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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Akevious Williams threw for 156 yards and three touchdowns to Jimmie Robinson as Bethune-Cookman defeated Morgan State 31-20 on Saturday for the Wildcats' home-opener at Daytona Stadium.
Williams, who rushed for 114 yards, scored on a 64-yard run in the second quarter, to give the Wildcats (4-1, 2-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) a 10-3 lead.
Two of the Williams-to-Robinson touchdowns -- 70 yards and 6 yards -- gave the Wildcats a 24-6 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Robinson finished with five catches for 136 yards and three touchdowns. The senior from Palm Coast, Fla, who also scored three touchdowns against Morgan State (0-5, 0-2) in last year's game, a 30-28 Bethune-Cookman win.
Morgan State got on the board late in the first half on a 40-yard field goal from sophomore Nicholas O'Shea to help trim the Wildcats' lead to 10-6 at halftime.
After the intermission, Bethune-Cookman took control with two third quarter touchdowns.
Williams hit Robinson for the 70-yard strike on the Wildcats' opening possession of the third quarter. The Wildcat defense forced a quick Morgan State punt, then Williams manufactured a nine-play, 71-yard drive that culminated with him hitting Robinson on a 6-yard swing pass that gave BCU a 24-6 lead with 7:42 left in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth, quarterback DeAndre Harris scored what would be the Bears' only offensive touchdown, his 1-yard run closing the gap to 24-13. After Robinson caught a screen pass and raced 44-yards to make it 31-13 with 4:40 left. Morgan State got back on the board with a fantastic individual effort from senior Manasseh Bailey. Bailey came off the edge of the line and blocked Bryce Coward's punt and recovered the ball in the end zone for the final score.
Xavier Gravette finished with five catches for a season-high 85 yards, while Bailey added 54 yards on four receptions.
Senior Josh Chase carried 25 times for a season-high 124 yards and the Bears (0-5, 0-2) totaled 191 yards on the ground. Bethune-Cookman rushed for 274 yards.
Morgan State senior linebacker Rico Kennedy (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) led all defenders with 15 tackles, along with a sack and an interception.
NIcholas O'Shea finished the night connecting on 2 of 3 field goals, but had a 36-yard field goal blocked by Devin James late in the third quarter with Bethune leading 24-6.
NEXT UP: Morgan State will host Delaware State for Homecoming on Oct. 12. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.