CHARLOTTE, NC – #15 Winston-Salem State University ran up 473 yards of total offense, and Eric Williams caught two touchdown passes as the Rams rolled to a 37-0 shutout win over Johnson C. Smith at Memorial Stadium in Charlotte.
It was the sixth consecutive game the Rams have gone for 400+ yards of total offense, as they moved their 2014 record to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the CIAA. Johnson C. Smith falls to 1-5 overall, 0-3 in the CIAA.
Winston-Salem State would open the scoring on their second series, as Phil Sims would lead the Rams on a 90 yard, eight play drive, that would end with Maurice Lewis scoring from 24 yards out to give the Rams the early 7-0 lead.
But it would be the second quarter where the WSSU Rams would put some distance between themselves and the Golden Bulls to pull away.
WSSU’s Brenden Felder would cap off a 70 yard, 10 play drive, when he would haul in a 23 yard strike from Rudy Johnson to give the Rams a 14-0 advantage.
With a little over 5:00 left before halftime, William Johnson would connect on a career long 48 yard field goal to push WSSU out in front 17-0.
The Winston-Salem State defense was relentless all afternoon, and after another short series for JCSU, the WSSU offense would get back to business.
This time Mustafa Greene would give the Rams a bigger lead, when he would score from seven yards out, and a rare missed PAT would push their lead to 23-0, after covering 60 yards in eight plays.
WSSU would get one more crack at the endzone before that half, and the Rams would make the Golden Bulls pay for giving them some time left on the clock.
Rudy Johnson would connect on a 13 yard deflected pass, for another touchdown, sending the Rams into the half up 30-0.
Neither team would put any points on the scoreboard in the third, although the Rams threatened but on a field goal attempt, the holder would misplay the ball in the pouring rain and would get tackled before picking up a first down.
With storms clouds brewing overhead and the rain beginning to come down in sheets, the game would go into a lightning delay as the teams headed into the locker room to avoid the elements. The delay would last an hour, before the team would be allowed to come back to the field for a brief warmup period before resuming play to begin the fourth quarter.
When played resumed, Winston-Salem State would score one last time, as Phillip sims would find an open Eric Williams for a seven yard touchdown, that would close out the scoring, and give the Rams a 37-0 victory.
With win, the WSSU Rams have now rolled off 32 consecutive wins against HBCU opponents, and 27 straight against CIAA teams.
Offensively for Winston-Salem State, Maurice Lewis led the rushing attack with a season high 98 yards on 14 carries and one score, while Mustafa Greene rushed 16 times for 91 yards and a score. The Rams rushed for a season high 226 yards on the afternoon.
Phillip Sims threw the ball 21 times with 15 completions, one interception and one touchdown and 164 yards. Rudy Johnson was six for 13 for 56 yards and a score. And Justin Johnson was a perfect three of three for 27 yards.
Eric Williams led the Rams with six catches for 49 yards and two touchdowns, while Brenden Felder had four catches for 37 yards and a score. Kenneth Patter had three catches for 74 yards and Eric Wolff, Jamal Haizlip, Mustafa Greene and Donovan Rasberry each had two catches.
Defensively, Aliquan Bullock finished with seven tackles, along with Terry Ross who had seven tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Xavier Gregory had five tackle s0.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup. Michael Bloomfield finished with four tackles, a tackle for a loss and a sack. Casey Davenport, Conor O’Nealand Michael Douglas each finished with a sack as well. Davenport also had a forced fumble and O’Neal a fumble recovery.
Winston-Salem State will host the St. Augustine’s University Falcons next Saturday, as the University celebrates 2014 Throwback Homecoming Weekend, presented by Modern Automotive. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 pm.
This article originally appeared on WSSURams.com.
