Growth, development lands JC Smith in CIAA title game 

MATT LACZKO | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Johnson C. Smith linebacker Zach Thomas celebrates after the Golden Bulls' 26-21 win against rival Livingstone Nov. 8, 2025, in Charlotte. JCSU (9-1, 6-1 CIAA) will play Virginia Union (9-1, 7-0) Nov. 15 in the CIAA title game in Durham.

The maturation process of Johnson C. Smith football unfolded before everyone’s eyes.

A year ago, the Golden Bulls found themselves preparing for the offseason after losing their final two games to Fayetteville State and Livingstone to finish 8-2 and miss out on the CIAA title game. This season, after falling to Virginia Union in Week 4, the Golden Bulls had no room for error and needed to win out to reach the postseason showcase. This meant beating Fayetteville State and Livingstone in back-to-back weeks. 

It was not an easy feat as the Broncos and Blue Bears gave the Golden Bulls everything they wanted, but JCSU prevailed to finish 9-1 and earn a trip to Durham for a rematch with Virginia Union.

“What I’ve seen in this group is growth,” Golden Bulls coach Maurice Flowers said. “(Saturday was) Senior Day, so it’s fitting that a lot of them started off as what we call day one guys. They were here when there was still grass on the field and the team was 2-7. But the maturation… we lost [to Fayetteville State and Livingstone] last year and that is a part of the maturation process. We had no choice but to look at the example that Virginia Union set. They are the two-time defending CIAA champions.”

After losing to Virginia Union, it was JCSU’s turn to do what the Panthers did last year: regroup and win out. 

“Coming off that loss, we mowed down a whole lot of doggone good people,” Flowers said. “To end it with your rival who’s going to play you tough, it shows the growth and maturation.”

Flowers took over a struggling program and turned it into a consistent winner with back-to-back seasons with eight wins or more. Once the team opponents regularly scheduled for homecoming, the Golden Bulls are now blowing out. It has been a slow build, but growing a perennial winner takes time. 

“Most of the time, when you are going to build a championship program, you’ve got to take some steps and build,” Flowers said. “And guess what’s going to come with that? Some heartbreak and some lessons. That’s what we’ve been doing. We’ve been learning lessons along the way.”

Now, the Golden Bulls have their biggest chance to show their maturation against Virginia Union for the third time in two seasons.

“I know a part of the message is not going to be about revenge,” Flowers said. “Because they beat us, revenge doesn’t do anything as far as your actual execution. That game taught us a lot. … What our team knows the message after that game was is that Virginia Union played championship level football. They looked like the two-time defending champion and we fell short.

“I’m looking forward to it. I know we are going to have a good week of practice and it’s going to have a lot of energy. We are going to formulate a good plan to go to Durham and play for the 2025 CIAA championship.”

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