JC Smith Golden Bulls stoked for CIAA football stretch run

MATT LACZKO | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Johnson C. Smith defensive tackles D’Andre Martin (1) has been a force for the Golden Bulls’ defense, which has allowed 39 points over the last six games and 71 for the season. Martin has 22 tackles and a team-high 4.5 sacks.

Johnson C. Smith is in the middle of another CIAA title game run.

The Golden Bulls (6-1, 5-0 CIAA) are one of three teams with unblemished conference records going into Saturday’s game at Bowie State. After losing the opener at Benedict, they’ve reeled off six straight wins and outscored their last three opponents 140-12. 

Nothing is a given over the final three games, but JCSU is in position to earn a second straight appearance in the conference final and Division II playoffs. 

“Our first four games of the season, I’d put them against anybody as far as strength of schedule,” coach Maurice Flowers said, “then we had a bye week to regroup, and 2-0 in the conference. That really helped our focus to get on track for this championship run. 

“Every game is a playoff game in the CIAA, and so right now we’re just very fortunate and very glad that we’re still undefeated in the conference, and we’ve earned it.”

The Golden Bulls have tapped into offensive balance in recent weeks as quarterback Damien Mizel’s confidence in the scheme is translating into efficiency. In last week’s 40-6 win against Lincoln (Pa.) he connected on 18-of-24 passes for 266 yards and four touchdowns that tied a career mark set the week before. As a result, defenses must account for unpredictability.

“We didn’t have it earlier in the season, and I’ll just say it’s just a timing thing,” Flowers said. “Damien came to us in the summer, same as Parker [McQuarrie]. If you look at the past transfer quarterbacks we had, they were able to get here in January. Two years ago, (Darius Ocean) was here in January, ended up being an all-conference quarterback. And then you look at last year, you’ve got Kelvin Durham, first-team All-CIAA (who) was familiar with the offense. He came in January. Now this year, the quarterbacks get here in the summer. It makes a difference, even if they’re older.”

Lincoln, like Shaw the week before, gambled on subduing Smith tailbacks Fabian Duncan and Kamarro Edmonds only to have Mazil light them up over the top. Four Golden Bulls caught at least two passes with Brian Lane (seven receptions, 99 yards) and Reggie Daniel (three catches, 93 yards) each scoring twice.

As for Duncan and Edmonds, they combined for 200 yards and a score on 32 carries, with Duncan gaining 146 yards on 23 tries to break the 1,000-yard mark with 1,075. It’s the second straight season Duncan accomplished the feat – he did it at Allen (S.C.) last year – and the first time in JCSU history a Golden Bull went over 1,000 yards in consecutive campaigns. 

Bobby Smith gained 1,030 to earn All-CIAA in 2025. 

“Lincoln’s game plan was to stack the box … eight, nine in the box,” Flowers said. “They forced us to throw, so it’s good to be able to have an offense that can throw the football when you want to, not when you have to. [I’m] just very, very pleased with our work and practice, and that’s translating to the ball game.”

JCSU’s defense, which started the season with 10 new starters has been stellar. The Golden Bulls have conceded a CIAA-best 71 points, 39 over the last six games. All-CIAA linebacker Vincent Hill is the top tackler with 57 with running mate Jamaris Stevens is second at 45 along with two interceptions. The front line has set the tone, allowing just 3.7 yards per play and 3.1 yards per rush.

Much of that credit goes up front where defensive tackles Anthony Binyard and D’Andre Martin have become a force in the middle. Against Lincoln, Binyard accounted for six tackles and 1.5 sacks for his best game with the Golden Bulls.  

Martin, who added three tackles, including one for loss, has 22 tackles and a team-best 4.5 sacks. Binyard, who was out of football for two seasons after All-CIAA honors at Fayetteville State, has 15 tackles and four sacks and perhaps more important, a disruptive element.

“Binyard’s a grown man,” Flowers said. “What you’re seeing with Anthony Binyard is an athlete that was out two years … and he’s in football shape now. If you look at him and his development and growth through the season, it’s really like our team. He’s gotten better each week, and our team has gotten better each week. And our defense, if you look at what they’ve done, they are lights out right now, playing great football.” 

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