JC Smith rallies for 39-33 OT win against Virginia State

PHOTOS BY TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Johnson C. Smith running back Fabian Duncan (1) celebrates after an 11-yard touchdown catch in Johnson C. Smith's 39-33 overtime win against Virginia State at Eddie McGirt Field on Oct. 31, 2026. Duncan rushed for 203 yards and a pair of scores, including the game-winner, on a season-high 39 carries.

Fabian Duncan demanded the ball with J.C. Smith’s season on the line.

The junior running back delivered with 222 yards of total offense and three touchdowns, including a 19-yard walk-off run to lift the Golden Bulls to a 39-33 overtime win against Virginia State. Duncan made quick work of his opportunity when linebacker Vincent Hill’s strip-sack of Rashaan Matthews ended the Trojans’ lone possession post-regulation.

“It’s crunch time, so it’s like ‘with all due respect coach, give me the rock,’” said Duncan, a North Mecklenburg High graduate who rumbled for 203 yards and two scores on a season-high 39 carries as well as an 11-yard touchdown catch. “He called something else at first, and I told him, ‘No disrespect, but lean on me.’ I really appreciate that.”

JCSU coach Maurice Flowers deferred, and after gaining 6 yards on his first two overtime carries, Duncan beat Virginia State’s defense to the perimeter for the game-winner. The result left both teams 7-2 overall and 6-1 in the CIAA with JCSU holding the tiebreaker for a berth in the conference title game if they can beat Livingstone next week in Salisbury. Virginia State can advance with a win next week against Virginia Union (8-1, 7-0).

“Our fans got a treat on Halloween, but glad to get the win against a very good Virginia State team,” Flowers said. “A lot was said about the loss last week and things like that, but we have a saying in our program: we don’t lose, we learn, and we learned some things about ourselves last week.”  

Johnson C. Smith's Divine Ohiaeri returned a blocked kick for a defensive two-point conversion in the second quarter for a 19-13 Golden Bulls lead.

The Golden Bulls shook off last week’s 16-13 loss at Bowie State by leaning on what they do best: run the ball and create stops on defense. They roared to a 26-13 halftime lead by controlling possession for 22 minutes, 30 seconds compared to 7:30 for Virginia State while Duncan racked up 114 yards rushing. JCSU limited the Trojans to a single touchdown on two trips inside the Golden Bulls’ 20 while Smith converted all three red zone possessions into paydirt. 

JCSU’s special teams came up big as well. The Golden Bulls blocked three kicks, including Marque Vereen knockdown of a 23-yard field goal try with 1:17 in regulation and a two-point return by Divine Ohiaeri for a 19-13 Smith lead.

“I’m just so proud of our young men and how they attacked the week, and I’m so proud of how they played in the game today,” Flowers said. “There were several times a lot of teams would have folded under the pressure that Virginia State was putting on offense and defense. … The heart of a champion is something that you can’t measure, and that was definitely on display today by these Golden Bulls.”

That heart was tested in the second half. Virginia State, which outgained the Golden Bulls 614 yards to 474, scored twice to deadlock the score at 26-all in the third quarter before JCSU responded with a 64-yard pass from Damien Mazil (15-of-29, 256 yards and three touchdowns) to Reggie Brigman (two catches, 98 yards). The Trojans answered with a 14-yard strike from Matthews (25-of-38, 476 yards, 3 TDs) to McKenzie Nazir with 4:46 left.

JCSU receiver Brian Lane gathers in a 36-yard touchdown pass from Damien Mazil for a second-quarter touchdown. Lane caught three passes for 49 yards.

The Golden Bulls were better at complimentary football down the stretch, though, between Vereen’s kick block to force overtime, Hill’s strip-sack and Duncan’s closing dash.

“Virginia State is a very good team,” said Hill, who led Smith with 11 tackles. “Good teams are going to make good plays. It’s about limiting those plays and containing those plays. As far as the energy, coach says all the time energy is contagious.” 

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