Johnson C. Smith’s offense is all Harold Herbin’s.

PHOTO/CURTIS WILSON

Johnson C. Smith quarterback Harold Herbin accounted for 206 yards total offense in his first start for Johnson C. Smith, a 31-28 win against Elizabeth City State.

The sophomore quarterback moved up to starter in last week 31-28 CIAA win against Elizabeth City State. With Jordan Lane out for the season with a broken leg, and Herbin the only full-time quarterback on the roster, he’s the last best option to turn the season around.

“My mindset is really just take advantage of the opportunity,” said Herbin, who accounted for 206 yards total offense against the Vikings. “Take every day and take it as a blessing because this didn’t have to happen to me. I didn’t have to have this opportunity. There are a lot of people who want to do what I’m doing so I’m going to take it every day, work as hard as I can and lead my team to the Promised Land.”

Said safety Carlo Thomas, who added another interception and six tackles in the win: “We made a promise we’re trying to win all seven games in this seven-game stretch. We’re just going week by week, day by day, get ready for each team so we can make this run and possibly get to the championship.”

Herbin was clutch on JCSU’s final drive, hitting 3-of-6 passes for 39 yards to set up Matias Lambrecht’s 33-yard field goal as time expired. The Golden Bulls (1-3, 1-0 CIAA), marched 63 yards in 83 seconds with Herbin’s 25-yard pass to Demarcus Berry the key play.

“Harold is a guy whose best day is his game day,” Golden Bulls coach Kermit Blount said. “He may make some mistakes during the course of the week and we’ll correct those mistakes, but when we get into the ball game he rarely makes mistakes.”

An efficient rushing attack would help immensely.  JCSU which averaged a nation’s-worst 5.3 yards per game the first three games, ran for a season-high 167 yards against ECSU. That success opened the passing attack, with Herbin hitting 15-of-22 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 21 yards and a score.

“The key is we were able to run the football,” Blount said. “We were able to establish our run game and that opened some other things up for us. Certainly, when you can get your run game going, it helps you in so many ways. We get a chance to manage the clock a lot better and we get a chance to turn first downs and in this game of football, when you turn first downs, you have a great potential to score.”

The Golden Bulls, who were outscored 111-0 the previous two games, united behind Herbin for their best offensive effort of the season. With a change behind center, JCSU focused on the future.

“The guys really rallied around me,” Herbin said.  “I’ve really got to thank my teammates, my offensive line, my receivers. They believed in me and it made me believe in myself. I believe if we stay on this track, we’ll be OK.”

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