackson State is idle this week. The Tigers return to Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on November 7 to face in-state rival Mississippi Valley, with kickoff set for 2:00 PM.