Latest stumble leaves bulls looking for answers against Elizabeth City
by Herbet L. White, THE CHARLOTTE POST
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PHOTO/PHILIP T. RICE |
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Quarterback Spencer Mayo continues to earn more playing time behind Desmond Brown.
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The good news is Johnson C. Smith continues to make improvements.
The bad news is the Golden Bulls keep finding ways to lose games.
Smith, which plays Elizabeth City State Saturday in the first Big Sun Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C., blew a 19-point fourth-quarter lead in a 23-19 loss to Bowie State last week at Memorial Stadium.
Although the Bulls played their most competitive game of the season, falling apart at the end hurt worse than either of their double-digit losses.
"It's a step back because we made progress with the guys we needed to step up, but the guys we've been counting on didn't come to bat for us," Smith
coach Tim Harkness said. "As a coach, I see that as a step back and we've got to get those guys back to re-focus because there was no way we
should've come out of (that) game without a win. Bowie State played a good game, but everything they got we gave it to them."
For the first time this season, Smith's least-experienced players played major roles. Transfer tailback James Mozee came off the bench for 39 yards on five carries and quarterback
Spencer Mayo showed more command of the offense. On defense freshman linebacker Antoni Jamison had 14 tackles while another freshman, Reggie Broughton, forced a fumble
and registered seven stops. The veterans, however, made mistakes that opened the door for Bowie State.
"We're counting on them and they're not making good decisions," Harkness said. "The younger guys did good (last) week. Mozee stepped in and ran the ball for us, Spencer came
in and I wanted to play him a couple of series and continue his development during games when it counts, not when the game is out of hand or out of reach."
Mayo, who completed 1-of-5 passes for 21 yards, played well in relief of starter Desmond Brown, but didn't lead the Bulls to any points. With first-and-goal at the Bulldogs' 5 in the
fourth, Smith failed to crack the end zone for a game-clinching score.
"He stepped up and did what he was supposed to do," Harkness said. "The (offensive) line didn't punch it in on that last drive like we should have, but that's part of his maturity. That's
going to happen, but what the older guys let happen is something we just can't tolerate."
"I'd rather lose like we did in the first game 51-0 like one of these because it comes at a pressure time and your emotions are on a roller coaster. The fact is we're 0-3 and our young
guys are getting better but our older guys let us down.
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