DURHAM, N.C. (November 14, 2026) – Virginia Union University's
Ramon Brown sprinted 69 yards for a touchdown with 12:37 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Panthers a dramatic 15-14 victory over Johnson C. Smith University and capture the 2026 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Football Championship on Saturday at Durham County Stadium in Durham, N.C.
Brown was named the game's Most Valuable Player after rushing for 150 yards on 21 carries, including the game-winning touchdown. His 69-yard scoring run capped a three-play, 80-yard drive and gave Virginia Union its first lead since the second quarter.
Teammate
Ahmad Ross earned Defensive Most Valuable Player honors after recording nine tackles, including one tackle for loss, and a pass breakup.
The championship marks Virginia Union's second CIAA title in three years and gives the Panthers their first 10-win season since 1991. VUU improves to 10-1 overall and has won 10 consecutive games for the first time since 1981.
"I'm just excited," said VUU Head Football Coach Dr. Alvin Parker. "I think this is everything that a championship game is supposed to be. My guys never stopped believing. When I looked around in the fourth quarter, there was belief in everybody's eyes. That's what got us through. We talked about it through the week, and all of the guys bought into it. They came out here and played some championship football."
Virginia Union relied on the leg of freshman kicker
Gage Miller to remain within striking distance during the first half. Miller connected on field goals of 37, 40 and 31 yards, accounting for all nine of the Panthers' points before halftime.
Johnson C. Smith took an early 7-0 lead on a four-yard touchdown run by Damien Mazil with 8:33 remaining in the first quarter. Miller answered with his first field goal, a 37-yarder, before adding a 40-yard kick to bring the Panthers within one point.
His third field goal, from 31 yards with 13:39 remaining in the second quarter, gave Virginia Union a 9-7 advantage.
The Golden Bulls responded with an eight-play scoring drive late in the first half, capped by a one-yard touchdown run from Fabian Duncan with just 18 seconds remaining. Johnson C. Smith took a 14-9 lead into halftime.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, as both defenses continued to make critical stops.
Virginia Union finally broke through early in the fourth quarter. Following a missed Johnson C. Smith field goal, the Panthers took possession at their own 20-yard line. On the third play of the drive, Brown found an opening and raced 69 yards into the end zone with 12:37 remaining to put VUU ahead 15-14.
The Panthers' defense then took over, turning away a Johnson C. Smith fourth-down opportunity inside Virginia Union territory. Later, with the Golden Bulls threatening again, VUU's
Derrick Burroughs intercepted a pass with one minute remaining to help preserve the championship victory.
Virginia Union finished with 261 yards of total offense, including 202 rushing yards. Brown led the ground attack with his game-high 150 yards, while quarterback
RJ Rosales completed six of 16 passes for 59 yards and added 20 rushing yards.
The Panthers' defense limited Johnson C. Smith to 347 total yards and came up with two fumble recoveries and two interceptions. Burroughs recorded an interception and a forced fumble, while Ross led the defensive effort with nine tackles.
With the victory, Virginia Union captures its second CIAA Championship in three seasons and earns an automatic berth in the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs.
The Panthers will learn their NCAA playoff opponent during the NCAA Division II Football Selection Show, scheduled to air at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 15. The NCAA Football Playoffs begin Saturday, November 21.
