Lance Harris returning a fumble 94 yards for a game winning touchdown in the 4th Quarter against Virginia State
Box Score vs. Virginia State
Photo Gallery
Charlotte, NC – The Johnson C. Smith University football team stayed on course and prevailed for a 14-7 victory against Virginia State University on Saturday afternoon inside the Irwin Belk Complex. JCSU improves to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the CIAA after their first conference contest of the season.
This ball game started off as a stalemate with both teams feeling each other out. William Rudd received a lot of playing time in the first half for Virginia State. Fortunately for JCSU, Mr. Rudd is the Virginia State punter. Rudd came out to punt on three of the first four Trojans offensive drives. On the first drive, Rudd had a 39 yard field goal attempt blocked.
The first quarter ended without a score for either team. JCSU finally put together a nine play, 81-yard scoring drive in the second quarter. After driving the team to the VSU seven; freshman quarterback
Keahn Wallace (Homestead, FL) connected with sophomore receiver
Avius Capers (Charlotte, NC) on a fade route to the left for the touchdown.
Capers' touchdown would be the only score of the first half.
J. C. Smith started the second half with the rock, but their drive concluded with a turnover. On third and five, Wallace had a pass intercepted by Sean Smith at the JCSU 46 yard line. VSU would get into the end zone on their next offensive possession. Antwain Lyde scored a TD on a three yard carry for the Trojans. Virginia State had to use 12 plays to go 46 yards for that score.
The contest remained tied 7-7 apiece heading into the fourth quarter. Virginia State had an opportunity to put more points on the board at the 8:41 mark. Rudd attempted a 32 yard field goal, but it sailed wide left. Neither team could seem to find their rhythm late in the game; or at least rhythm enough to finish with a score.
Senior
Julius Wright (Ft. Worth) checked-in to punt for JCSU with less than three minutes to play. To start the drive, Jarred Battle found Timothy Paulk on a slant route that went 63 yards to the JCSU eight yard line. Paulk broke a tackle and spirited from the right side of the field nearly the goal line on the left. Senior defensive back
Lamarr Person (Atlanta, GA) saved the touchdown by not giving up on the play and taking down the Paulk.
After two rushing attempts, VSU faced a third and goal on the Golden Bull one yard line. Lyde bobbled a direct snap leaving a free ball on the ground. Junior defensive back
Lance Harris (Encino, CA) scooped up the loose ball and returned the fumble 94 yards for the touchdown.
VSU began their final drive with 46 seconds remaining on the clock. The game was sealed on an interception by freshman defensive back Charles Frantz (Miami, FL).
Reigning CIAA Offensive Back and Rookie of the Week
Keahn Wallace finished with 191 yards off 19-of-31 passing. He had one touchdown in the air, two interceptions, and 77 yards rushing.
Defense was really the story for this Johnson C. Smith victory. Junior linebacker
Michael Coats (Greenwood, SC) swarmed to the ball for five solo tackles, five assists, and a pass break-up. Sophomore safety
Gabriel Franklin (Casselberry, FL) got in on six assists and four solo tackles with a break-up. Aside from the game-winning 94 yard fumble return, Harris had three solo tackles.
The Golden Bulls have entered a new page of history into their program's vault with this win. J.C. Smith last won two of their first three games during the 2006 season under then head coach, Daryl McNeill. JCSU has not won their first CIAA contest of the season since 1998; then head coach Bill Davis topped Bowie State 14-12.
Up next for Johnson C. Smith are the Wildcats of Davidson College. This will be the third time Davidson and J.C. Smith have met on the gridiron. JCSU was victorious over the Wildcats in Memorial Stadium (18-15) during the 1989 season. Davidson evened the series the next year with a 17-7 win on their home field. The Wildcats compete in the Division I-FCS Pioneer League and look to showcase their new artificial turf field during the Saturday, September 24th matchup at 7:00 p.m. inside Richardson Stadium.
