WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina - If there were any doubts regarding the overall strength of the Winston Salem State University Rams football team, they were put to rest with a dominating 27-7 victory over the University of New Haven Chargers, today.
The 2011 CIAA Champion Rams took the opening kickoff and shredded the New Haven defense with a combination of All-American Nic Cooper runs, and timely passes. The Rams junior quarterback Kameron Smith connected on a 48 yard bomb to receiver Jameze Massey for the game's first score at the 8:21 mark.
Kicker Alejandr Suarez point after missed wide-right for a 6-0 Ram lead in the first quarter. The Rams scoring drive was for 9 plays, 69 yard consuming 3:40 off the clock.
New Haven came back slinging the ball to their bread and butter receiver, D. Washington. He scored on a beautifully timed 36 yard pass in the back of the end zone from quarterback Ryan Osiecki to tie the game. The Chargers took their only lead of the game 7-6, on Chris Scifo extra point kick.
But the Rams showed no panic, and drove the ball from their own 30 yard line to the New Haven 47 before their offense stalled. For the reminder of the 1st. quarter, the game became a defensive battle for both clubs.
Then, on a 4th and one at the WSSU 34 yard line, the Chargers made their first critical mistake.
WSSU punter Landen Thayer sent a booming kick to the New Haven 44 yard line where the Rams Rodney Taylor forced a fumble by the Chargers Kent Quran, which was recovered by the Rams Rashad Shaw. The Rams were in business with a short field at the Chargers 21 yard line.
Quarterback Kameron Smith completed a 9 yard pass to Tyrone Goldston to move the ball to the New Haven 12 yard line. Then, a hand off to Nicholas Cooper finished the deal as he scampered 12 yards to the end zone to give the Rams a 12-7 lead. The extra point by Alejandr Suarez was good with 14:49 left in the half for a 13-7 score.
On the first series of the 3rd. quarter the Rams received the ball first. WSSU hitched their wagon to Nic Cooper and their vaulted running game and ran the ball down the throat of the Chargers for the next 8 minutes and 7 seconds. The Rams moved the ball from their own 25 yard line to the New Haven 33. QB Kameron Smith 4th and 8 pass hit Tehvyn Brantley squarely in both hands near the 10 yard line. He dropped the ball like it was a hot potato, ending the Rams 13 play drive.
New Haven immediately showed their half-time adjustments by abandoning their 400 yards per game passing attack, and going to a two-back ground attack. The Rams defense slammed the door shut on the Chargers limiting them to only 30 yards on a 10 play, 6 minute drive.
On 4th and 29 yard to go, the Rams defensive rush forced New Haven into their second critical mistake.
The Chargers Chris Scifo punt only traveled 29 yards and then out of bounds at the WSSU 8 yard line, where the Ram offense took over with the clock showing only 6:41 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Coach Connell Maynor noticed the New Haven secondary creeping up towards the line of scrimmage before the snaps on the previous series and immediately opened up the Rams playbook. QB Kameron Smith caught the Chargers defense flat-footed and hit Jameze Massey for 23 yards to the WSSU 31 yard line. A hand off to Nic Cooper moved the chains another 4 yards to end the 3rd. quarter.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Rams coaching staff surprised New Haven with a five receiver set that they were not prepared to defend. A streaking Jahuann Butler hauled in a 32 yard pass from Kameron Smith for a 1st down at the New Haven 33 yard line. The Rams called a timeout to discuss their next play with 14.31 remaining in the game, and to give their huge offensive line a breather with the Rams up by 13-7.
A determined Ram team lined up in a passing formation with 5 receivers and an empty back field. Before the Chargers pass rushers could get to QB Kameron Smith on the play, he stood tall in the pocket and calmly hit Jameze Massey on a perfectly thrown ball for a 33 yards touchdown and a 19-7 lead. Kicker Alejandr Suarez kick was good for a 20-7 Ram lead.
The pressure was now squarely on New Haven, down by two scores with only 14:13 left in the game.
The Rams defense got nasty, limiting the Chargers to only a 23 yards on 5 plays.
With 12 minutes remaining in the game, everyone in the stadium knew what was coming next. The Rams moved the ball methodically, mixing runs with passes keeping the tiring Chargers defense on its heels. The drive ended at the New Haven 7 yard line where New Havens J.D. Chalifoux intercepted Kameron Smith when he unwisely threw into double coverage, ending the Rams 8 play, 36 yard drive.
With time running short, the Chargers were in a do or die situation.
QB Ryan Osiecki cranked up the Chargers high powered offense with 12 minutes remaining in the game. On the arm and legs of Osiecki, New Haven moved the ball on a 12 play 88 yard drive, consuming 3 minutes and 52 second, but coming up empty with no points. Winston Salem's LB Carlos Fields dropped back into pass coverage and intercepted Ryan Osiecki pass at the Rams 1 yard line, denying the Chargers of the touchdown.
The Rams took over with 7 minutes and 28 second remaining and the opportunity to play in the Division II football final 4 was finally within their grasp. With the 7,000 fans on their feet, the Rams first pass dropped incomplete. A Tyrone Goldston rush netted only 5 yards moving the ball to the WSSU 6 yard line.
On 3rd and 8, and with the box stacked with 8 New Haven defensive players, WSSU handed the ball to their All American turbo-charged bulldozer, Nic Cooper. Cooper busted through the Chargers line and then went airborne about 10 yards down field, smacking a New Haven defense back to the turf for a 14 yard drive saving 1st down.
First and Ten, and the crowd started the early celebration.
With the ball at the WSSU 20, Tyrone Goldston made two runs for 7 yards. The Chargers immediately called a timeout with 1:27 remaining, ball on the WSSU 27 yard line.
When play resumed, the Rams on a 3rd and 3 play called Nic Cooper's number. Cooper took the hand off and galloped through the Chargers tired defense for 72 yards, running out of gas at the New Haven 1 yard line. A winded Cooper was unable to hit pay dirt on the next play and was replaced by back up fullback Cedric Hickman.
Hickman calmly delivered the mail on second and goal for a 1 yard touchdown with only 39 seconds remaining, as the Ram fans erupted for joy and the Charger fans headed for the parking lots.
Alejandr Suarez extra point extended the WSSU lead to 27-7 and completed the 8 play 99 yard drive.
The win moves Winston Salem State into the national semi-finals for the first time in 33 years.
The New Haven Chargers ends their season with a 11-2 record. Their other road defeat was at FCS College of William and Mary (13-10) of the strong Colonial Athletic Conference.
The New Haven Chargers band provided a great show for the excited 7,000 fans at Bowman-Gray Stadium including an estimated 500-800 supporters from New Haven. The Red Sea of Sound Band provided an opening tribute to fallen FAMU Marching 100 Drum Major, Robert Champion, which was well received by the crowd.
Box Score
NEXT GAME: #1 Winston Salem State will host #6 Wayne State Warriors (11-3) (Detroit, Michigan) on December 10 at Bowman Gray Stadium. Wayne State has been designated the Cinderella of the tournament, as they beat the defending national champions, University of Minnesota-Duluth 31-25 on the road in Duluth, Minnesota, today. Minnesota-Duluth ends their season with a 11-3 record.
Wayne State, seeded sixth in Super Region 3, recorded three consecutive road wins (48-38 at #14-St. Cloud State, 38-26 at #4 Nebraska Kearney, and 31-25 at #9 Minnesota Duluth) to advance to next weekend's national semifinal contest at Winston-Salem.
Winston Salem State is the highest seed remaining and only undefeated team left in the tournament. They are only two wins away from taking the national championship title home to Winston Salem, but no one on this team is looking ahead.
The NCAA Division II Football National Championship game will be played on December 17, at Florence, Alabama.
MY GAME NOTES:
The WSSU vs. New Haven game is available for replay at NCAA.com. or the WSSURAMS.com sites.
This game is worth watching again, as Coach Connell Maynor made great adjustments at the half on the offensive and defensive ends to take control of the game in the third and fourth quarters.
Winston Salem had only 3 penalties for 25 yards for the entire game. New Haven was penalized 9 times for 63 yards, mostly for false starts.
The Chargers self-destructed with 4 turnovers --three interceptions and one fumble.
My Take on the Division II Rams: The Rams are a very disciplined, athletic and well coached team and deserves to be #1 in both Division II and HBCU Football. They have speed and Division I type athletes. That Nic Cooper is a very good 6-0/245 beast of a running back that has speed and power. He reminds me of a bulldozer with a turbo-charger engine, or an Earl Campbell type runner that has to be tackled by more than three-four players. The Rams are so balanced and can beat you with the pass or run and will not beat themselves with mistakes. They are a great looking championship team.
I enjoyed this game more than any FCS game I watched this season. WSSU plays a better brand of football that is fun to watch. Go Rams!!!
By beepbeep
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