ELIZABETH CITY, N.C.  - In a tightly contested battle at Roebuck Stadium, #23 ranked Johnson C. Smith University edged out Elizabeth City State University with a late fourth-quarter touchdown to claim a 21–17 victory, Saturday afternoon.

Elizabeth City State opened the scoring midway through the first quarter with a 23-yard field goal from Benjamin Turner. JCSU responded two minutes later, when Antonio Crim broke loose for a 56-yard touchdown run, putting the Golden Bulls up 7–3 after Lukasz Smolen's extra point.

Early in the second quarter, the Golden Bulls struck again — this time with a methodical 7-play, 83-yard drive capped by Bobby Smith's 5-yard touchdown run, stretching the lead to 14–3.

ECSU answered quickly, though. On the very next drive, quarterback Christopher Perkins connected with Ka'Trez Bracey for a 91-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 14–10 heading into halftime.

The Vikings came out in the third quarter, with a 13-play, 90-yard ending in a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Traquan Johnson, giving the Vikings their first lead of the game at 17–14.

With under four minutes to play, JCSU quarterback Kelvin Durham found Reginald Daniel deep for a 62-yard touchdown, putting the Golden Bulls back in front for good, 21–17.

Up next the Golden Bulls will travel to Richmond, VA, and take on the defending CIAA champions Virginia Union University.