JC Smith football wins again: Nationally-ranked Charlotte HBCU off to its best start
There hasn’t been a stronger start to a Johnson C. Smith football season.
The Golden Bulls jumped all over Winston-Salem State in a comfortable 24-15 victory on Saturday afternoon at Bowman Gray Stadium. The historically Black university located near uptown Charlotte improved to 8-0, its best opening to a season in program history.
No. 19 J.C. Smith (8-0, 5-0 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) has never had a longer win streak. The seven-win start coming into Saturday’s game marked the program’s best since 1969, and it hasn’t recorded eight wins in a season since 1975.
“I came out with a chip on my shoulder,” Kamarro Edmonds, the Golden Bulls’ junior running back who recorded touchdowns through the air and on the ground, said postgame. “Just stayed focused, was positive — came out, got a ‘W’ and executed.
“It motivates us every single week. Every time we get a win, we just move forward and build onto the next game.”
JC Smith jumped in front of Winston-Salem State early
While J.C. Smith missed a field goal on its opening drive, its defense forced Winston-Salem State (6-3, 4-2 CIAA) to punt six times during the first half.
The Golden Bulls got on the board within three plays following a successful fumble recovery that brought them into the red zone. Edmonds, a Havelock, N.C., native who initially signed with UNC, dashed in for a six-yard touchdown that gave J.C. Smith an early 7-0 lead.
It marched downfield again late in the first half with an eight-play, 68-yard scoring drive. The series culminated in a 27-yard field goal from Jacob Meneses — the Golden Bulls’ senior kicker from California who began his career at Fayetteville State — as time expired.
J.C. Smith got the ball back early in the second half and capitalized in a big spot. Facing fourth down with 17 yards to go in plus territory, Ocean connected with Edmonds on a 27-yard touchdown pass that gave the Golden Bulls a 17-0 lead.
Ocean threw a pick-6 on the first play of J.C. Smith’s next drive. His pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by Narique Smith, the Rams’ senior defensive back who starred at Rocky River High in Mint Hill.
The score remained 17-7 entering the fourth quarter, and a 56-yard rush by Edmonds brought the Golden Bulls close once again. Junior running back Quavaris Crouch, the Charlottean who made stops at Tennessee and Michigan State, punched it in from two yards out.
The Rams scored again during the final two minutes, as Greenville, N.C., native Jayden Grimes caught a touchdown pass, which made it 24-15.
Notable
▪ Johnson C. Smith, which ranks No. 19 nationally in the AFCA Division II poll, has never been undefeated through eight games. The program’s last eight-win campaign was in 1975.
▪ Saturday marked the 76th all-time meeting between these two HBCUs in North Carolina. The Golden Bulls snapped a 21-game losing streak against the Rams with their 35-31 victory last year in Charlotte.
▪ Winston-Salem State had won five of its past six games entering Saturday’s showdown. It’s only the Rams’ second loss this season in the CIAA, where they rank third.
They said it
“We’re gonna have 24 hours to enjoy the win,” head coach Maurice Flowers said. “We know that we’re doing so many ‘firsts.’ We’re the last HBCU that’s undefeated in the country. First time in school history that we’re ranked in the Top 25. It feels good.
“Here’s the thing: In 1989, I lost 80-6 on this field. When I talked to my team, I said this isn’t a ‘win one for Coach’ deal, but I knew one day that I would come back as the head coach and get a win here. I’ve won here as an offensive coordinator, and now it feels good to win as the head coach.”
Up next
Johnson C. Smith returns to Irwin Belk Complex for its final regular-season home game, hosting Fayetteville State on Senior Day next week at 1 p.m. Saturday. Winston-Salem State will be off next week before wrapping up its regular season against Fayetteville State on Nov. 9.
This story was originally published October 26, 2024 at 4:36 PM.
