Prove it time for the Golden Bulls as CIAA play starts

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Johnson C. Smith safety Shamar Baker, a Mallard Creek High alumnus, tracks Lincoln (Pa.) quarterback Isaiah Freeman in the Golden Bulls' 52-6 win last week at McGirt Field. JCSU opens its CIAA schedule Sept. 21 against NCAA Division No. 20 Virginia Union in Charlotte.

The meat in Johnson C. Smith’s football schedule starts Saturday.

The Golden Bulls’ game against CIAA foe Virginia Union (1-1) at McGirt Field pairs teams built on similar concepts: punish opponents on the ground and stifle on defense. Smith, which is 3-0 for the first time since 2013 and outscored opponents 110-32, can enhance their credentials as CIAA title game contender – a berth last earned in 1971 – with a win.

“Wins are hard to come by,” Golden Bulls coach Maurice Flowers said after last week’s 52-6 win against Lincoln (Pa.). “Every game from here on out for us is a CIAA conference opponent, so we know it’s going to start off with the defending champion. We did not want to leave this game with a bunch of question marks.”

JCSU understands the challenge of taking on the Panthers, who won the CIAA title last year and a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs. Virginia Union lost to FCS Hampton 33-21 last week and blasted Kentucky State 69-7 in the opener.

“Everybody’s been talking about Virginia Union, so I know they’re a very good team,” Smith quarterback Darius Ocean said. “We’ve got to practice well; we’ve got to play well. We’ve got to make sure everything’s to a ‘T’ in a sense, so we’ll be ready.”

Ocean, a Hough High graduate and first-time collegiate starter, has made an immediate impact for the Golden Bulls. In his first season as a starter, Ocean has completed 47-of-77 passes (61%) for 686 yards and six touchdowns – all to receiver Brevin Caldwell, an Ardrey Kell alumnus who tied his career best for scoring receptions in a season. Ocean could be pivotal against Virginia Union, which like Smith has one of the nation’s top defenses.

With a running attack led by Harding graduate Quavaris Crouch, who scored three touchdowns against Lincoln, Ocean will need to be efficient as a passer.  

“[Ocean is] improving every week,” Flowers said. “He comes in from Western Kentucky and Valdosta State and what he’s getting used to now is being ‘the guy,’ getting used to being the starter. Some of the things you see out here is the hard work he and the receivers put in when no one’s watching. Because they put so much time in, we give them the leeway to make certain checks, to do certain things. There were a couple of touchdowns that were all him.”

On defense, Smith has limited opponents to 240.7 yards per game, including 66.3 yards rushing. Their challenge on Saturday is containing Virginia Union’s Jada Byers (316 yards, five scores), one of nation’s most productive running backs the last three seasons.

“We’re not necessarily just focused on one person,” said Golden Bulls linebacker Benari Black, a West Charlotte alum who leads JCSU with 24 tackles (7.5 for loss). “We’re looking at the whole offense, and we’re just going to play good team ball, Johnson C. Smith football – smash mouth, physical football. We’re not simply worried about one person, just the whole team. When we play our defense, we know what we can do.”

The 3-0 start was an appetizer – the main course of top conference teams coming to McGirt Field begins with the Panthers.

“There’s just so many things that we know that we can still improve upon, because when you play a team like [Virginia Union], they’re going to make you pay,” Flowers said. “We’ve got the defending champions coming in, and that’s why you heard me say in the huddle that we celebrate every win. We’re going to celebrate every win, even if we play Alexander Graham Middle School.”

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