Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls

GOLDEN BULLS BEAT BY VIRGINIA UNION AT HOME 34-14

9/19/2009 3:35:25 PM

First conference loss

Charlotte, NC - The Johnson C. Smith University football team tasted their first loss in the CIAA versus Virginia Union University 34-14 on a rainy Saturday evening inside Irwin Belk Complex. JCSU moves to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the conference; while the Panthers improve to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the CIAA.

The Golden Bulls earned their one and only lead of the game with a 38-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by freshman linebacker Michael Coats. The score came in the first quarter with only 39 seconds off the clock. VUU tied up the game on their next drive with a 14-yard touchdown run by Alexander Stevenson. The run completed a nine play, 86 yard drive.

The Panthers scored again in the second quarter with a 37-yard fumble recovery of their own by linebacker Hurley Hemphill. VUU put seven more points on the scoreboard on a 30-yard pass from Chester Hickman to Josh Jean-Pierre. JCSU trailed at halftime 21-7.

At the start of the third quarter, junior receiver Jeremy Franklin recovered a fumble in the end zone for the last JCSU score of the contest. Virginia Union put up two more touchdowns before the close of the game to account for the 34-14 final.

The Golden Bulls had four turnovers (3 fumbles lost, 1 interception), 10 penalties, and allowed 455 yards of total offense (291 rushing, 164 passing). Stevenson finished with 184 yards on the ground off 28 carries and one TD for the Panthers.

Junior quarterback Ryan Carter completed 10 of 15 passes attempted for 116 yards, but he was sacked three times. Franklin is now 22 yards shy of 2,000 yards receiving for his career after making three receptions for 58 yards. Sophomore linebacker Antonio Hall had a productive day with seven tackles, two tackles for a loss of 15 yards, and a sack. Fellow sophomores Phillip Devore and Lamarr Person both had interceptions in the contest.

JCSU will try to bounce back next week when they face St. Paul's College on Saturday, September 26th in the Irwin Belk Complex. Kickoff in this CIAA match-up is scheduled for 6:00 pm.