Skip To Main Content

Clark Atlanta University Athletics

David Wright vs BCU
Justin Mordecai/Clark Atlanta Athletics
38
Winner Clark Atlanta CAU 3-0 , 2-0
37
Bethune-Cookman BCU 0-4 , 0-0
Winner
Clark Atlanta CAU
3-0 , 2-0
38
Final
37
Bethune-Cookman BCU
0-4 , 0-0
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
CAU Clark Atlanta 7 7 14 10 38
BCU Bethune-Cookman 28 6 3 0 37

Game Recap: Football | | Justin Mordecai, Director of Athletic Communications

Leonardo Cabrera's Game-Winning Field Goal Cements Clark Atlanta's Comeback Win Over Bethune-Cookman

Panthers football improves to first 3-0-1 start in program history

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In both teams' first meeting in 59 years, an old SIAC rivalry was renewed as Clark Atlanta (3-0-1) took down Division I Bethune-Cookman (0-4), 38-37, on a 55-yard field goal by true freshman Leonardo Cabrera with three seconds left on the clock. With the win, Clark Atlanta improves to its first 3-0-1 start in the existence of Clark Atlanta University. David Wright III led all passers with four touchdowns, 374 yards, 30-49 on completions, and one interception. 

Saturday's matchup began rough for the Panthers after Bethune-Cookman mounted a 21-0 lead over Clark Atlanta with 4:21 left in the first quarter. The Panthers found life after David Wright III found David Martin on an 11-yard touchdown strike to put the Panthers on the board (21-7) with just under three minutes left in the first frame. 

The Wildcats tacked on two more scores to take a 31-7 lead at the 10:31 mark in the second quarter. Clark Atlanta continued to fight though as Delancey Tolliver caught his first touchdown pass of the season on a 5-yard pass from Armone Harris on a trick play with 1:47 left to play in the first half. Bethune kicked in another field goal to close out the second half with a 20-point lead over Clark Atlanta. 

The second half was a completely different story for the Panthers as they outscored the Wildcats 14-3 in the third quarter to cut the deficit. Armone Harris scored the Panthers' first touchdown of the second half to cap off a nine-play, 98-yard drive to bring CAU within 13 points. The Panthers forced a punt on the following drive to get the ball back on Bethune's one-yard line. For the second-straight drive Clark Atlanta marched the length of the field on a 10-play, 99-yard touchdown drive which ended with another Armone Harris touchdown from 27 yards out, bringing the Panthers within six points (34-28). 

The Wildcats closed out the third quarter with a 37-yard field goal to extend their lead back to  (37-28) headed into the fourth quarter. 

Both teams held each other scoreless for most of the fourth quarter until Armone Harris accounted for his fourth touchdown of the day on a seven-yard toss from Wright III to cut the margin down to two points at 37-35 with 4:12 left to play in regulation. 

The Wildcats got the ball back with 4:05 left to play but the Panthers' defense held stout after Eric Searcy registered a crucial sack on third down for a 14-yard loss at the two-minute warning. Bethune elected to punt and downed the Panthers on their one-yard line. Clark Atlanta faced a crucial fourth down with five yards to go when David Wright found Jamal Jones for a seven-yard gain to keep the drive alive. 

On third down, David Wright III threw a deep strike to Ronnie West which came up incomplete however Bethune's Johnny Harris III committed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to put the Panthers on the Wildcats' 44-yard line, keeping the drive alive. With just 15 seconds remaining, Wright III found David Martin again for six yards to put the Panthers just outside of field goal range. After an incomplete pass left only three seconds on the clock for the Panthers, it all came down to freshman kicker Leonardo Cabrera whose career-long was 46 yards before today. In a miraculous finish for the Panthers, Cabrera kicked it through from 55 yards out to power the Panthers past the Wildcats inside Daytona Stadium. 

Armone Harris finished with six catches for 94 yards, three receiving touchdowns, and one passing touchdown. Jamal Jones registered a season-high 127 receiving yards on 10 catches for CAU. David Martin also recorded season highs in catches (8) and receiving yards (85) with one touchdown. 

On the defensive side of the ball, cornerback Dahlil Wilkins and James Summersett each led the Panthers in total tackles with eight apiece in the win. Eric Searcy (1.5) and Brandon Givens (1.0) each recorded a sack. The Panthers outscored the Wildcats 24-3 in the second half to secure their first win over a Division I program in the history of Clark Atlanta University. 

UP NEXT

Clark Atlanta looks to remain undefeated as they take on Lane College in the 2024 Bluff City Classic at Crump Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. CT on ESPN+. 

----
Follow Clark Atlanta Athletics 

For complete coverage of Clark Atlanta athletics, please follow the Panthers on social media at @caupanthers (Twitter), CAUAthletics (Facebook), and @cauathletics (Instagram).
Print Friendly Version
Skip Ad
Clark Atlanta University Academic Site -- Opens in new window SIAC Conference Website -- Opens in new window NCAA D2 Website -- Opens in new window