DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP)—Jesus Cortez nailed a 35-yard field goal with 3:29 to play, lifting Bethune-Cookman past Norfolk State, 22-21, in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game Saturday.
Cortez’s kick came at the end of a 61-yard drive and enabled the Wildcats (3-1) to rally from an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit to stay unbeaten (2-0) in MEAC play.
Bethune-Cookman’s fourth-period points came on a two-yard plunge by Chauncey Hampton with 11:16 remaining, but Jimmie Russell’s two-point conversion try to even the score failed, leaving NSU ahead, 21-19.
On their next drive, Bethune-Cookman stalled short of a touchdown, but Cortez provided the difference with his game-deciding three-point kick.
Bethune-Cookman had taken the lead 7-0 during the first quarter when quarterback Jarod Rucker scored from the three. NSU quarterback Casey Hansen’s first of two TD passes, a 52-yarder to Emery Sammons, came with 12:57 left in the second period.
NSU pulled ahead 12-7 in the third quarter on Hansen’s 48-yard pass to Derrick Baker. Hansen then passed to James Callaham for a two-point conversion to make it 14-7.
The Wildcats’ Russell, who alternated at quarterback with Rucker, then tossed to Eric Weems, who made a 79-yard scoring pass, the fifth-longest in Wildcat history. Cortez’s extra-point kick was wide left, leaving NSU up, 14-13. The Spartans followed with a five-play, 81-yard scoring drive.
DeAngelo Branche ran the final 12 yards at the 1:43 mark of the third quarter, and Gomez’s PAT provided NSU a 21-13 edge.
Head to Head - Week 4
| Team | Total Yds | Pass Yds | Rush Yds | First Downs | 3rdD% | Pen./Yds | Turnovers | Time of Poss. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk State | 388 | 257 | 131 | 22 | 30.8% | 7/45 | 4 | 29:33 |
| Bethune-Cookman | 356 | 207 | 149 | 19 | 45.5% | 8/66 | 2 | 30:27 |