Bethune-Cookman QB Timmy McClain just became a Florida Classic legend

ORLANDO — Timmy McClain didn’t lie.

During a timeout with 27 seconds left and Bethune-Cookman on the verge of Florida Classic heartbreak, he and the Wildcats stayed calm. Trailing 34-31, they possessed the ball on the Florida A&M 42-yard line. A fourth-and-8 loomed.

“Conversation was that we’ve been through this, fellas,” McClain said Saturday, Nov. 22. “This is just another day at practice ...

“We are going to win this ballgame. We are definitely going to win this ballgame.”

That’s exactly what they did.

McClain, a redshirt senior quarterback, dropped back and launched a deep pass up the right sideline to Josh Evans, a redshirt freshman who had worked himself wide open. FAMU head coach James Colzie III later called the play a “busted coverage.”

The ball arrived on time and landed in Evans’ hands at the 2-yard line. He scurried into the end zone and gave Bethune-Cookman a 38-34 lead that became final 20 seconds later.

The Wildcats claimed their first victory over the Rattlers since 2019. And in his last college contest, McClain became a Florida Classic legend.

His start came as a surprise.

Prior to Saturday, McClain had appeared in only one game since Oct. 11. But after Cam Ransom threw two interceptions in a loss to Jackson State last week, B-CU turned to McClain.

He completed 22 of his 33 attempts, creating new season highs with 274 yards and four touchdowns. He captured the rivalry game MVP honors in the process.

“The guys understand that you have to go to work and come to work every day, and we put these guys in adverse situations, and they have to compete,” head coach Raymond Woodie Jr. said. “When you look at your job, you have to keep your job. If you don't do your job, you get your job taken. So they know that, and I think that is what breeds competition to put him in a situation like he responded tonight.”

Bethune-Cookman built a 24-9 lead in the second quarter.

But after Florida A&M rallied back and jumped ahead 27-24 in the fourth, McClain connected with sophomore Javon Ross for a 67-yard touchdown. The Rattlers regained the lead with 2:19 left, but McClain hit Evans for the game-winner.

“I would say it was kind of an out-of-body experience, to be honest with you,” McClain said. “So crazy and so many emotions going on. This team has been through a lot, ups and downs, roller coasters, but we fought through it. I'm just glad we was able to pull the win.”

McClain’s college career is over now.

He bounced between four programs in five years. The Sanford native began at South Florida in 2021 and saw the field immediately. Two years at UCF followed. He spent last fall at Arkansas State before joining the Wildcats in the offseason, never again playing as much as he did as a freshman.

But into eternity, he’ll have his Florida Classic moment from Saturday.

That’s the truth.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Bethune-Cookman QB Timmy McClain became Florida Classic legend vs FAMU