Defense played strong, but allowed 372 yards of total offense against ECSU
Box Score
Elizabeth City, NC – The Johnson C. Smith University 2010 football season started off with a disappointing 45-27 loss to Elizabeth City State University on Saturday afternoon inside Roebuck Stadium. JCSU moves forward with a 0-1 record overall and in the CIAA, while the Vikings are 1-0 overall and in the conference.
The Golden Bulls started off sluggish on their first possession of the 2010 season. Senior quarterback
Ryan Carter (Charlotte, NC) misfired on his first two pass attempts; then completed a five yard pass to junior running back Archie Barrow (Winston-Salem, NC). Freshman
Terrell Tyrance (Charlotte, NC) let the ball get away on the fourth and five punt attempt and Zavis Padgett recovered the fumble on the JCSU 24.
Elizabeth City marched down to the JCSU two yard line, the defense held the Vikings to a 23-yard field goal by Danny Heimrich. J.C. Smith trailed 3-0 with 8:19 left in the first quarter. Redshirt freshman
Tyler Rabb (Shelby, NC) ended up punting from the JCSU 39 on the Golden Bulls' next possession. Creven Powell found Daronte McNeill in the flats on the right side; with some elusiveness and good down field blocking, McNeill turned the pass into a 75-yard touchdown reception. After the extra point, the Vikings led 10-0 with 6:11 in the first.
On the following JCSU possession, Carter converted a third down with an 18-yard completion to Barrow. On the next play, Carter overthrew senior receiver
Jeremy Franklin (Casselberry, FL) which resulted in an interception by Tolbert Matthews. Before the Vikings offense could really capitalize, Powell had a pass tipped and intercepted by senior defensive back Girard Miller (Winston-Salem, NC). Miller returned the pick to the ECSU 34.
It only took two plays for Carter to find freshman receiver
Chrishawn Rhyne in the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown. The first quarter came to a close with ECSU ahead 10-7.
A turnover (fumble) was committed on a scramble by Carter in the second and recovered by Malcolm Jenkins at the JCSU 34. The Vikings rumbled down to the goal line and D. McNeill punched the ball in for a one yard TD. ECSU regained possession after blocking a punt and recovering on the JCSU 37. A 37-ayrd flea flicker from Arlington Scott to Dexter Manley put the Vikings back in the end zone and up 24-7 with 9:10 before halftime. The score would remain the same (24-7) going into the second half.
Ryan Carter started off the third quarter as a head hunter with back-to-back touchdown passes to draw the Golden Bulls within three (24-21). First, Carter capped off a seven play, 64-yard drive with a 16 yard touchdown reception to sophomore running back
Dedrick Anderson (Winston-Salem, NC) on the left side. After an ECSU punt, Carter followed up with a 10 yard TD strike to senior tight end
Markus Gray (Newberry, SC) to complete a seven play, 69-yard drive.
However with his confidence soaring, Carter threw an errand pass which was intercepted and returned 33 yards for a touchdown by defensive lineman Devon Price. The Golden Bulls punted on their next offense possession. Cedric Blacknall pushed the ECSU lead to 38-21 with a three yard touchdown run to conclude an 11-play, 82 yard drive.
Johnson C. Smith refused to go down without a fight, bouncing back with a 14-play, 64 drive to score a touchdown on a three yard run by Barrow. Rabb missed on the extra point, which made the score 38-27 ECSU. Vikings started their next offensive possession at the JCSU 30 due to a short kickoff. Blacknall would score again from the three yard line, giving Elizabeth City a 45-27 advantage.
Neither team would score again, putting this game in the books for both. Carter finished 23-of-45 with 308 yards passing, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Anderson gained 67 yards on the ground with nine carries and Franklin had eight catches for 83 yards receiving. Junior defensive back
Darius Johnson (Atlanta, GA) led JCSU on defense with eight tackles and two pass break-ups.
Despite the loss, the Golden Bulls gained 416 yards of total offense and scored on three of their four red zone visits.
J.C. Smith travels again to face their next opponent on Thursday, September 2nd against North Carolina Central University at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 pm.
