ELIZABETH CITY – Johnson C. Smith maintained its undefeated start to the season with a narrow 21-17 victory over Elizabeth City State at Roebuck Stadium on Saturday afternoon, but the 23rd-ranked Golden Bulls had to overcome a third-quarter deficit and relied on a clutch fourth-quarter touchdown pass to secure their CIAA opener.
The victory improved Johnson C. Smith to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play, while Elizabeth City State dropped to 0-3 and 0-1 in the CIAA despite a spirited performance that saw them take their first lead of the game in the third quarter.
Elizabeth City State struck first, methodically driving 41 yards over 11 plays before Benjamin Turner connected on a 23-yard field goal with 7:18 remaining in the opening quarter. The drive consumed nearly seven minutes and set an early tone for what would become a back-and-forth contest.
Johnson C. Smith's response came swiftly and explosively. After taking over at their own 33-yard line, the Golden Bulls needed just three plays to find the end zone. The decisive moment came when Antonio Crim broke free for a 56-yard touchdown run, giving Johnson C. Smith a 7-3 lead after Lukasz Smolen's extra point.
The Golden Bulls extended their advantage early in the second quarter with a more sustained scoring drive. Starting from their own 17-yard line, Johnson C. Smith marched 83 yards in seven plays, capped by Bobby Smith's 5-yard touchdown run. The drive showcased the Golden Bulls' balanced attack, mixing run and pass to keep the Vikings' defense off balance.
Elizabeth City State's offense had struggled to find consistency through much of the first half, but they delivered the game's most spectacular play just before intermission. After the Golden Bulls turned the ball over on downs at the Vikings' 17-yard line, quarterback Christopher Perkins dropped back and found Ka'Trez Bracey on a slant pattern. What started as a routine completion turned into a 91-yard house call as Bracey broke through the Johnson C. Smith secondary for Elizabeth City State's longest play from scrimmage this season.
The explosive touchdown pulled the Vikings within 14-10 at halftime and provided crucial momentum heading into the locker room. Johnson C. Smith had controlled much of the first half, outgaining Elizabeth City State 199 yards to 124, but found themselves with just a four-point advantage.
Elizabeth City State carried that momentum into the third quarter, engineering the game's most impressive sustained drive. Starting from their own 10-yard line after a punt, the Vikings methodically moved downfield with a 13-play, 90-yard march that consumed over five minutes of clock time.
The drive featured contributions from multiple players, with Shamar Sutton providing a 10-yard run and 12-yard reception to help move the chains. Perkins found his rhythm, completing passes to Troy Smith and connecting with Bracey again for a 29-yard gain that set up the go-ahead score. Traquan Johnson finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge, giving Elizabeth City State its first lead at 17-14 with 7:24 remaining in the third quarter.
The lead stood through the remainder of the third quarter as both defenses tightened. Johnson C. Smith mounted several threats but couldn't find the end zone, settling for a missed 29-yard field goal attempt by Smolen early in the fourth quarter, a disappointing end to what had been a nearly eight minute drive.
With time running short and facing the prospect of their first loss, Johnson C. Smith's offense finally broke through with 3:51 remaining. Taking over at their own 38-yard line, the Golden Bulls needed just one play to reclaim the lead. Quarterback Kelvin Durham found Reginald Daniel streaking downfield, and the 62-yard touchdown connection restored Johnson C. Smith's advantage at 21-17.
Elizabeth City State had one final opportunity to answer, but their last drive stalled near midfield when Christopher Perkins' fourth-down pass fell incomplete with 2:35 remaining. Johnson C. Smith then controlled the ball for the final minutes, running out the clock to preserve the victory.
The statistical battle reflected the competitive nature of the game. Johnson C. Smith held slight edges in total offense (358-298) and rushing yards (160-107), while the passing games were nearly identical with the Golden Bulls throwing for 198 yards compared to Elizabeth City State's 191.
Durham completed 18 of 24 passes for Johnson C. Smith, finishing with one touchdown and one interception. His counterpart Perkins connected on 15 of 30 attempts for Elizabeth City State, throwing one touchdown without an interception despite facing consistent pressure that resulted in three sacks.
In the ground game, Smith led Johnson C. Smith with 66 yards on 16 carries and one touchdown, while Crim added 54 yards on just four attempts, including his game-changing 56-yard score. For Elizabeth City State, Johnson carried 17 times for 62 yards and the Vikings' lone rushing touchdown.
The receiving corps for both teams featured standout performances. Johnson C. Smith's Deandre Proctor caught seven passes for 35 yards, while Daniel's lone reception went for the game-winning touchdown. Elizabeth City State's Bracey stole the show with just two catches for 120 yards and a touchdown, with his 91-yard score serving as the game's most memorable play.
Defensively, both teams generated pressure and created turnovers. Johnson C. Smith recorded three sacks, led by Jalen Alexander and Jaxson Hickson who each brought down Perkins once. Elizabeth City State managed one sack and came up with the game's lone interception when Sterling Chavis picked off Durham in the second quarter.
The victory keeps Johnson C. Smith's perfect record intact as they prepare for a challenging road test against defending CIAA champion Virginia Union. For Elizabeth City State, the narrow loss represented their most competitive performance of the young season, providing building blocks as they prepare for next week's Down East Viking Football Classic against Fayetteville State.
Key Performers
Johnson C. Smith:
- Kelvin Durham: 18/24, 198 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
- Bobby Smith: 16 carries, 66 yards, 1 TD
- Antonio Crim: 4 carries, 54 yards, 1 TD; 3 catches, 68 yards
- Reginald Daniel: 1 catch, 62 yards, 1 TD
Elizabeth City State:
- Christopher Perkins: 15/30, 191 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
- Ka'Trez Bracey: 2 catches, 120 yards, 1 TD
- Traquan Johnson: 17 carries, 62 yards, 1 TD
- Sterling Chavis: 1 interception
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