The perfect record is gone.
Entering the 2025 season, Bethune-Cookman had never lost to Florida International, despite the former being an FCS team and the latter residing in the FBS, the top level of college football. The Wildcats sat undefeated in four matchups.
The fifth time went differently.
On Friday, Aug. 29, the Panthers jumped out to a 28-3 lead in the second quarter and cruised to a 42-9 victory at Pitbull Stadium. It was their first game under new coach Willie Simmons, who previously helmed B-CU’s archrival, Florida A&M.
The contest started late due to a weather delay.
Once it finally kicked off, the Wildcats struck first when Juan Dominguez drilled a 35-yard field goal.
FIU rattled off the next 28 points with four rushing touchdowns. Kejon Owens had two, and Keyone Jenkins and Devonte Lyons tallied one apiece.
Bethune-Cookman’s Dominguez tacked on two more field goals — one in the final two minutes of the second quarter and another in the fourth.
Jenkins rumbled for another touchdown in the third period, pushing the Panthers’ advantage to 35-6. Anthony Carrie added a short TD on the ground in the fourth to wrap up the scoring.
Florida International outgained the Wildcats 456-346.
Bethune-Cookman used two quarterbacks. Timmy McClain saw the majority of the snaps, completing 18 of his 28 throws for 164 yards. Cam Ransom was 5 of 10 for 77 yards. DeLand High School alum Javon Ross was their top target, hauling in six receptions for 109 yards.
Marqui Johnson paced the Wildcats with 76 rushing yards. Antwone Watts made a team-high seven tackles.
B-CU will return to Miami next week for a Saturday meeting with the Hurricanes.
Webber International 31, Stetson 21
The Stetson Hatters will spend at least one more week looking for Mike Jasper’s first win as head coach.
After a weather delay Saturday, they fell to NAIA Webber International 31-21 at Spec Martin Stadium.
Cayden Betts put Stetson on the board with a 6-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. But in the second, the Warriors sped to 17 points and never trailed again.
The Hatters cut the deficit to 17-14 with a 20-yard toss from Kael Alexander to Anthony Benzija in the third quarter. Webber International answered with a 14-yard TD run a few minutes later.
Both tacked on scores in the fourth. The Hatters trimmed the margin back to three points with 13 minutes remaining on a 4-yard Troy Flowers scamper. The Warriors’ Anthony Fuller solidified the final score, though, with a 21-yard interception return.
Alexander hit on 16 of his 25 passes for 164 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Trey Clark picked up 74 yards on 14 carries.
Next Saturday, Stetson remains home for a showdown with Warner.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Bethune-Cookman loses perfect record vs. FIU; Stetson drops to NAIA squad
Reporting by Chris Vinel, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
