The state that brought you the first-ever football game between historically Black colleges had two teams earn a sweep in nationally televised HBCU showcase games on Sunday.
Johnson C. Smith, which played in that first-ever contest between HBCUs in 1892 as Biddle College, earned an impressive 21-13 win over Tuskegee on Sunday night in the Red Tails Classic in Montgomery, Ala.
Earlier in the day, North Carolina Central dispatched of Alabama State 31-24 to win the Orange Blossom Classic in Miami Gardens.
Here are highlights from each contest, as the Golden Bulls and Eagles both start the new season on a positive note.
JCSU Building On 2023 Success
Johnson C. Smith had its best season in a decade a year ago, reeling off seven wins and advancing to the Florida Beach Bowl. The Golden Bulls beat another seven-win team in their 2024 debut, spoiling the host team’s fourth-straight appearance in the Red Tails game, which honors the Tuskegee Airmen from World War II.
Brevin Caldwell caught a pair of touchdown passes from Darius Ocean for JCSU, one covering seven yards in the first quarter and the other covering 37 in the third. Quavaris Crouch added a 75-yard touchdown burst to start the second quarter.
Johnson C. Smith’s vaunted defense, which ended 2023 as Division II statistical national champion in fewest yards allowed per game, came up with key stops again. Tuskegee managed 50 rushing yards on 29 attempts. Tuskegee finished with 232 total yards.
Benari Black led JCSU with 10 tackles. Ocean finished with 161 passing yards, while Crouch added 161 yards on the ground. Caldwell caught seven passes for 90 yards.
Tuskegee got the ball back with 1:02 left and drove from its 26 to the Bulls 34. But a pass on the final play fell incomplete as time ran out, preserving a Johnson C. Smith triumph in the first game of Maurice Flowers’ third season as head coach.
Johnson C. Smith has now played Tuskegee 19 times on the gridiron, winning for the sixth time.
Eagles Continue Success In NFL Venues
North Carolina Central feels at home where the pros play. The Eagles won for the ninth time in 11 tries in an NFL stadium.
J’Mari Taylor rushed for two short-yardage touchdowns and caught a 14-yard TD pass from Walker Harris. Kole Jones returned an interception 31 yards for a score. Juan Velarde added a 36-yard field goal, the first of his career.
Kanari Houze blocked a punt. DJ Estes picked off a pass late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. Taylor finished with 128 rushing yards and was named the HBCU national player of the week by BOXTOROW. Harris, making his second career start, completed his first seven passes before finishing 9-of-18 for 119 yards.
North Carolina Central improved to 4-1 in season openers under coach Trei Oliver. Sunday’s contest took place at the home of the Miami Dolphins and drew more than 10,000 fans.
Here is a list of NCCU’s all-time results in NFL stadiums (courtesy North Carolina Central athletics):
- Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Dolphins (Sept. 1, 2024 vs. Alabama State – W, 31-24)
- Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis Colts (Sept. 23, 2023 vs. Mississippi Valley St. – W, 45-3)
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta Falcons (Dec. 17, 2022 vs. Jackson State – W, 41-34 OT)
- Bank of America Stadium – Carolina Panthers (Sept. 3, 2022 vs. N.C. A&T – W 28-13)
- Georgia Dome – Atlanta Falcons (Dec. 17, 2016 vs. Grambling – L, 9-10)
- Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis Colts (Oct. 6, 2012 vs. S.C. State – W, 40-10)
- Cleveland Browns Stadium – (Sept. 10, 2011 vs. Central State – W, 42-3)
- Georgia Dome – Atlanta Falcons (Oct. 16, 2010 vs. Georgia State – L, 17-20 OT)
- Giants Stadium – New York Giants (Sept. 15, 2007 vs. Elizabeth City State – W, 18-10)
- Ericsson Stadium – Carolina Panthers (Nov. 4, 2001 vs. Johnson C. Smith – W, 34-3)
- Veterans Stadium – Philadelphia Eagles (Sept. 30, 2000 vs. Morris Brown – W, 19-16)
