Box Score Oct. 9, 2010
Final Stats
WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The Winston-Salem State Rams (6-1, 4-1 CIAA) simply ran out of time when the team took a 40-35 home loss to the Saint Augustine's Falcons (5-1, 4-0 CIAA). After falling behind 37-7 in the third quarter, the Rams mounted a furious comeback that the team nearly pulled out in their first loss of the season.
It was turnovers that plagued the Rams in the tough loss as the team gave the ball away six times in the loss, including five interceptions.
"We take our hats off to Saint Augustine's. They were a good team," WSSU head coach Connell Maynor said after the emotional loss. "You can't expect to get a win when you turn the ball over that many times against a good team."
The loss came in spite of some great individual performances, including 143 rushing yards by WSSU redshirt-junior running back Nicholas Cooper. Junior wide receiver Dominique Fitzgerald added 91 receiving yards on six catches.
The Rams picked up a bad omen early when the team committed its first turnover of the game after just six seconds when sophomore quarterback Kameron Smith threw an interception on the Ram's first play. The turnover would lead to the first of three Falcons touchdowns on their first three drives, two of which came on WSSU interceptions and left the Rams trailing 14-7 after the first quarter. Things got no better for the Rams as the team allowed 16 unanswered second quarter points and fell behind, 24-7 heading into the locker room.
After allowing another Saint Augustine's touchdown and falling behind 37-7, the Rams began their comeback with five-yard touchdown pass from Smith to senior tight end Brian Wynn. Cooper would keep things going with a nine-yard touchdown run in the early fourth quarter that would keep the effort going. Fitzgerald added a 51-yard touchdown pass from Smith with 6:45 left to play that cut the WSSU deficit down to 16 points 37-29.
The Falcons would end the WSSU threat, connecting on a 42-yard field goal with 1:40 left to play. A 14-yard pass from Smith to Brantley would give the Rams a bit of life, but the effort was not enough as the Rams ended the night with the loss.
The Rams won't have long to rest, however, as the team will host the Livingstone Blue Bears next Saturday. 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.
