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Bethune-Cookman found out the hard way what happens when it loses redshirt sophomore quarterback Jarod Rucker , its surprise leader this season.
With Rucker in the game against South Carolina State on Oct. 16, B-CC was deadlocked at 14 at the end of the third quarter. Then Rucker aggravated an ankle injury and watched from the sideline as the game slipped away.
After South Carolina State's 28-14 victory, the Wildcats (4-2, 3-1) need to win their next three games to have a shot at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title. B-CC got help Saturday from MEAC foe Hampton, which knocked off South Carolina State (5-2, 2-1). All three have only one conference loss, and B-CC travels to Hampton (7-1, 4-1) on Nov. 6.
Last week's bye gave Rucker time to heal, and he is expected to be ready for Saturday's game at North Carolina A&T (3-5, 1-3).
Rucker had never taken a college snap before this season but stepped in when starter Lawrence McCloud went down with a knee injury.
He quickly has become indispensable while running theWyattbone attack. Rucker has rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns and completed 51 of 76 passes for 756 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.
The loss to South Carolina State "shows you what (happens when) the triggerman is not in place," Wildcats coach Alvin Wyatt said. "When you lose the quarterback in the offense we run, you can kiss tomorrow goodbye."
TOUGH ENOUGH (SO FAR): Miami coach Larry Coker is understandably worried about his defense, which was so dominant early in the season.
No.4 Miami (6-0) gave up only 26 points in its first four games against Florida State, Louisiana Tech, Houston and Georgia Tech. But the past two weeks, the Hurricanes have allowed 69 points and 947 yards in victories over Louisville and North Carolina State.
Saturday, the Wolfpack rolled up 299 yards in the first half, and quarterback Jay Davis - a Clearwater Central Catholic graduate - exploited the weaknesses in Miami's pass defense Louisville exposed the week before. Davis finished 20-of-38 for 260 yards and four touchdowns.
"We are all concerned," Coker told the Miami Herald . "Some of those (N.C. State) touchdowns were very easy touchdowns.
"Obviously, people see us and know us now. When we played Florida State, I'm not sure if (our opponents) were real sure about us. Now we've played a few games, and people have seen us and see how (opponents) take advantage of some of the things we do. I think we have to respond back to that."
PILING ON: Wondering how Central Florida (0-7, 0-4 Mid-American Conference), the only winless I-A team in the nation and owner of an 11-game losing streak, could be so bad under George O'Leary , the 2000 national coach of the year at Georgia Tech?
Former coach Mike Kruczek apparently left the cupboard so bare that O'Leary's main concern is bringing in talent. The other key to success, experience, is coming the hard way. Most of the talent is young. O'Leary is regularly playing more than a dozen freshmen.
Sophomore quarterback Steven Moffett , who had started only three games coming into this season, is running the show. This is what O'Leary says about Moffett, but his words could describe the entire team: "He takes a step forward and takes a step back then two steps forward."
Don't look for a step forward this week as UCF travels to Marshall (4-3, 4-0). The Golden Knights have lost 10 in a row on the road dating to 2002.
TWO SHIPS PASSING: One team is on its way out of Division I-AA, the other on its way back in. They meet in the middle Saturday, when Florida Atlantic travels to Florida A&M for a matchup more interesting than meaningful.
Not much is on the line other than pride. FAU will try to preserve its 10-game road winning streak while FAMU will just try to preserve its self-esteem. The Rattlers (3-5), who will return to the MEAC next season after an aborted move to I-A, have struggled while playing a tough schedule as an independent.
FAU (5-1), which is moving to I-A and the Sun Belt Conference, has won three road games this season over I-A teams. The Owls lost their first game Saturday, 17-13 at home against Louisiana-Monroe.