With 20 seconds left on the clock and the weight of four straight losses to their archrivals bearing down, Bethune-Cookman quarterback Timmy McClain dropped back, looked downfield, and delivered a moment that will live forever in Florida Classic lore.
His 41-yard strike hit receiver Josh Evans in stride, slicing through the Orlando night and through the heart of the Florida A&M defense, catapulting the Wildcats to a breathtaking 38–34 victory in front of 55,528 stunned and roaring fans at Camping World Stadium.
The touchdown, the culmination of a clinical eight-play, 70-yard drive in just 1:59, didn’t just win a game. It snapped a four-game skid against FAMU, salvaged a .500 season, and authored an unforgettable chapter in one of college football’s most passionate rivalries.
“We knew it was our time,” McClain said afterward, a championship hat pulled low over his eyes amid the on-field chaos. “All week, we preached finish. No matter what happened, just finish. And we finished.”
What happened was a rollercoaster of emotions that saw Bethune-Cookman (6-6, 5-3 SWAC) storm to a 24–9 halftime lead, only to watch FAMU (5-6, 4-3 SWAC) methodically erase it in the second half. The Rattlers took their first lead of the game early in the fourth quarter and, after BCU responded, took it right back.
With just 2:19 remaining, FAMU running back Thad Franklin Jr., who gashed the Wildcats all night, burst through for a 19-yard touchdown run to give the Rattlers a 34–31 advantage, sending their side of the stadium into a frenzy.
It was exactly the kind of moment where recent history suggested Bethune-Cookman might fold. Instead, McClain authored the defining drive of his season.
“The look in his eyes in the huddle—there was no doubt,” said receiver Maleek Huggins, who earlier scored a tough touchdown in the grasp of a FAMU defender. “He was calm. He told us, ‘Let’s go be legends.’”
McClain was precisely that. The quarterback, who finished the night 22-of-33 for 274 yards, spread the wealth, throwing scoring passes to four different receivers. He was cool under pressure, methodically moving the Wildcats downfield with a mix of quick throws and a critical 12-yard scramble.
But it was the final play that will be replayed for years to come. Taking the snap near midfield, McClain evaded early pressure, set his feet, and launched a perfect spiral to Evans, who had a step on his man down the right sideline. The ball landed in his arms at the goal line, a dagger delivered with poetic precision.
“We had them right where we wanted,” said a dejected FAMU coach James Colzie III. “It’s a play we’ve defended all year. My hat’s off to McClain. He made a championship throw.”
While McClain’s arm sealed it, the Wildcats’ balance paved the way. Khamani Robinson provided a explosive spark on the ground, ripping off a 50-yard touchdown run and finishing with 90 yards on just 11 carries, helping BCU outgain FAMU 485–423.
For the Rattlers, the loss overshadowed a gutsy performance. Quarterback RJ Johnson III was efficient, completing 22-of-34 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns, while Franklin was a battering ram, rushing for 120 yards on 11 carries.
But on this night, in this classic, it was Bethune-Cookman’s turn. As the final second ticked off the clock, the Wildcats’ sideline erupted, pouring onto the field to mob Evans in the end zone where he’d just made history. The four-game streak was over, replaced by the euphoria of a victory snatched from the jaws of defeat.
“This is for every player, every coach, every alum who suffered through the last four years,” first-year BCU coach Raymond Woodie said, his voice thick with emotion. “This is what the Florida Classic is all about. This is why you play the game.”