The defending CIAA champion Virginia Union Panthers knock the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls from the ranks of the unbeaten, riding a strong rushing performance to a 28-10 win.
Virginia Union avenges its first loss of the season last weekend against Edward Waters in the HBCU Unity Classic, extending its home win streak to eight games dating back to 2023.
While this game does not count toward the Panthers’ conference record, it serves as Johnson C. Smith’s third straight loss against CIAA opponents, including its losses in its final two games of the year last season.
Panthers running back Curtis Allen posted 108 rushing yards on 23 attempts, accounting for all four of the team’s touchdowns in the game.
Though this was the first game he did not reach 150 rushing yards, Allen has rushed for 100 yards and scored two touchdowns through three games so far this season.
The Panthers’ defense limited Johnson C. Smith to a season-low 298 offensive yards and recorded four sacks, the most the Golden Bulls have allowed in a conference game since 2022.
A lengthy weather delay forced the start of this game to be pushed back by over an hour.
Both teams got off to slow starts on offense, combining for just three first downs through the first four offensive possessions.
Virginia Union got on the scoreboard first, capping a 66-yard drive with a four-yard rushing touchdown by Allen.
Johnson C. Smith would tie the game in the second quarter with a rushing touchdown by Kelvin Durham, capitalizing on a punt return by Brian Lane that game them the best starting field position to that point at midfield.
After trading a pair of turnovers over the next three plays from scrimmage, Virginia Union took the lead back on Allen’s second rushing touchdown.
They would enter halftime with a 14-10 lead after the Golden Bulls hit a 28-yard field goal before the expiration of the first half.
It was in the second half that the Panthers’ defense completely shut down the Golden Bulls, limiting them to 20 offensive yards in four of their first five drives.
Their best starting field position of the second half on their penultimate drive was upended by an illegal block penalty, pushing them from across midfield back onto their territory.
Virginia Union will officially kick off its quest for a third straight CIAA championship when it goes on the road to face Shaw in its conference opener.
