JCSU settles in, improves to 2-1 with romp against WSSU

HERBERT L. WHITE | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Johnson C. Smith won its CIAA opener with a 31-6 result against Winston-Salem State on Sept. 12, 2026, to improve their record to 2-1. The Golden Bulls play Fayetteville State Sept. 19 in their home opener.

WINSTON-SALEM – Jamaris Stevens could see himself making a big play.

On Saturday, he changed Johnson C. Smith’s fortunes with one.

Stevens, a redshirt freshman linebacker, flipped the momentum with a one-handed interception and 57-yard return to break open the Golden Bulls’ 31-6 win at Winston-Salem State in the CIAA opener. His second-quarter pick – Stevens’ first as a collegian – ignited a 14-point swing by killing a Rams’ drive deep into JCSU territory that resulted in Fabian Duncan’s 14-yard touchdown run for a 17-0 advantage.

“I would say that’s something I never expected – to be a one-hand – but coach tells us visualize our play on the field the day before a game,” Stevens said. “I just visualized me getting a pick, making a bunch of plays and put my team in better position.”

Stevens’ heroics – he added a team-high 10 tackles and a sack – was indicative of his growth over three weeks. In the opener at Benedict, he was overwhelmed; against WSSU, he was a menace as Smith limited the Rams to 191 yards total offense, including 88 passing while tallying three sacks.

“He had a really rough game … against Benedict,” Golden Bulls coach Maurice Flowers said. “He looked like a new starter. If you look at him last week [in a win against Albany State], he got better. You look at him today, my goodness, a one-handed interception to thwart a scoring drive, just a heck of an athletic play. But that’s just some of what he possesses. 

“It’s not about talent in this group. This group has talent up and down the roster, but it’s about that continuity and now the consistency. That’s the thing with us. We have to be consistent with everything that we do. That’s what we’re looking to improve upon is the consistency, but that play he made definitely gave us the momentum.”

Said Stevens: “I’m not going to lie. At the Benedict game, I did have a rough game. I talked to my coach about it. He gave me some words of encouragement, so after that, it just stuck with me. I just know the type of player I am, so I just improved every day, every week at practice.”

Stevens isn’t the only newcomer settling in at Smith (2-1, 1-0 CIAA). Quarterback Damien Mazil, a graduate transfer, completed a modest 12-of-27 passes for 187 yards, but a pair went for touchdowns to All-CIAA receiver Brian Lane, including a 70-yard strike. Another transfer, running back Fabian Duncan, continued his hot start by churning through WSSU for 164 yards on 22 carries. It was the third straight game of at least 140 yards rushing for Duncan, a North Mecklenburg High graduate who transferred from Allen.

“I feel like we’re still not scratching the surface of where we can be and where we should be,” Mazil said. “But at the end of the day, it’s still good to get a win, it’s good to see that we’re winning and we’re still not playing our best football. The future’s bright, and I’m excited to see what’s going to happen.”

That starts against Fayetteville State, which is expected to challenge for the CIAA crown along with Smith. The Golden Bulls rallied late to beat the Broncos in Fayetteville last year to seize a berth in the conference title game, and they expect similar intensity Saturday at McGirt Field. 

“Every game in conference is a pivotal game,” Flowers said. “This game just happened at the end of the season last year. When you play Fayetteville State and [Broncos coach] Richard Hayes it’s going to be a well-coached, disciplined team that’s very athletic. They’re going to have good-looking bodies at every position. They’re going to be explosive. You know you’re going to have to play. You’re going to have to earn it.”

Said Mazil: “No matter who we’re playing, we still see every game as a competition. No matter who plays us, we always know they’re going to give us their best game no matter what, so we’re excited to play them.” 

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