CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Johnson C. Smith is enjoying a resurgent season, going 6-3 so far under second-year coach Maurice Flowers.
On Saturday, the Golden Bulls host their rival from Statesville, Livingstone College in the annual Commemorative Classic.
The game was first played in 1892, when JCSU was known as Biddle, and is regarded as the first-ever HBCU football game.
This year the game will decide second place in the CIAA Southern Division.
The 2023 campaign has marked a tremendous jump for JCSU under Flowers, who played for the Golden Bulls after graduating from East Meck High School.
"This is my alma mater. And for a long time we haven't had a lot of sustained football success. To be able to come here and let our fans see we're building a championship program, and not just our fans but the city of Charlotte to get behind a winner, that's exciting."
Kickoff for Saturday's game is slated for 1 p.m. at the Irwin Belk Complex.