Bethune-Cookman beats Jackson St. in MEAC/SWAC Challenge
ATLANTA (AP) - Akevious Williams passed for a touchdown and ran for another and Bethune-Cookman dominated the second half to beat Jackson State 36-15 on Sunday at Georgia State Stadium in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge.
Trevor Merritt's 50-yard interception return got the Wildcats on the scoreboard midway through the third, Williams' TD run cut their deficit to 15-14 and Taron Mallard's 1-yard scoring catch made, and the ensuing 2-point conversion, with 2:33 remaining in the frame gave Bethune-Cookman the lead for good.
LaDarrien Wilson had a 5-yard rushing touchdown early in the fourth before Sam Marc capped the scoring with a 96-yard fumble return.
But as the football teams battled it out on the field, hundreds of people traveled to Atlanta to enjoy that HBCU camaraderie that that has endured for decades.
"I was hyped to bring my husband because he did not go to an HBCU and I wanted him to see the bands at halftime more than anything, plus he is a football fanatic," said Autumn Lyles of Sandy Springs who graduated from BCU in 2012.
" This historic games started 15 years because Historically Black College and Universities did not have a bowl game and this was an opportunity to showcase our teams which have great alumni and support," recalled John Grant , Executive Director of the MEAC SWAC Challenge and the Celebration Bowl.
Old college roommates and Greek sorority and fraternity colleagues reconnect, tailgate and reminisce about what is going on in their lives, where their children have gone to school and what jobs and cities they now enjoy.
"I have seen hats and paraphernalia from just about every HBCU in the country here today. I like the fellowship that goes along with this game. I have seen fraternity brothers I have not seen since 1989," said Rev. Eric Thomas senior pastor of Saint Peter Missionary Baptist Church and a former offensive lineman for North Carolina A&T.
Rev. Thomas has two sons, both of whom attend HBCU's. One is at Hampton University and the other plays football at Howard University in Washington DC.
The MEAC SWAC challenge almost sold out at the newly acquired stadium of Georgia State University, selling more than 20,000 tickets.
"For us this game is about the camaraderie. If we don't win the game, the question becomes who won the half time show. I have seen so many former classmates and sorority sisters, recalled Kimberly Blasingame, a 1994 graduate of Jackson State University who now lives in Houston, Texas.
Organizers say the game has a $8 million dollar economic impact on the city's southside during the Labor Day weekend. Several corporations in Atlanta understand the rich tradition and legacy of this game have bought into the success of the game as a part of their corporate social responsibility. Companies such as Cricket Wireless, Allstate, Honda Generators, Sun Trust and the Air Force Reserve are just some of the corporate community sponsors.