WINSTON-SALEM – Winston-Salem State University is preparing for a major transition in its football program following the announcement that head coach Robert Massey will step down at the end of the year. Massey, who has led the Rams since 2019, informed university officials of his decision and will officially resign effective December 31, 2025. He will continue coaching through December and assist with transition planning, focusing on recruiting, player development, and program operations.

Massey’s tenure at WSSU has been marked by both challenges and achievements. Over six seasons, he compiled a 25-34 overall record, including a 20-23 mark in CIAA conference play. The Rams experienced a difficult stretch with four consecutive losing seasons, the longest such streak for the program since 1976. However, Massey’s leadership brought a turnaround in 2024, when the team posted its only winning record under his guidance, finishing 7-3. The 2025 season saw the Rams end with a 4-6 record, signaling the end of an era.

University officials and student-athletes have expressed gratitude for Massey’s dedication and impact. Chancellor Bonita J. Brown praised his commitment, stating, “Coach Massey has served our student-athletes with dedication and care. We are grateful for his leadership and for the positive impact he has had on Rams Football.” Massey is credited with strengthening recruiting pipelines, improving day-to-day operations, and expanding support systems for student-athletes. His focus extended beyond the field, emphasizing personal growth and the development of a positive team culture.

Reflecting on his time at WSSU, Massey said, “Athletics is about more than competition; it’s about helping young people discover who they can become. I am proud of the student-athletes I’ve been able to coach and the culture we built together. WSSU will always have a special place in my heart.”

Massey’s coaching career began at North Carolina Central, his alma mater, where he served as a wide receivers and defensive backs coach. Before joining WSSU, he held head coaching roles at Livingstone College (interim, 2005-2006) and Shaw University (2012-2015), compiling a combined record of 16-44. His experience as a coach was preceded by a notable NFL career, highlighted by a Pro Bowl selection in 1992 as a member of the Phoenix Cardinals (now Arizona Cardinals).

With Massey’s departure, WSSU will begin the search for its next head football coach. While the process is underway, position coaches and administrative staff will oversee daily activities to ensure continuity. Interim Director of Athletics Eric Burns emphasized the university’s commitment to supporting student-athletes academically, personally, and athletically during the transition.

This was first reported by HBCU Gameday.

GREENSBORO – Guilford College has made the difficult decision to suspend the rest of its football season following a post-game altercation with Averett University on November 8, 2025. The incident, which occurred after the final whistle, was reviewed by the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), resulting in a joint agreement between both institutions to end their seasons immediately.

The ODAC determined that the actions following the game did not meet the conference’s standards for sportsmanship, respect, and conduct. As a consequence, Guilford will forfeit its last scheduled game against Bridgewater College, while Averett will forfeit its matchup with Roanoke College. The conference has offered Bridgewater and Roanoke the opportunity to play each other to complete their seasons.

ODAC Commissioner Brad Bankston emphasized the importance of integrity and respect in collegiate athletics, stating, “Sportsmanship and respect are essential elements of the ODAC experience. While competition is at the heart of what we do, the integrity with which we compete defines who we are. The actions following Saturday's contest did not reflect those values, and this decision underscores our commitment to maintaining the standards our conference represents.”

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Wake Forest earned its highest-ranked road victory in more than four decades Saturday, relying on defense and special teams to defeat No. 12 Virginia 16-9 at Scott Stadium.

Junior Carlos Hernandez broke open a defensive battle late in the second quarter with an 88-yard punt return touchdown, the second-longest in program history and the only touchdown of the night. Redshirt freshman kicker Connor Calvert added field goals from 39, 50, and 49 yards as Wake Forest improved to 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the ACC, clinching bowl eligibility in head coach Jake Dickert’s first season.

Early defensive stands and a special teams spark

Virginia struck first after blocking a Wake Forest punt on the opening series and converting a short field into a 34-yard field goal by Will Bettridge. The Cavaliers extended their lead to 6-0 midway through the second quarter following a 91-yard drive that stalled at the Wake Forest 4-yard line.

Wake Forest’s offense moved inside the Virginia 10 on its next possession but turned the ball over on downs at the 5 after four straight running plays. The Deacon defense held, and Hernandez’s return flipped the game moments later. Fielding a punt near his own 12, Hernandez weaved through traffic down the left sideline for Wake’s first punt return touchdown since 2023, giving the visitors a 7-6 lead with 1:33 remaining in the half.

Less than a minute later, Wake Forest’s defense forced a fumble when defensive lineman Dallas Afalava sacked Virginia quarterback Daniel Kaelin and Langston Hardy recovered at the Cavalier 31. Calvert converted the takeaway into a 39-yard field goal to send the Deacs into halftime ahead 10-6.

Defense preserves the lead

Virginia opened the third quarter with its third field goal of the game, trimming the deficit to 10-9. The Cavaliers had success moving the ball, finishing with 327 total yards to Wake’s 203, but turnovers and red-zone stops proved decisive.

On Virginia’s next series, defensive end Nuer Gatkuoth stripped Kaelin, and linebacker Dylan Hazen recovered at midfield. Calvert’s 50-yard field goal extended the lead to 13-9. Wake’s offense managed only 139 rushing yards and 64 through the air, but its defense forced three fumbles, recovered all of them, and recorded two sacks.

The Deacs used their longest drive of the night, a 16-play, 48-yard march that consumed more than nine minutes, to add Calvert’s final 49-yard kick with 3:53 left in the fourth quarter.

Virginia’s last two possessions ended with turnovers on downs, the final one coming at the Wake Forest 5-yard line in the closing seconds.

Numbers tell the story

Wake Forest converted five of 17 third downs but was 4-for-6 after halftime, keeping the ball for nearly 11 minutes in the fourth quarter. Hazen led the defense with seven tackles, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and 1.5 tackles for loss. Afalava and Gatkuoth each added sacks and forced fumbles.

Virginia outgained Wake Forest 327-203, led by running back J’Mari Taylor’s 98 rushing yards and 30 receiving yards. Kaelin completed 18 of 28 passes for 145 yards before finishing with two lost fumbles. Trell Harris caught six passes for 60 yards.

For Wake Forest, running back Demond Claiborne carried 25 times for 75 yards and added two receptions. Quarterback Robby Ashford completed 7 of 16 passes for 46 yards and rushed for 57 more.

The win marked Wake Forest’s sixth over Virginia in the last seven meetings and its third straight victory in Charlottesville. It also marked the first time since 1964 that the Deacs have beaten both Virginia and Virginia Tech on the road in the same season.

Top performers:

• Carlos Hernandez: 3 punt returns, 124 yards, 1 TD
• Connor Calvert: 3-for-3 FGs (long of 50)
• Dylan Hazen: 7 tackles, 2 FR, 1 FF
• Demond Claiborne: 25 rushes, 75 yards
• J’Mari Taylor (UVA): 19 carries, 98 yards; 7 catches, 30 yards

CULLOWHEE – Mercer needed a 37-yard field goal from Reice Griffith with 90 seconds remaining to survive a record-breaking performance from Western Carolina quarterback Taron Dickens and claim at least a share of the Southern Conference championship with a 49-47 victory Saturday at E.J. Whitmire Stadium.

Dickens threw for a SoCon single-game record seven touchdown passes to five different receivers, finishing 33-of-49 for 551 yards in a back-and-forth shootout that saw the lead change hands multiple times in the fourth quarter. But Griffith's late field goal and a missed 33-yard attempt by Western Carolina's Marcus Trout as time expired allowed the Bears (8-1, 7-0 SoCon) to escape with the victory and secure the league's automatic bid to the FCS playoffs.

The Bears trailed 47-46 with 3:13 remaining after Western Carolina's James Tyre caught a 42-yard touchdown pass from Dickens. Mercer responded with a six-play, 45-yard drive that consumed 1:43 before Griffith connected on his second field goal of the game to put the Bears ahead for good.

Western Carolina (6-4, 5-1 SoCon) had one more chance. Dickens completed passes of 14 yards to Patrick Boyd Jr., 19 yards to Tyre and 20 yards to Malik Knight to move the Catamounts to the Mercer 15-yard line. After three running plays netted just four yards, Western Carolina elected to attempt the field goal rather than try for the first down. Following a Mercer timeout, Trout's kick missed wide right as time expired.

The two teams combined for 1,167 yards of total offense, including 994 through the air, with 10 combined passing touchdowns. Dickens connected with 11 different receivers, while freshman Mercer quarterback Braden Atkinson completed 23 of 39 passes for 443 yards and three touchdowns.

Mercer scored on its opening possession of the second half to take a 25-21 lead on a five-yard touchdown run by CJ Miller, who finished with 91 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. The Bears extended their advantage to 32-21 with 5:12 left in the third quarter when Atkinson found Kendall Harris for a 24-yard touchdown pass, Harris' second scoring catch of the game.

Western Carolina answered immediately. Knight caught a 23-yard pass to start the ensuing drive, and three plays later hauled in a 32-yard touchdown reception to cut the deficit to 32-27. But Miller responded with his third rushing touchdown, a 26-yard run with 24 seconds left in the third quarter, to push Mercer's lead back to 39-27.

The fourth quarter belonged to the Catamounts' passing attack. Knight opened the scoring with a 54-yard touchdown reception just 49 seconds into the period, pulling Western Carolina within 39-34. Mercer answered on its next possession when Atkinson connected with Adjatay Dabbs for an 81-yard touchdown that extended the lead to 46-34 with 13:25 remaining.

Western Carolina needed just three plays to respond. After an incompletion and a two-yard loss, Dickens found Jai Boyd for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 6:13 left, cutting Mercer's advantage to 46-41. The Catamounts forced a three-and-out, then needed just three plays to take the lead. Boyd Jr. gained one yard on first down before Dickens hit Tyre for the go-ahead 42-yard touchdown with 3:13 remaining.

Mercer faced second-and-22 from the Western Carolina 28 after a pass interference penalty wiped out what would have been a go-ahead touchdown pass to Harris. Atkinson completed passes of 10 and negative-two yards to Miller before Griffith's field goal attempt.

The game began as a defensive struggle by comparison to its eventual outcome. Western Carolina took the opening kickoff and needed nine plays to cover 65 yards, with Dickens finding Michael Rossin for a 27-yard touchdown pass with 11:40 left in the first quarter. Mercer answered with a five-play, 68-yard drive capped by Miller's seven-yard touchdown run.

Western Carolina regained the lead early in the second quarter when Dickens threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Boyd Jr., making it 14-7. But Mercer scored the next nine points, including a safety when Jordan Swain sacked Dickens in the end zone, followed by a six-yard touchdown pass from Atkinson to Harris that gave the Bears a 15-14 lead.

Dickens responded with his third touchdown pass of the half, a 25-yard strike to Rossin that capped an 11-play, 79-yard drive and gave Western Carolina a 21-15 lead with 5:25 left in the second quarter. Mercer drove to the Western Carolina seven but settled for Griffith's 24-yard field goal with 1:43 remaining in the half, leaving the Catamounts ahead 21-18 at halftime.

The teams traded punts to open the second half before Mercer took over at its own 25 following a touchback. The Bears needed just five plays to score, with Miller capping the 75-yard drive with his second touchdown run. After Western Carolina punted, Mercer recovered a fumble at the Catamounts' 35-yard line. Four plays later, Atkinson hit Harris for the 24-yard touchdown that extended the lead to 32-21.

Knight finished with five receptions for a career-high 141 yards and two touchdowns for Western Carolina. Boyd Jr. caught seven passes for a career-best 93 yards and a score, while Rossin had three catches for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Tyre finished with three receptions for 78 yards and his 11th touchdown catch of the season, the most in the SoCon.

For Mercer, Dabbs led all receivers with four catches for 147 yards and a touchdown. Harris caught six passes for 73 yards and two scores, while Miller added three receptions for 57 yards to go with his rushing total, giving him 148 yards of total offense.

Samaurie Dukes led Western Carolina with a career-high 13 tackles, while Hasaan Sykes added 10 stops. Micah Nelson, Ken Moore Jr. and Caleb Fisher each recorded a tackle for loss. The Catamounts registered eight quarterback hurries, including two each by Jordan Thompson and Justin Wallace.

Julian Fox paced Mercer's defense with 13 tackles, and Drew Clare added 10 stops plus a fumble recovery. The Bears recorded four sacks from four different players, with Swain's safety coming on his sack in the second quarter. Kaleb Hutchinson recorded Mercer's only interception, picking off Dickens at the goal line as time expired in the first half.

The victory gives Mercer at least a share of the 2025 SoCon regular-season championship with one game remaining. The Bears clinched the league's automatic qualifier to the NCAA FCS playoffs by securing the tiebreaker over Western Carolina, the only team that can match their conference record. Mercer hosts Chattanooga next Saturday.

Western Carolina hosts East Tennessee State next Saturday in its regular-season finale on Senior Day.

Top Performers

• Taron Dickens, WCU: 33-of-49 passing, 551 yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT (SoCon single-game record for TD passes)
• Braden Atkinson, Mercer: 23-of-39 passing, 443 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT
• Malik Knight, WCU: 5 receptions, 141 yards, 2 TDs
• CJ Miller, Mercer: 21 rushes for 91 yards and 3 TDs; 3 receptions for 57 yards
• Adjatay Dabbs, Mercer: 4 receptions, 147 yards, 1 TD
• Kendall Harris, Mercer: 6 receptions, 73 yards, 2 TDs
• Patrick Boyd Jr., WCU: 7 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TD
• Samaurie Dukes, WCU: 13 tackles
• Julian Fox, Mercer: 13 tackles

FAYETTEVILLE – Fayetteville State closed its regular season with a 31-21 victory over Winston-Salem State on Saturday at Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium, honoring 16 seniors on their final home game. The Broncos improved to 6-4 overall and 6-1 in CIAA play, while the Rams finished 4-6 and 3-5 in conference action.

The Broncos defense set the tone immediately when Terrell Ford intercepted Daylin Lee's pass on Winston-Salem State's first play from scrimmage, returning it to midfield. Though Fayetteville State couldn't capitalize on that opening turnover, the defensive intensity established early would pay dividends throughout the afternoon.

Winston-Salem State struck first midway through the opening quarter when Lee connected with Jayden Grimes on a 10-yard touchdown pass, capping a seven-play, 74-yard drive. The Rams took a 7-0 lead with 9:04 remaining in the first quarter.

Fayetteville State answered quickly. Bryce Council returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards to the FSU 41-yard line, providing excellent field position. Six plays later, Council punched in a 14-yard touchdown run with 5:51 left in the quarter to tie the game at 7-7.

The Broncos took their first lead of the game as time expired in the first quarter. Quarterback Joe Owens Jr. orchestrated a six-play, 51-yard drive that culminated in a 17-yard touchdown pass to Kahlil Ashley-Diarrah as the clock hit zero, giving Fayetteville State a 14-7 advantage heading into the second quarter.

The game's momentum swung back to Winston-Salem State early in the second period when Noah Marshall broke free for a 71-yard touchdown run just 49 seconds into the quarter, tying the score at 14-14. Marshall's explosive play was part of a two-play, 75-yard drive that took less than a minute off the clock.

The Rams quickly reclaimed the lead when Lee found Grimes again, this time for a 37-yard touchdown strike. The scoring pass came on a five-play, 80-yard drive that consumed 2:47 and gave Winston-Salem State a 21-14 lead with 6:31 remaining in the half.

Fayetteville State refused to let the Rams take that advantage into halftime. The Broncos mounted an 11-play, 70-yard drive in the final 1:44 of the second quarter. Owens completed passes to Kristian Golden for 12 yards and 13 yards, and scrambled for 19 yards himself to move the ball deep into Winston-Salem State territory. When the drive stalled, John Hernandez-Vargas converted a 27-yard field goal as time expired, cutting the deficit to 21-17 at the break.

The halftime adjustments proved decisive for Fayetteville State. The Broncos took the second-half kickoff and embarked on a 14-play, 75-yard drive that consumed 6:26 of the third quarter. Council ripped off a 20-yard run early in the possession, and Owens connected with Unique Kelly for a 12-yard gain to convert a first down. The drive appeared to stall near the goal line, but Winston-Salem State was called for pass interference on third-and-10 from the 10-yard line, moving the ball to the 2-yard line. Caden Davis converted the short-yardage opportunity with a 1-yard touchdown plunge, giving the Broncos a 24-21 lead with 8:34 left in the third quarter.

The Broncos defense, which had yielded 21 points in the first half, locked down after intermission. Winston-Salem State managed just 22 yards on five plays during its only third-quarter possession, and the Rams would not score again.

Fayetteville State extended its lead early in the fourth quarter. Following the defensive stop, the Broncos drove 65 yards in 10 plays. Braylon Vinson capped the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run on the first play of the final period, pushing the advantage to 31-21 with 14:53 remaining.

Winston-Salem State tried to mount a comeback. The Rams put together a 13-play drive that reached the Fayetteville State 26-yard line, but Lee's pass was intercepted by Kaydin Thomas at the FSU 27 with 6:52 left in the game. The turnover ended Winston-Salem State's best scoring opportunity of the second half.

The Rams forced a punt and got the ball back at their own 25-yard line with 3:12 remaining. Lee completed passes to Grimes and Ruff, and JaQuan Kelly converted a fourth-and-2 with a 12-yard run to keep the drive alive at the Winston-Salem State 45. But the comeback attempt ended when Shawn Robinson sacked Lee for a 9-yard loss, and two plays later, Amari Best intercepted Lee's pass at the Fayetteville State 19-yard line with 50 seconds remaining. Council's three consecutive carries ran out the clock and sealed the victory.

Owens finished 18-of-24 passing for 195 yards and one touchdown, while Davis added a 4-yard completion on his only pass attempt. Owens also contributed 39 yards rushing on six carries. Council led all rushers with 91 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries, while also hauling in three receptions for 32 yards. Vinson added 56 yards and a score on eight rushing attempts, and Davis rushed for 24 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.

Kelly paced the receiving corps with three catches for 47 yards, while Ashley-Diarrah recorded five receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown. Golden added three catches for 34 yards, and Council contributed three receptions for 32 yards out of the backfield.

Lee completed 15-of-23 passes for 193 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions for Winston-Salem State. Marshall carried five times for 77 yards and a touchdown, averaging 15.4 yards per attempt. Kelly rushed 12 times for 60 yards, and Timothy TJ Ruff added 31 yards on five carries.

Grimes caught five passes for 59 yards and both of the Rams' touchdown receptions. Davontay Deloatch led Winston-Salem State receivers with four catches for 70 yards, while Kelly added two receptions for 22 yards.

Defensively, Camden Martin paced the Rams with 12 tackles, including six solo stops. Evan Powell recorded nine tackles, and Jamieson Alston contributed eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Jaylyn Norris registered the Rams' only sack, bringing down Davis for a 6-yard loss in the third quarter.

Matthew Leach led Fayetteville State's defense with eight tackles. Reginald Troutman added seven tackles, while Keyshawn Monk contributed five stops. Best, Thomas and Ford each recorded interceptions, giving the Broncos a decisive 3-0 edge in the turnover battle. Robinson registered 1.5 sacks for 9 yards in losses.

Fayetteville State converted 10-of-14 third-down attempts and went 5-for-5 in the red zone, scoring four touchdowns and one field goal. The Broncos outgained Winston-Salem State 409-356 in total offense and held a 210-163 advantage in rushing yards. Fayetteville State maintained possession for 32:52 compared to Winston-Salem State's 27:08.

The Rams converted just 3-of-9 third downs and struggled to sustain drives in the second half, managing only three first downs after halftime. Winston-Salem State went 1-for-1 in red zone opportunities, scoring a touchdown on its only trip inside the 20-yard line.

Key Performances:

• Joe Owens Jr. (FSU): 18-of-24 passing, 195 yards, 1 TD; 39 rushing yards
• Bryce Council (FSU): 91 rushing yards, 1 TD; 32 receiving yards
• Braylon Vinson (FSU): 56 rushing yards, 1 TD
• Daylin Lee (WSSU): 15-of-23 passing, 193 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs
• Noah Marshall (WSSU): 77 rushing yards, 1 TD on 5 carries
• Jayden Grimes (WSSU): 5 receptions, 59 yards, 2 TDs

CHARLOTTE – Johnson C. Smith rallied late to defeat Livingstone 26-21 on Saturday at the Irwin Belk Complex, improving to 9-1 on the season while dropping the Blue Bears to 5-5. The victory clinched a spot in the CIAA championship game next Saturday against Virginia Union at Durham County Stadium.

The Golden Bulls led 20-14 at halftime but fell behind 21-20 early in the third quarter before regaining the lead for good on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Kelvin Durham to Deandre Proctor with 4:59 remaining in the fourth quarter. Durham found Proctor on a left sideline route that capped a six-play, 50-yard drive and gave Johnson C. Smith the lead back after trailing for most of the second half.

Bobby Smith carried the offensive load for the Golden Bulls, rushing 37 times for 164 net yards and a touchdown. His 36-yard run with 3:55 left in the game set up the winning score, moving the ball from the Johnson C. Smith 40 to the Livingstone 24. Smith averaged 4.4 yards per carry and consistently moved the chains on third- and fourth-down situations.

Durham completed 16 of 29 passes for 186 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked twice but also contributed 16 net yards on six rushing attempts when the pocket collapsed. Proctor emerged as his primary target, catching seven passes for 79 yards and the decisive fourth-quarter touchdown.

Johnson C. Smith opened the scoring when Bobby Smith rushed 8 yards for a touchdown with 9:20 left in the first quarter, finishing an eight-play, 80-yard drive. The Blue Bears answered just 13 seconds later when Elijah Alexander connected with Davyn Reid on an 80-yard touchdown strike down the right side, tying the game at 7-7.

The Golden Bulls built their halftime lead with three consecutive scoring drives in the second quarter. Lukasz Smolen kicked a 40-yard field goal with 10:02 remaining in the half to put Johnson C. Smith ahead 10-7. The 16-play, 71-yard drive consumed nearly 10 minutes and featured Bobby Smith's power running and short Durham completions to Proctor and Brian Lane.

Rontay Dunbar returned an interception for a touchdown at 8:31 of the second quarter, extending Johnson C. Smith's lead to 17-7. The pick-six came during a Livingstone drive that had reached the Johnson C. Smith 42-yard line.

Livingstone cut the deficit to 17-14 when Alexander hit Reid for a 65-yard touchdown with 1:49 left in the second quarter. The score came on the second play of a four-play, 98-yard drive that took just 54 seconds and marked the second time the duo connected on a long scoring play.

Johnson C. Smith answered with a 10-play, 44-yard march that ended with Smolen's 48-yard field goal as time expired in the half, giving the Golden Bulls a 20-14 halftime advantage.

The momentum shifted dramatically seven seconds into the third quarter. E'shawn Carter intercepted Durham at the Livingstone 15 and returned it for a touchdown, giving the Blue Bears their first lead since the opening quarter at 21-20 after Jason Zapata's extra point.

Johnson C. Smith's offense struggled for much of the third quarter but the defense kept Livingstone from extending its lead. Vincent Hill led the Golden Bulls with seven solo tackles and three tackles for loss. The defense forced Livingstone into difficult situations throughout, holding the Blue Bears to 0-for-9 on third-down conversions for the game.

Livingstone managed just 38 net yards rushing on 19 attempts, averaging 2.0 yards per carry. Javen Parker led the Blue Bears with 24 net yards on 12 carries, but the offense could not sustain drives on the ground. The Blue Bears completed just 7 of 21 passes, with Alexander going 4-for-7 for 161 yards and two touchdowns before being replaced by Trisitan McClary, who went 3-for-14 for 38 yards and two interceptions.

Reid provided the offensive spark for Livingstone, catching three passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns while also returning two kickoffs for 39 yards. His ability to stretch the field vertically kept the Blue Bears competitive despite their offensive struggles.

Johnson C. Smith converted 7 of 17 third-down attempts and possessed the ball for 41 minutes and 14 seconds compared to Livingstone's 18:46. The Golden Bulls controlled the game through Smith's ground attack and their ability to sustain long drives.

The Blue Bears' special teams struggled in key moments. Javon Pray punted eight times for a 41.3-yard average. Johnson C. Smith averaged 24.7 yards per punt on seven attempts by Smolen.

Johnson C. Smith's go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter started at the 50-yard line following a punt. Durham completed a 21-yard pass to Maliek Carter on third-and-8 to move the ball to the Livingstone 27. Bobby Smith then rushed three times for 3 yards total before Durham found Proctor for the winning touchdown.

Livingstone's final chance came with 1:11 remaining when McClary took over at the Blue Bears' 19-yard line. However, TyQueron Hines intercepted McClary's first pass attempt, giving Johnson C. Smith possession and allowing the Golden Bulls to run out the clock.

Johnson C. Smith's defense recorded three interceptions and held Livingstone to nine first downs. Elijah Wilson intercepted a pass in the second quarter that he returned for minus-15 yards before Dunbar's pick-six gave the Golden Bulls a double-digit lead.

The victory sends Johnson C. Smith to the CIAA championship game against Virginia Union, the team responsible for the Golden Bulls' only loss this season. The Panthers defeated Johnson C. Smith 28-10 earlier this year at Virginia Union, and the Golden Bulls will have a chance to avenge that defeat in next Saturday's title game.

Key Performers

Johnson C. Smith:

• Bobby Smith: 37 rushes, 164 yards, 1 TD
• Deandre Proctor: 7 receptions, 79 yards, 1 TD
• Kelvin Durham: 16-of-29 passing, 186 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
• Vincent Hill: 7 solo tackles, 3 TFL
• Lukasz Smolen: 2-for-2 field goals (40, 48 yards)

Livingstone:

• Davyn Reid: 3 receptions, 156 yards, 2 TD
• E'shawn Carter: 1 interception return for TD
• Elijah Alexander: 4-of-7 passing, 161 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
• Velson Seide: 8 solo tackles, 9 total tackles