November 2025

By Kevin Waters

The Johnson C. Smith football team fell 21-7 to Frotsburg State in the NCAAA division 2 playoffs.

The game was history for both teams. Frotsburg State was making their first-ever appearance in the Division II tournament since moving up from Division III in 2019. Johnson C. Smith had earned their first CIAA title since 1969 with a school record 10 wins.

The teams traded turnovers in the first quarter. Frotsburg hit paydirt with a 41 yard touchdown run by Smothers,KJ at the end of the 1st quarter. JCSU would not recover from the 7-0 deficit. KJ Burns from Frotsburg would get a 2 yard touchdown runs in the 2nd quarter to take a 14-0 lead at halftime time.

JCSU would go an 8 play 80 yard scoring drive in the 3rd Quarter. The drive was topped off with a 7 yard TD pass from Kelvin Durham to Deandre Proctor. That would get JCSU to within a touchdown at 14-7

KJ Smothers would score his third touchdown in the 4th quarter to make the final score 21-7 Frotsburg.

JCSU's Deandre Proctor in his final game grabbed 14 receptions for 139 yards. JCSU QB Kelvin Durham went 18-28 for 219 yards and two costly interceptions.