WSSU Rams gain momentum with 3-game-winning streak

BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY THE CHRONICLE

Just when it looked as though the season was a lost cause, the Winston-Salem State football team reeled off three victories in a row to bring their record to 3-5 on the year. They bounced back from a rocky start to the year to have something to build upon for next season.

The Rams began the year with an 0-5 start. To complicate things even more, their homecoming game against Lincoln University at the beginning of October was canceled because of Hurricane Ian.

“With great disappointment, we announce that due to the anticipated severe weather for this coming weekend and out of an abundance of caution for our students, staff, alumni and fans, all university-sanctioned homecoming activities will be canceled after noon on Friday, September 30.

“The WSSU vs. Lincoln football game scheduled for this coming Saturday, October 1, has been canceled. At this time the game has not been rescheduled.

“It is important for our supporters to know this decision was not made lightly. Given the potential severe weather impact on our state and the governor’s issuance of a state of emergency for North Carolina, law enforcement and emergency medical resources are very limited for this week. The university is mandated by the NCAA to have a minimum number of emergency response resources that cannot be guaranteed at this time. The risk to safety is far too great to proceed with inadequate safety personnel.

“Indeed this decision is unfortunate for our university family, but safety remains our highest priority. Please know a proper celebration is in the works and we will see everyone together very soon.”

The cancellation of not only the homecoming activities but the homecoming game could have been the straw that broke the camel’s back, so to speak, for the Rams. To their credit, the young men from WSSU dug deep and found a way to rebound in a way not many people thought they could.

The Rams had no choice but to dig deep because of the hole they were in prior to their current three game win streak. They started off the year with a 41-21 loss to Central State University in the Black

College Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. Central State initially jumped on WSSU early by taking a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. A pick six by Justin Fleming and a touchdown by RJ Mobley tied things up at 14.

Things were kept close until late in the third quarter and CSU finally put the game out of reach in the final frame.

The second game was one to forget for the Rams as they faced off against North Carolina Central University. The Rams were outmatched from the start of the game, which is the norm for many of Central’s opponents, as the Eagles are one of the stronger HBCU teams this season. The 41-0 loss dropped the Rams to 0-2.

The game against Elizabeth City State University is one the Rams wish they could have back. The Rams went into the half leading 10-0, shutting out the Vikings. Things changed in the third quarter when the Vikings got their first score of the game. With another ECSU score in the