‘We know we’re talented:’ JCSU aims for national notice

MATT LAZCKO | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Johnson C. Smith cornerback Rontay Dunbar hauls in an interception in the Golden Bulls' 28-16 win against No. 11 Valdosta State on Sept. 6, 2025. The win was J.C. Smith's second in as many years against a nationally ranked opponent at McGirt Field.

Johnson C. Smith’s biggest win in Maurice Flowers’ four seasons as coach includes a potential pitfall.

Saturday’s 28-16 result against Valdosta State, No. 11 in the NCAA Division II coaches’ poll, is the Golden Bulls’ (2-0) highest ranked victim in school history but Flowers’ postgame message was simple: shift focus to Elizabeth City State.

“You could probably go back and see a couple interviews when the schedule came out, we said next week was the one that we worry about, and that’s the opportunity to have a letdown game in Elizabeth City,” he said. “Our first game of the season was in Boston with all of that hurrah going on, the Essence Classic, major national TV. Now you have doggone Valdosta State, big time opponent. Get that win. Now you have to go to Elizabeth City and play your only opponent that’s going to be on grass after coming off two big weeks. This is the opportunity for us to have a letdown.”

JCSU played through adversity against Valdosta State. After falling into a 10-0 hole in the second quarter, the Golden Bulls reeled off 21 unanswered points to seize control behind quarterback Kelvin Durham and suffocating defense. Durham completed 17-of-25 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown while accounting for 27 yards on eight carries and three scores. It’s the second straight week Durham, a transfer from Fort Valley State, had a hand in four touchdowns.

“I didn’t start the game the way I wanted to, but (my teammates) kept me encouraged and uplifted, let me know they had my back,” he said. “It was a big win for us. We’re all excited. We already knew what to do throughout the week. … We all put it together and came out victorious.”

JCSU’s defense was key, limiting Valdosta State to 268 yards and 9-of-32 passing for 134 yards. Outside of two long-distance scores – Eric Watts’ 75-yard run in the first quarter and a 65-yard pass from Jameson Holcombe to Samuel Curry – the Blazers struggled to generate offense. Golden Bulls cornerback Rontay Dunbar, a graduate transfer who earned All-CIAA at Lincoln (Pa.), recovered a fumble to thwart a Valdosta State drive and an interception that led to Durham’s 4-yard touchdown run for the go-ahead score in the third quarter.

Ty Hines, who plays opposite Hill, broke up a team-high five passes. Linebacker Vincent Hill, an All-SIAC transfer from Tuskegee, led JCSU with seven tackles. 

“We got off to a slow start, just couldn’t get out of her own way, but very proud of our resiliency on offense, on defense, special teams, and … when you say a team win, this was a team win,” Flowers said. “Defense stepped up, big offense made plays when they had to, and then really showed our resilience by just having several things happen and bouncing back. That's the sign of quality.”

Beating Valdosta State, whose program résumé includes seven national final appearances – including last season – and four titles, is a watershed moment for the Golden Bulls, who are in a renaissance under Flowers. Taking down the Blazers a year after knocking off nationally ranked CIAA rival Virginia Union – both at McGirt Field – sends a message unraked JCSU can compete with anyone in Division II.

“Because of Valdosta State’s championships and who they are, this one's a big win,” Flowers said. “What this does for our program really, it just gives us more validation of what we said we wanted to do and what we wanted to build.

“We said we wanted to be a Division II team that can go to the playoffs and have an opportunity to compete in the playoffs. We didn’t just want to set our goals on winning a CIAA championship and that be it. We want to do more than win a CIAA championship, so to even think like that, and to think that you can have an opportunity to win in the playoffs, you need to beat teams that have been in the playoffs. Valdosta State University is a team that stays in the playoffs.”

The Blazers were “definitely one of the best teams I’ve played against,” Durham said. “But one thing I’ve told my teammates [is there’s] a reason for everything. There’s a reason why this team has this game this year and to take advantage of it. You know we’re talented. We know we're talented. Now it’s time to show the world how talented we are. And that was the biggest message I tried to give to my teammates.”

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