To be the best, you have to beat the best.
With legitimate conference championship aspirations, Johnson C. Smith will get its chance to challenge the top cats of the CIAA on Saturday, hosting Virginia Union under the lights at Irwin Belk Stadium in Charlotte.
The Golden Bulls (3-0) haven’t had much success against the Panthers in recent history, losing 10 of the last 12 meetings and each of the last five. But these are different times for JCSU.
Coach Maurice Flowers has elevated Johnson C. Smith from the CIAA basement into the upper decks of the league in his three seasons at the helm. The Golden Bulls are coming off their best season in a decade (7-4), have already won an HBCU showcase this season and blew out their first conference opponent (52-6 vs. Lincoln) last weekend.
Now, they’ll have a chance to make an early statement in the race for Salem, Va., the site of this year’s CIAA championship game in November. Virginia Union (1-1 this season) beat Fayetteville State for last year’s CIAA title and owns a No. 20 national ranking coming into this year.
Kickoff for Saturday’s game is 6 p.m.
10 Things to Know About Johnson C. Smith
Strong Start to 2024: Johnson C. Smith is 3-0 this season, their best start since 2013. The Golden Bulls topped Tuskegee 21-13 in the Red Tails Classic in the opener, then knocked off Morehouse 37-13 the following weekend before rolling Lincoln on Saturday.
High-Scoring Offense: The Golden Bulls have averaged 36.67 points per game while allowing just 10.67. The 52 points against Lincoln represented the most in a single game since 2013.
Balanced Attack: JCSU is averaging 189.7 rushing yards and 234.67 passing yards per game.
Efficient Quarterback Play: Darius Ocean has thrown for 686 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions. He earned CIAA quarterback of the week honors after the Lincoln game.
National Leaderboard: Brevin Caldwell ranks second nationally in Division II with 382 receiving yards and is tied for second in receiving touchdowns with six. He’s sixth in receiving yards per game (127.3).
Homecoming: Running back Quavaris Crouch, once the nation’s No. 1 high school RB recruit out of Charlotte’s Harding High, has rushed for 234 yards and four touchdowns. He transferred to JCSU from Michigan State in the off-season after also spending time at Tennessee.
Stingy Defense: JCSU’s defense has allowed only five touchdowns in three games, led by Benari Black with 24 tackles and 7.5 tackles-for-loss.
Successful Building Blocks: Johnson C. Smith won seven games in 2023, their most in over a decade. That lead to a No. 4 preseason ranking by CIAA coaches behind Virginia State, Virginia Union and Fayetteville State.
Turnaround Under Maurice Flowers: Before coach Maurice Flowers arrived in 2022, the team was 16-42 over six seasons, including a 1-7 campaign in 2021.
Going Against The Tide:: JCSU is 2-10 against Virginia Union since 2005, with their last win coming in 2011, a 26-19 decision on homecoming.
10 Things To Know About Virginia Union
Defending CIAA Champions: Virginia Union won the CIAA title last season, defeating Fayetteville State 21-10 in the championship game held in Salem, Va.
Preseason Expectations: The Panthers were picked to finish second in the CIAA for the 2024 season, trailing only Virginia State.
Record-Setting Offense: In their 2024 season opener, Virginia Union set a school record with 674 offensive yards in a 69-7 win over Kentucky State.
Jada Byers’ Milestone: Running back Jada Byers rushed for 211 yards in the season opener, moving into second place among the all-time leading rushers at Virginia Union, only behind Andre Braxton. Heading into this weekend, Byers has 316 yards for the season after galloping for 1,186 a year ago.
Defensive Dominance: The Panthers’ defense limited Kentucky State to just 90 total offensive yards and saw two players return interceptions for touchdowns on consecutive plays in the opener.
Tough Loss in Game Two: Virginia Union fell 33-21 to Hampton University in their second game, despite Jada Byers rushing for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Hampton competes in the MEAC, which is an FCS conference.
Standout Defensive Performance: Shamar Graham recorded a career-high 17 tackles in the Hampton game, with 10 tackles coming in the first quarter alone.
Quarterback Stats: In their second game, quarterback RJ Rosales completed three of six passes for 114 yards and one touchdown.
Rested: Virginia Union did not play this past weekend, having a bye week following the Hampton game.
Historical Rivalry: Virginia Union holds a 33-8 series lead over Johnson C. Smith, with the most recent victory being a 43-7 win on September 25, 2021.
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