Eight is great: Golden Bulls match single-season win mark

DONALD WATKINS | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Johnson C. Smith running back Kamarro Edmonds rumbles for a 56-yard gain in the Golden Bulls' 24-15 win against Winston-Salem State Oct. 26 in Winston-Salem. JCSU improved to 8-0 for the first time in school history and 5-0 in CIAA play.

Another week, another batch of football accomplishments for Johnson C. Smith.

The Golden Bulls extended their school record with an 8-0 start after a 24-15 win against Winston-Salem State at Bowman Gray Stadium for the first time since 1975. The win total matches the best single season mark in program history and gives JCSU consecutive wins against the Rams for the first time since 1976.

“We wanted to drown them,” said Golden Bulls running back Kamarro Edmonds, who scored a pair of touchdowns, including a 27-yard reception on fourth-and-17 in the third quarter.

With a win next week at home against Fayetteville State, Smith will clinch a berth in the CIAA title game for the first time since 1972. It’s also an opportunity to reach nine wins for the first time in school history.

“We don’t need to give any more motivation,” Golden Bulls coach Maurice Flowers said. “We haven’t beaten Fayetteville State since we were hired [in 2022] and they’ve been the top team in the CIAA [South], so we have to focus on that.”

The Golden Bulls, who have won a record 10 straight regular season games, succeeded at what they’ve done all year, whipping WSSU with defense and efficient offense. In addition to Edmonds, who rushed for 102 yards on 11 carries, Quavaris Crouch scored on a 2-yard plunge in the fourth quarter and JCSU rolled up 412 yards on offense while the defense limited the Rams to 155 yards, 34 in the first half. Smith flustered Rams quarterback Jaylin Lee, who completed 10-of-25 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown.

“We wanted to do it for [Golden Bulls defensive coordinator Barry] Tripp,” said linebacker Jack Smith, who tallied a team-best seven tackles along with Benari Black. “He went to Winston-Salem State and we put in the work in practice.”  

Smith was efficient, if spotty on offense. Ocean connected on 23-of-38 passes for 262 yards and a score while Brevin Caldwell extended his single-season record for receptions with 11 catches for 127 yards. Caldwell, an Ardrey Kell High alumnus, has 70 receptions. Still, Winston-Salem State (5-3, 3-2 CIAA) trailed 10-0 at halftime when they held the Golden Bulls on fourth-and-goal and missed a 19-yard field goal try.

“The game should’ve been over by halftime,” Flowers said, “so we have a lot to clean up.”

The unblemished record, though, looks pretty good.

“It’s great to be a part of history,” Edmonds said.

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