Johnson C Smith blasts Lincoln (Pa.) 52-6 for 3-0 start

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Johnson C. Smith running back Quavaris Crouch breaks free for a 29-yard touchdown run in a 52-6 win against Lincoln (Pa.) Sept. 14 at McGirt Field. Crouch, a Harding High graduate, rushed for 43 yards and three touchdowns on five carries for the Golden Bulls, who improved to 3-0 for the first time since the 2013 season.

Johnson C. Smith cruised past Lincoln (Pa.) 52-6 Saturday to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2013.

The Golden Bulls are having a lot of success in all three phases early in the season and there was a lot to take away from the statement win. Here are three of them:

1. Quarterback Darius Ocean is rounding into form

Ocean, a Hough High graduate, is coming into his own as leader of the offense. In his first three collegiate starts, Ocean has tossed six touchdown passes and no interceptions. Against Lincoln, he completed 18-of-26 passes for a career-high 331 yards and one touchdown. The Golden Bulls churned out 524 yards on offense, including 352 passing.

“(Ocean) is getting used to being the guy,” JCSU coach Maurice Flowers said. “He is getting used to being the starter, and with some of the things you see out here, it’s the hard work that he and the receivers put in when nobody is watching. They put in some much time, and we give them leeway to make certain checks and do certain things.”

Ocean’s best throw of the day came on his lone touchdown pass to receiver Brevin Caldwell on a back shoulder toss to the corner of the end zone. Improvisational throws like that are something Flowers wants to see more of.

“There are a couple of touchdowns that were all him,” Flowers said. “That back shoulder, that was all him. That was all him and the receiver. And there's a couple other plays that because they worked on certain things, they saw some looks that they checked to them. We don't let you do that if you just feel like it. You have to have put the time in and [we were] very pleased with it. He's getting better.”

2. In Crouch and Edmonds they trust

Running backs Quavaris Crouch and Kamarro Edmonds combined for 95 yards rushing and four touchdowns on just 13 carries. The two say they enjoy playing as a tandem and challenging one another to be the best versions of themselves. They also look to get the best out of the younger players.

“We are the older guys here,” Edmonds said. “We are always trying to push the younger guys to do better every single day. When we first got here, we were pushing each other and now pushing the younger guys too, to just come in and work hard every day. [Crouch] comes in and works hard to make me better and I try to make him better as well.”

Said Crouch: “We just try to be leaders. I feel the biggest thing with us is that we keep each other accountable. If one day I’m not feeling the best [Edmonds] will be like, ‘Q pick it up.’ We just try to be the best versions of ourselves. We are both good running backs, at least our resumes say that we are.”

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Johnson C. Smith defensive end Elin Jones pressures Lincoln quarterback Isaiah Freeman during the Golden Bulls' 52-6 win Sept. 14 at McGirt Field. Lincoln's six points was a season-least allowed by JCSU.

The Golden Bulls have 2023 CIAA champion Virginia Union coming to McGirt Field next week, and Edmonds and Crouch are both ready for the challenge.

“It’s like [Flowers] said, we are going to enjoy this for 24 hours and then it’s right back to work,” Edmonds said.

Said Crouch: “It is right back to work for us. Get some recovery in and get on the film and see what Union has going on. We are just going to take things one day at a time.”

3. Flowers isn’t satisfied

Critiquing a lopsided win can be difficult, but not for Flowers. He knows the Golden Bulls didn’t play their best football and if the same mistakes are made against Virginia Union, it could be costly.

“I know there were some (errant) run game combos in the offensive line,” Flowers said. “There were a couple of pass protection busts. The quarterback made a couple bad reads. We had some receivers run some wrong routes. Defensively, there were some blown coverages. There's just so many things that we know that we can still improve upon because when you play a team like we play next week, they're going to make you pay. We've got the defending champions coming in.”

Flowers’ 24-hour rule went into effect right when he broke the postgame huddle. Once a day is up, all eyes are on Virginia Union.

“We're going to celebrate every win, even if we play Alexander Graham Middle School, we're going to celebrate that win before we turn the page,” Flowers said. “Wins are hard to come by, and next week for us starts CIAA play. So, every game from here on out for us is a … conference opponent, and so we know it's going to start off with defending champions. We did not want to leave this game with a bunch of question marks.”

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