Golden Bulls and Virginia State To Clash on Saturday

Charlotte, N.C. (Sept. 7, 2017) – The Johnson C. Smith University football team will look to shake off last week's season opening loss when it hosts Virginia State in a nonconference game on Saturday in the Eddie McGirt Classic.

The Golden Bulls (0-1) dropped a 38-18 decision to local rival Wingate on Sept. 2.  Against the Bulldogs, transfer quarterback Terrance Ervin (Richmond, Va.) threw for 228 yards and one score while rushing for 57 yards and a touchdown in his first game donning the Gold and Blue. Ervin's favorite target on the afternoon, senior receiver
Roderick Carter (Miami, Fla.), hauled in five catches for 81 yards and a touchdown.

JCSU fell down early due to costly mistakes, the most glaring coming on a fumble of the opening kickoff in which Wingate recovered and later cashed in for an early 7-0 lead.  Wingate then jumped ahead 21-0 by the end of the first quarter and went on to the 38-18 win.

Virginia State (1-0) enters the game riding high off a 14-10 road win at FCS opponent Norfolk State.  The Trojans downed the Spartans for the first time since 2005, riding a strong rushing attack.  Trenton Cannon carried for 145 yards on 26 carries for VSU while quarterback Cordelral Cook tossed for 74 yards on a 12-of-19 outing. Cook also threw two interceptions on the evening.

Defensively, the Trojans limited NSU to 214 yards of total offense, with Michael Harris and Malik Sexton each having six tackles. Kurtis Brooks also had a stellar outing, recording four tackles and recording an interception, returning it 19 yards that sealed the 14-10 win.

Saturday's game honors the late Eddie C. McGirt, longtime JCSU football coach that lead the Golden Bulls to the 1969 CIAA Championship, the only conference title in school history.  Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at the Irwin Belk Complex on the JCSU campus.

Game Notes

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