Brandon Howard's Kick Lifts JCSU to 13-10 Homecoming Win over Shaw

Charlotte, N.C. (Oct. 21, 2017) – Sophomore kicker Brandon Howard knocked in a 44-yard field goal with a minute remaining to lift Johnson C. Smith University to a 13-10 homecoming win over Shaw on Saturday afternoon at the Irwin Belk Complex.

The kick from Howard, a Columbia, S.C. product, capped a seven-play game-winning drive for the Golden Bulls, sending JCSU to their first win of the season.

The visiting Bears struck first at the 8:25 mark in the first quarter when Beni Kinsemi booted a 33-yard field goal to go up 3-0.

JCSU responded early in the second quarter, when Howard hit a 34-yarder, his first of the day, to cap a seven play, 59-yard drive.  Shaw would take the lead 10-3 lead into the halftime break thanks to a one yard run from quarterback Darron Downing.

JCSU then scored 10 points in the fourth to take the win.  JCSU's lone touchdown of the day came when freshman running back Dedric Robinson (Pageland, S.C.) made his way into the end zone from four yards out. Howard's point-after tied the game at 10-10.

On Shaw's ensuing drive, the JCSU defense held, forcing the Bears to a three-and-out. Following a 32-yard Kinsemi punt to the JCSU 45, JCSU had a four-yard rush followed by an incompletion to bring up third-and-six.  The Bears committed two penalties which awarded the Golden Bulls a first down.  On the next play, JCSU quarterback Terrance Ervin (Richmond, Va.) was intercepted in the end zone and returned to the JCSU 35-yard line, but an offside penalty gave JCSU new life and a first down at the Bear 36-yard line.  Three rushing plays netted JCSU just three yards, setting up the fourth-down play.  Following a JCSU timeout, JCSU's Howard trotted to the field and drilled the 44-yarder for the go-ahead score.

Shaw had one last chance, but a rush for no gain, an incomplete pass and a four-yard gain on a third-and 10 play had the Bears down to their last play.  Shaw quarterback Darron Downing then threw incomplete to turn the ball over on downs with just 19 seconds left.

JCSU would then kneel on the next play to secure the win and improve to 1-7 overall, 1-5 in CIAA play and 1-2 in the Southern Division while Shaw drops to 3-5, 2-3 in league play and 1-2 in the division.

Offensively for JCSU, Ervin led the way, tossing for 203 yards on a 14-of-25 outing with one interception.  Jachin Watkins (New Bern, N.C.) contributed 51 yards rushing on 19 carries while Robinson had 21 yards on seven carries and one touchdown.

JCSU had eight players with at least one reception and had a trio of players secure three catches each.  Senior Eugene Holmes (Columbia, S.C.) had 53 yards, sophomore Braxton Gambrell (Seneca, S.C.) had 52 yards and Desmond Dozier (Longs, S.C.) had 25.

Defensively, JCSU's Kyaire Bynum (Lancaster, Pa.) recorded nine tackles on the day with five being solo stops.  Teammate JeJuan McCalston (Covington, Ga.) also had a good afternoon, tallying six tackles and coming away with an interception.

The Golden Bulls will look to keep the good fortunes going next week, travelling to Raleigh, N.C. to take on St. Augustine's for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff.