Football Falls To Bethune-Cookman, 30-17

Saturday, September 7

Miami Gardens, Fla.

1:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

2-0

Bethune-Cookman

0-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Bethune-Cookman

Florida Atlantic

9/7/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

Sept 7, 2002

Box Score

MIAMI (AP) - Bethune-Cookman scored three touchdowns in a three-minute span late in the fourth quarter to rally past Florida Atlantic 30-17 on Saturday afternoon.

Allen Suber threw for two touchdowns, ran for another and completed a two-point conversion pass to key the Wildcats' late surge and hand Florida Atlantic its second consecutive loss to open the season.

Rashean Mathis had three interceptions for Bethune-Cookman (2-0), including an 83-yard return for a game-sealing touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Garrett Jahn threw for 125 yards and a touchdown for Florida Atlantic, which led 17-9 with 4:56 remaining.

Suber connected with Erik Lash on a 45-yard pass for a touchdown with 3:46 left, and the 2-point conversion - another Suber-to-Lash pass - tied the game at 17.

Bethune-Cookman forced Florida Atlantic to punt, and a personal foul penalty gave the Wildcats the ball at Florida Atlantic's 23-yard-line with 2:11 left. Suber rushed into the end zone untouched on the next play, putting his team ahead for good.

Mathis capped the win with his interception return for a touchdown with 51 seconds left.

Bethune-Cookman scored first on an 11-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter from Suber to Patrick Brown.

Florida Atlantic answered on its next possession, with Jahn throwing a 28-yard touchdown pass to Danston Dareus. Jahn had replaced starter Jared Allen, who threw two first-quarter interceptions.

A 21-yard field goal by Mark Myers gave Florida Atlantic a 10-6 halftime lead, and the lead stretched to 17-6 in the third quarter after the Owls' Ramon Rickards blocked a punt and Tyrone Higgins recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown.