South Carolina State Holds Off Bethune-Cookman's Second-Half Rally, 31-21
The short version
- South Carolina State, the top-ranked HBCU team and No. 14 in the FCS Coaches Poll, beat Bethune-Cookman 31-21 on Sept. 26 at Daytona Stadium.
- Bethune-Cookman cut a 24-7 third-quarter deficit to 24-21 behind big plays from Tyler Jefferson, Rashon Brown and a double-pass TD from Isaiah Daniel to Josh Evans.
- Josh Shaw's 1-yard fourth-and-goal touchdown capped a clock-killing fourth-quarter drive to seal the win.
- The Bulldogs outgained the Wildcats 430-238; Mason Pickett-Hicks rushed for 136 yards.
- Bethune-Cookman (2-2) begins SWAC play Oct. 3 at home against Alabama State, airing on SWAC TV at 4 p.m.
The Wildcats erased most of a 17-point halftime deficit before the Bulldogs sealed the Sept. 26 win with a fourth-quarter touchdown drive in Daytona Beach.
South Carolina State, the top-ranked HBCU football team in the country, held off a determined Bethune-Cookman comeback to win 31-21 on Sept. 26 at Daytona Stadium. The Bulldogs arrived ranked 14th in the FCS Coaches Poll and kept their undefeated record intact.
Bethune-Cookman opened the scoring on its first possession, with Tyler Jefferson breaking away for a 63-yard touchdown run. South Carolina State led 24-7 at one point in the third quarter before the Wildcats clawed back.
The comeback gained steam when Rashon Brown ripped off a 45-yard touchdown run, his seventh rushing score in four games — already more than any Wildcat managed in the 2023, 2024 or 2025 seasons. Bethune-Cookman's defense then strip-sacked Bulldogs quarterback Keely Watson and recovered the fumble.
A minute later, a 35-yard double-pass touchdown from Isaiah Daniel to Josh Evans cut the deficit to 24-21 heading into the fourth quarter. Head coach Raymond Woodie credited halftime adjustments, an improved run game and consecutive defensive stops for the surge.
"We know we can play with them on any day — Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday," Wildcats defensive back Naim Lassiter said. "It doesn't matter. It's as simple as that."
After both teams traded punts early in the final period, South Carolina State took over with a three-point lead and 7:41 left. The Bulldogs ran the ball 10 consecutive times, gaining 84 yards and consuming 5:41 of clock before Josh Shaw plunged in from a yard out on fourth-and-goal to make it 31-21.
Shaw finished with 54 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Mason Pickett-Hicks led the ground attack with 136 yards, Tyler Smith added 91, and Watson threw for 146 yards and two scores. South Carolina State outgained Bethune-Cookman 430-238 in total yards.
Bethune-Cookman, now 2-2, opens its eight-game SWAC schedule on Oct. 3 with a 4 p.m. home game against Alabama State at Daytona Stadium, airing on SWAC TV. It is the Wildcats' fourth straight home contest. Under Woodie, the program went 9-15 in league play over his first three seasons, improving from consecutive 2-6 campaigns to 5-3 in 2025.
"We don't look at rankings and who's who," Woodie said. "We just go out and play." He added that with a young roster developing week to week, he expects the team to be in position to close out games like this one in the future.
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