JCSU makes statement with 20-14 win against Fayetteville State 

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Kamarro Edmonds rushed for 55 yards and a pair of touchdowns on nine carries in Johnson C. Smith's 20-14 win against Fayetteville State in a CIAA game at McGirt Field on Sept. 19, 2026. The Golden Bulls improved to 3-1, 2-0 in conference games.

Johnson C. Smith’s Golden Bulls have a good thing going.

For the second straight season, they beat Fayetteville State in the final minute with a defining fourth down conversion to keep the drive alive. Perhaps more important, they delivered a 20-14 win at Eddie McGirt Field in the face of adversity for their third straight victory and a 2-0 record in CIAA games.

“Today we got better,” Golden Bulls coach Maurice Flowers said. “Hats off to our young men having the right attitude throughout the week of wanting to get better and that’s what you saw today. It was a group that wanted to get better. There was no panic. We grew up some today.”

JCSU (3-1), which has its first winning streak against Fayetteville State (2-2, 1-1) since 1998-99, is showing more maturity after opening the season with a loss at Benedict. The Golden Bulls twice recovered from deficits, including after falling behind after Jamir Dismukes’ 30-yard run with 7 minutes, 4 seconds left gave Fayetteville State a 14-13 advantage. JCSU marched 75 yards on 12 plays capped by Kamarro Edmonds’ 6-yard run around right end with 49 seconds left. The key play was Damien Mazil’s (10-of-19 passing, 169 yards) 24-yard completion to Brian Lane (six catches, 108 yards) on fourth-and-4 at the Broncos’ 36 to sustain the drive.

“I’m going to send the congrats to my o-line because without them, I wouldn’t have scored that touchdown,” said Edmonds, who rushed for 55 yards and a pair of scores on nine carries.

Said Flowers: “We never said panic. We came back when we were down. We were down 7-0. Took the lead, up 10-7 at half; down late. That’s the time to get down. We really were dominating the football game, just had some empty drives. I really felt like we should have been up more than a point, more than a field goal, more than a touchdown, and you pay for it by keeping (Fayetteville State) around, by not cashing in on some things. Just great mindset for our football team. Really a guts win, a program win for us as we head into the bye week.”

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Johnson C. Smith cornerback Rossie Grimes tackles Fayetteville State running back Isaiah Silver in the Golden Bulls' 20-14 win, their second straight against the Broncos since 1998-99.

JCSU outgained Fayetteville State 384 yards to 252, with the Golden Bulls’ potent ground attack producing 215 yards. North Mecklenburg High alumnus Fabian Duncan rumbled for 159 yards on 30 carries – the fourth straight game he’s rushed for more than 140.

“Me and Fabian talk about [complementing each other] all the time,” Edmonds said. “We pack a punch. He’ll go in, tear them up, then knock a sub in, tear them up, and we just keep going back and forth. We just compete every day, and we just keep going.”

The Golden Bulls were just as physical on defense, limiting the Broncos to 119 rushing yards on 30 carries and 4-of-12 on third down conversions. Dismukes accounted for 162 yards, but outside of his go-ahead touchdown scamper on fourth-and-3, JCSU didn’t concede game-turning plays.

“We preached all week on the defensive side of the ball Fayetteville State … carries themselves with pride,” Golden Bulls linebacker Vincent Hill (team-high 11 tackles) said. “They’re a tough program. We know that. We know they’re going to come in and fight, but like (defensive coordinator Barry Tripp) said all week, we have to have sustained energy and effort. You have to withstand being physical, having great effort, having great alignment and assignment every play. If we can sustain that for four quarters, down the stretch, we’re going to win a lot of games.” 

The difference between last year’s 17-14 result in Fayetteville and Saturday’s win is experience. This year’s squad is decidedly younger compared to last season’s CIAA title squad that included more than 30 seniors. They’re winning while learning and atop the CIAA with an open week to improve ahead of the stretch drive.

“I told our guys, they’re definitely more talented, but our chemistry and togetherness and complementary football had to get better,” Flowers said. “These guys really grabbed the bull by the horns and had a focus to get better, and that’s what we did today.” 

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