Box Score Oct. 2, 2010
Final Stats
CHARLOTTE, NC - The Winston-Salem State Rams (6-0, 4-0 CIAA) dominated nearly every aspect of the game when the team took a 42-3 win over the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls (1-4, 0-2 CIAA), Saturday evening. In front of a most red & white crowd, the Winston-Salem State Rams rolled up 491 yards of total offense and held the Golden Bulls to just three points in the dominating victory.
"The guys came out and executed very well. We didn't give up a lot of points, but we gave up a bit much in terms of yards," WSSU head football coach Connell Maynor said. "Overall, we came out pleased. We came out here and we did what we had to do, but we've got to get back. We've got a lot of work to do."
The potent WSSU offense was on full display in the game with the Rams putting up at least 40 points for the third time this season. The combination of WSSU sophomore quarterback Kameron Smith, freshman wide receiver Tehvyn Brantley, and redshirt-junior running back Nic Cooper powered the Rams to the big victory. Smith connected on 15-of-22 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns in the game with Brantley as his favorite target with eight catches for 143 yards. Cooper added 124 yards on 15 carries for the Rams.
The Rams defense played a strong "bend-but-don't break" effort in the game, allowing 224 yards and 16 first downs to the Golden Bulls. But ultimately, the efforts led to just three points. "We gave up a lot of yards," Maynor added. "They got a lot of first downs on us so we've got to keep working on that. WE've to keep getting better."
The Rams found themselves in a battle early with Johnson C. Smith pushing a pair of drives inside the WSSU five-yard line in the first quarter, but the WSSU defense held strong and forced turnovers on downs on both of the drives. With the WSSU defense holding serve early, the WSSU offense began to click late in the first quarter when Cooper pushed his way to his first score of the evening, a one-yard touchdown dive at the 3:31 mark in the first quarter. The score gave the Rams the boost that they needed as the team scored three second quarter touchdowns. The first came on a six-yard pass from Smith to junior wide receiver Dominique Fitzgerald at the 7:42 mark, followed by a Cooper two-yard TD run at the 1:44 mark.
In the final seconds of the half, the Rams capped their stellar quarter with a 2-yd TD pass from Smith to senior tight end Brian Wynn at the 00:13 mark. The Rams were able to hold off the Golden Bulls and take the 28-0 lead into the locker room at the half.
The second half turned out to be more of the same as WSSU redshirt-freshman fullback Tyrone Goldston powered his way to a one-yard touchdown run, carrying a host of Golden Bulls into the endzone with him. The score came at the 13:11 mark in the third quarter and put the Rams ahead 35-0. Though the Rams defense continued their push, the Golden Bulls were able to get onto the scoreboard with a 22-yd field goal at the 7:58 mark.
The score was all that the Rams would allow as the team capped the night with a six-yard touchdown run by junior running back Daryl Thomas, Jr. with 1:44 left in the game. With the score, the Rams ended the night with the 49-3 victory.
With the win, the Rams improve to 6-0 and remain a perfect 4-0 in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). The Rams will head into one of their biggest games of the season next Saturday when the team hosts the Saint Augustine's Falcons, who are also undefeated in CIAA play. The game is scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. start at Bowman-Gray Stadium. For more information on Rams football, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2909 or log on to www.WSSURams.com.
