It’s JC Smith’s season to celebrate relevant football

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Johnson C. Smith receiver Reggie Bryant leaps over Livingstone linebacker John Floyd after catching a pass in the Golden Bulls’ 38-17 win in the Commemorative Classic at McGirt Field. JCSU finished the season 7-3, their best campaign since the 2006 season when the Golden Bulls went 7-4 with a berth in the now-defunct Pioneer Bowl.

Johnson C. Smith might have another football game to play in 2023.

Last week’s 38-17 win against Livingstone in the Commemorative Classic was the Golden Bulls’ seventh of the season – five more than in 2022. It also solidifies their case for a berth in next month’s inaugural Florida Beach Bowl, a CIAA-SIAC showcase in Ft. Lauderdale. No matter what happens, it’s already been a renaissance for JCSU, which last won seven games in 2006 as well as a spot in the now-defunct Pioneer Bowl.

“It means a lot coming from a losing record to a winning record,” said senior receiver Reggie Bryant, who caught seven passes for a career-best 151 yards and a touchdown against Livingstone. “Coach Flowers said be part of the process, believe in the process and our season may not be over. We might get invited to a bowl game, so we’ve just got to keep our head together. We’ll celebrate the win and move on to the next thing.”

The Golden Bulls (7-3) have plenty to celebrate. They finally beat Livingstone in the renewal of the oldest series in Black college football for the first time since 2019, a span that included no game in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the no contest in 2021 that was halted due to a brawl. For JCSU’s eight seniors and everyone connected to the program, success was a long time coming.

“As a former player, I’m just so happy for our seniors because I did not win my last game as a Golden Bull,” coach Maurice Flowers said. … “We want to look now to sustained success and I’m already looking to next year, but I’m just so happy for our young men, our coaches, our president, and board of trustees.

“Any time you can beat your rival it’s a good day, and to have the Commemorative Classic, which is the first two HBCUs to ever play a football game and to get this win is so big for our program. The seventh win is just the cherry on top but to beat Livingstone in a game we lost last year in our first season – it was one of our six losses by one score. To get the win against them and in the way we did, we ended up winning going away.”

JCSU played to form against Livingstone by turning in big plays in every phase. Daryl Taybron scored on special teams with a 40-yard fumble return, the offense racked up 341 yards – their best output since 356 yards in the Week 3 loss to Walsh (Ohio) – and the defense slowed Livingstone (4-6) when necessary. The Golden Bulls outscored the Blue Bears 31-7 after falling behind 10-7 in the second quarter.

“It feels good to be part of a winning season,” senior defensive back Dirk Cureton (Butler High) said. “I was on the team last year and knew what it felt like to lose close games. Winning makes everything good.”

Freshman quarterback Jamere Cherry (Mooresville High) connected on 16-of-33 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns in his second collegiate start for the Golden Bulls, just 2 yards shy of opening-day starter Tyrell Jackson’s season-best yardage numbers against Walsh.

Cherry, who opened preseason camp seventh on the depth chart, played clean with no turnovers against Livingstone and just as important, developed a hot hand throwing to Bryant, who turned in his best game as a Golden Bull.

“Jamere had a good week of practice, and he got more confident throughout the week and I’m just happy for him being a true freshman,” Flowers said. … “I’m so happy for him because he stayed positive, and he just came to work every day. I’m happy for him because this is what our program is about – competition and not just competing but bringing it every day. Our saying is ‘Everything Everyday’ and Jemere Cherry is an example of that.”

Said Bryant: “Coach talked about keeping [Cherry] comfortable because he’s a young quarterback, so when he messes up, stay in his ear, and keep him confident. Jamere is a good guy and a great player, so just keep him confident and we’ll be good.”

JCSU is good enough to finish second in the CIAA Southern Division behind Fayetteville State, but Flowers has larger ambitions. From the day he was hired, Flowers talked about building a title contender at his alma mater after decades of futility.

“Our young men want to be the group to turn this program around, to be a positive influence not just in football and athletics but in our university,” he said. “I’m just so happy for them because they’ve bought in and I’m almost speechless.”

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