A new day has indeed dawned on Clark Atlanta football.
Leonardo Cabrera’s 55-yard field goal as time ran out capped a stunning comeback for the Panthers, upsetting Division I Bethune-Cookman 38-37 in Daytona Saturday. The win gives CAU, now 3-0-1, its best start since 1974.
LEONARDO CABRERA FOR THE WIN‼️
The true freshman Leonardo Cabrera boots a career-long 55-yard field goal to take down Division I Bethune-Cookman at Daytona Stadium! 🏈🐾#GoPanthers🐾 | #WeAreCAU | #BeTheReason pic.twitter.com/H3KpNzAQL5
— Clark Atlanta Football (@CAU_Football) September 21, 2024
Here are the key takeaways from the big win.
David Wright III is still the real deal
That’s it, that’s the takeaway. Wright was masterful once again for the Panthers, completing 30 of 49 passes for 374 yards and four touchdowns. He was calm and composed on CAU’s final drive, which was helped by an ill-timed personal foul penalty on the Wildcats. Wright did most of the damage on the day, however, proving he has a claim to be not only the best quarterback in the SIAC but perhaps in all of Black College Football.
Clark Atlanta was determined
Clark Atlanta trailed 31-7 less than five minutes into the second quarter and 34-14 at the half but dug in defensively to limit Bethune-Cookman to just three second-half points while the offense worked its way back into the game. The Panthers’ much-maligned defense got big games from James Summersett, Dahlil Wilkins, and Artellious Edmonds, who combined for 23 tackles and three tackles for loss. Edmonds also had a sack in the game.
The one that got away
The Wildcats were looking for their first win of the season, and for a half, it looked like that would be the case. Quarterback Cam Ransom had a great day, completing 22 of 31 passes for 382 yards and three touchdowns and also running 11 times for 79 yards and a score. Still, Bethune-Cookman struggled in the second half, and that gave Clark Atlanta enough time to steal a game that the Wildcats, now 0-4 in 2024, will know they let get away.
