Image I a Pro Football Hall of Fame
CANTON, Ohio — Johnson C. Smith University made a statement on the national stage Sunday afternoon, using a dominant rushing attack and opportunistic defense to defeat Albany State University 27-7 in the seventh annual Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
The matchup featured the defending CIAA champion Golden Bulls against the defending SIAC champion Golden Rams, bringing two of Division II’s premier HBCU football programs together in Canton.
Johnson C. Smith controlled the game from the second quarter forward, building a 20-0 halftime advantage before extending its lead to 27-0 early in the third quarter. Albany State finally broke through in the fourth quarter, but the Golden Bulls had already done more than enough to secure the victory.
Duncan Delivers Three-Touchdown Performance
The biggest difference-maker was Johnson C. Smith running back Fabian Duncan, who turned in a spectacular performance.
Duncan carried the ball 21 times for 144 yards and three touchdowns, including scoring runs of 4, 2 and 40 yards. His 40-yard touchdown came early in the third quarter and capped an 82-yard Golden Bulls scoring drive.
The performance gave JCSU exactly what it needed: a physical rushing attack capable of controlling the tempo and consistently putting Albany State’s defense under pressure.
Quarterback Damien Mazil also played an important role in the victory. Making his first start of the season, Mazil completed 12 of 18 passes for 184 yards without throwing a touchdown or interception.
Together, Mazil and Duncan helped Johnson C. Smith produce a remarkably balanced offensive performance.
The Golden Bulls finished with 369 total yards, including 185 rushing yards and 184 passing yards.
Golden Bulls Defense Sets the Tone
While Duncan received much of the attention, Johnson C. Smith’s defense was just as important.
The Golden Bulls forced four Albany State turnovers, including three interceptions, while limiting the Golden Rams to 227 total yards.
Albany State managed only 79 rushing yards and completed 12 of 32 passes for 148 yards.
Johnson C. Smith also held a significant advantage in first downs, 19-12, and controlled possession for 33:51, more than seven minutes longer than Albany State’s 26:09.
The Golden Bulls’ defense kept Albany State off the scoreboard for the first three quarters and prevented the Rams from sustaining the offensive momentum they showed during their opening possessions.
Albany State Shows Fight in Fourth Quarter
The Golden Rams refused to leave Canton without getting on the scoreboard.
Quarterback Xavier Irizarry entered in the fourth quarter and helped engineer Albany State’s best scoring drive of the afternoon.
On fourth-and-5, Vinson Berry connected with Jaquan Graham for a 23-yard touchdown with 11:31 remaining.
Graham finished as Albany State’s leading receiver with four catches for 95 yards and a touchdown.
But the comeback opportunity ended quickly. Albany State’s offense threw interceptions on its next two possessions, allowing Johnson C. Smith to close out the victory.
Scoring by Quarter
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
| Johnson C. Smith | 3 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 27 |
| Albany State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Scoring Plays
1st Quarter
- JCSU — Alexis Rosario-Beltran, 43-yard field goal, 11:47
2nd Quarter
- JCSU — Alexis Rosario-Beltran, 28-yard field goal, 12:16
- JCSU — Fabian Duncan, 4-yard rushing TD, 8:19
- JCSU — Fabian Duncan, 2-yard rushing TD, :07
3rd Quarter
- JCSU — Fabian Duncan, 40-yard rushing TD, 12:49
4th Quarter
- ASU — Jaquan Graham, 23-yard receiving TD from Vinson Berry, 11:31
By the Numbers
| Category | Johnson C. Smith | Albany State |
| Total Yards | 369 | 227 |
| Passing Yards | 184 | 148 |
| Rushing Yards | 185 | 79 |
| First Downs | 19 | 12 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 4 |
| Third Down | 5-14 | 4-15 |
| Time of Possession | 33:51 | 26:09 |
Individual Leaders
Johnson C. Smith
- Fabian Duncan: 21 carries, 144 yards, 3 TD
- Damien Mazil: 12-of-18, 184 yards
- Alexis Rosario-Beltran: 2 field goals
Albany State
- Jeffery Davis: 6-of-9, 79 yards
- Vinson Berry: 4-of-16, 28 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
- Xavier Irizarry: 1-of-7, 28 yards, 2 INT
- Jaquan Graham: 4 receptions, 95 yards, 1 TD
- Ian Rembert: 7 tackles
- Derrick Drayton: 6 tackles
- Rontavion Scott: 6 tackles
- Cameron Watts: 6 tackles
A Statement Win for Johnson C. Smith
For Johnson C. Smith, the victory was about more than simply improving to 1-1.
After falling to Benedict in its season opener, the Golden Bulls responded with a convincing performance against the reigning SIAC champion on one of the biggest HBCU football stages of the season.
Head coach Maurice Flowers and his team now turn their attention toward CIAA play, with Winston-Salem State next on the schedule.
Albany State falls to 0-2 and will look to regroup when it opens SIAC play against Savannah State on Sept. 12.
For one afternoon in Canton, however, the spotlight belonged to Johnson C. Smith.
The Golden Bulls brought the defense, controlled the line of scrimmage, protected the football and rode Duncan’s explosive performance to a convincing 27-7 victory in the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic.
Final: Johnson C. Smith 27, Albany State 7.
