Golden Bulls and Wildcats share football traits, results

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Johnson C. Smith linebacker Benari Black, a West Charlotte High graduate, is the CIAA's top tackler in 2023 with 82 stops.

The inaugural Florida Beach Bowl could just as easily be the Maurice Flowers Bowl.

The Johnson C. Smith coach left Fort Valley State to return to his alma mater, where he played quarterback from 1987-90 and was offensive coordinator from 2011-13. Although several players and coaches from his time at FVSU remain, Flowers insists it won’t give Smith the upper hand.

“I’d say if there’s an advantage it’s because I do know a couple of those players, a couple of the coaches,” he said. “But once that ball is kicked off, I think any advantage would be gone.”

On paper, the Golden Bulls and Wildcats are both 7-3 but contrast in terms of style. Fort Valley State leans on its offense while JCSU’s defense and special teams have been key to their success.

“It’s similarities but a lot differences,” Golden Bulls receiver Reggie Bryant said. “When I’m studying my plays and everything, the defense is definitely a similarity because we run the same [scheme as] coach Barry Tripp coming from over there being the defensive coordinator helping on a different side of the ball and coach Flowers being [offensive] coordinator, it’s definitely similarities … I watched  and can relate to us but it’s a lot of different differences, too.”

The Golden Bulls took a dip offensively for the second straight season when injuries forced them to play a third-string quarterback. Their 259.7 yards per game is 10th in the 12-team CIAA, but Mooresville High alumnus Jamere Cherry won both starts to close the season.

Robert Adams, who replaced Tyrell Jackson (concussion) after the second game, went 4-2 as the starter and is recovered from a high ankle sprain suffered in a Week 8 loss to Fayetteville State.

Smith’s best playmakers are the receiving duo of Brevin Caldwell (51 catches, 579 yards, TD) and Reggie Bryant (44 catches, 470 yards, 5 TDs). They rank fifth and ninth in the CIAA in receptions.

Defense is why JCSU made the leap from two wins in 2022 to seven this year. The Golden Bulls lead the conference at 214.7 yards allowed per contest and linebackers spark the defense.

Weakside linebacker and West Charlotte graduate Benari Black, whose 82 tackles tops in the CIAA , also racked up three sacks, which is second only to middle linebacker Jack Smith’s four. Smith’s 61 tackles is eighth in the conference.

Fort Valley State has one of the SIAC’s top offenses at 30.4 points per game, third among conference teams. The Wildcats churn out an average of 319 yards per game, with 180.6 passing (ninth in the SIAC) and 139.8 rushing (fifth).

Fort Valley’s top offensive player is redshirt freshman quarterback Kelvin Durham, who was recruited by Flowers before he took off for JCSU. Durham connected on 121-of-218 passes for 1,665 yards (fourth in the SIAC) and 15 scores.

“We recruited him out of Florida, and he came in and had an outstanding year, his first being a full time starter under coach [Shawn] Gibbs,” Flowers said. “I signed off on the quarterbacks, so I remembered him when he was in high school and recruiting him and getting him to come to Fort Valley and watching him grow.”

Running back Brandon Marshall, a graduate transfer from Mercer, is the SIAC’s second-leading rusher with 893 yards and eight touchdowns on 193 carries.

The Wildcats have an opportunistic defense with a conference-best 17 interceptions in addition to 29 sacks, third-best in the SIAC.

Both sides have potent special teams. JCSU freshman Alejandro Morillon-Garcia hit 7-of-8 field goal attempts with a long of 49 yards and converted all 23 extra point tries. Butler High graduate Dirk Cureton averaged 18.6 yards per punt return with a pair of touchdowns, including a long of 55 yards for a score against Winston-Salem State.

Smith also blocked a pair of punts and field goals each with two punts returned for touchdowns. A field goal was also returned for a score.

Fort Valley State kicker Daniel Gibbs hit 10-of-14 field goal attempts with a long of 50 yards and kick returner DeJuan Bell averaged 23.5 yards an attempt with a 94-yarder for a touchdown.

If you can’t make it to Ft. Lauderdale, the game will be streamed at watch.hbcu-plus.com/home

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