Shydem McCullough scored on a 7-yard run with 2:13 left, Alejandro Morillon-Garcia kicked the crucial extra point, and Johnson C. Smith spoiled Elizabeth City State’s homecoming 21-20 on Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Bulls (4-1, 3-0 CIAA) trailed most of the afternoon but battled back to record their third-straight victory. It’s the first time since 2019 that Johnson C. Smith has won four games in a season.
Elizabeth City State (1-4, 0-3 CIAA) built a quick 13-0 lead, getting two field goals from Carson Hancock and a 37-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Donoven Davenport in the first half.
The Vikings lined up for another field goal attempt, but instead the ball went the other way, with Ja’qun Wilkins returning the miss for a Golden Bulls touchdown. That made the game 13-7. Wilkins also blocked a kick on the day and had an interception.
ECSU added a Davenport-to-Ian Edwards touchdown play covering 18 yards to lift the Vikings to a 20-7 lead into the break. But the Johnson C. Smith defense clamped down from there, and the offense did enough to stave off defeat.
Robert Adams scored on a 2-yard run with 6:36 to go in the fourth to make the score 20-14. The Golden Bulls forced a punt, and a big return from Jacob Newman — and a 15-yard penalty — set up the visitors at the Elizabeth City State 18.
Johnson C. Smith moved to the 7 with an 11-yard completion from Robert Adams to Brevin Caldwell. McCullough scored on the next play. A final ECSU drive ended at the Bulls’ 42.
Benari Black led Johnson C. Smith’s defense with 14 tackles and a sack. Jack Smith added eight tackles.
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Fayetteville State 28, Bluefield State 18
The defending CIAA champs improved to 3-0 in league play — matching Johnson C. Smith — with a road victory on Saturday.
The Broncos (3-2 overall) only completed three passes for 22 yards on the afternoon, but one throwing play — a five-yard toss from Demari Daniels to Nigel Fitzgerald — resulted in a touchdown.
Caden Davis had a 40-yard touchdown run in the first half for FSU. Daniels added a one-yard TD carry.
Dylan Morris returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown. Brian Grier had a couple of sacks. Theniias Moss had eight tackles, helping Fayetteville State hold Bluefield State to just 64 rushing yards. FSU sacked Bluefield State quarterback Isiah Teal four times.
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Lincoln (Pa.) 30, Winston-Salem State 27
We almost had three 3-0 teams in the CIAA Southern Division. Winston-Salem State, though, couldn’t hold a late lead and suffered its first loss in conference.
The Rams (3-2, 2-1 CIAA) went ahead with 1:02 left in the game on a Daylin Lee-to-RJ Mobley touchdown pass covering 19 yards. The extra point was missed, but the Rams held a 27-22 edge.
But Lincoln had a big kickoff return, aided by a Rams’ penalty, and started from the WSSU 39. An 11-yard pass and runs of 7 and 13 yards by Isaiah Freeman moved the ball to the eight.
From there, on fourth-and-eight, Freeman completed a touchdown pass to Dah’mear Triplett with just 15 ticks on the clock.
Winston-Salem State got a 31-yard kick return to the Lincoln 44. But two incomplete passes were all the Rams could muster as time ran out.
Lincoln rolled up 481 yards of offense and held Winston-Salem State to 250. Yet the Rams were in a position at the end to win it.
Asa Barnes finished with 104 yards rushing and a touchdown for WSSU. Mobley caught three passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns.
Justin Fleming had a monster contest on defense for the Rams, recording 12 solo tackles and three assists. Jasahn Rankin had nine tackles.
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Virginia State 38, Shaw 19
Shaw finished strong but couldn’t overcome a 28-6 halftime deficit. The Bears scored twice in the final period, on a Silas Cruise 1-yard run and a 12-yard touchdown throw from Patrick Blake to Ah’shaan Belcher.
Sidney Gibbs found the end zone on an eight-yard run in the second quarter for Shaw’s other touchdown.
Gibbs finished with 84 rushing yards on 10 attempts. Belcher caught five passes for 99 yards.
Saevion Gibbs had three tackles amounting to 17-yards in losses for Shaw, including one sack. Akeythio Carson and Jalen Banks had interceptions.
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Virginia Union 47, St. Augustine’s 7
The Falcons battled VUU to a 0-0 tie in the first quarter but gave up 24 points in the second and 14 more in the third.
St. Aug’s finished with minus-24 yards rushing and just 163 total yards.
RJ Rosales forced a fumble for the Falcons late in the game, and Booker Peake returned it 76 yards for a touchdown to erase the shutout.
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Livingstone 31, Bowie State 18
Marcus Drish threw four touchdown passes, and Livingstone (1-4, 1-2 CIAA) earned its first win of the season Saturday, beating Bowie State 31-18.
Davontay Deloatch caught three of Drish’s TD throws. Matthew Henry had eight catches for 130 yards, helping the Blue Bears capture a surprise win. Bowie State came into the contest 3-1.
Jayden Reeder, Osmanis Aguilera, Davioj Watkins and Samuel Edison each recovered fumbles for Livingstone. Reeder also picked off a pass. Kobe Pringle had two sacks.
The Blue Bears led 17-6 at the half. Drish’s final touchdown pass gave Livingstone a 31-12 lead with three minutes to play.
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