Rams finish record- breaking season, with 21-14 loss

The Rams' historic football season came to an end Dec. 10 after a loss in the NCAA Division II semifinals to the Wayne State Warriors.

In both schools' first-ever matchup, the Warriors came from Detroit and beat the Rams at home 21-14.

This gave WSSU its only loss of the season.

After now having to finish their season at 13-1, the Rams fell short of WSSU Head Coach Connell Maynor's preseason prediction of going

undefeated.

"We knew that they had a good football team with only four teams being left [in the playoffs]," Maynor said.

"We didn't come away with the win like we expected but we've got to take our hats off to Wayne State."

Throughout the game the Rams didn't make plays they had made all season.

"We made too many mistakes," Maynor said. 

"Offensively dropping balls, turnover on the goal line, and defensively miss tackles. We don't normally miss tackles," he said.

The Rams did force two turnovers but found it difficult to score on the Wayne State defense. The Warrior held the Rams to their lowest point total of the season.

Wayne State now enters the Division II Championship where it will play Pittsburg State on Dec. 17 in Florence, Ala.

"I am very proud of our team for persevering again," said Wayne State Head Coach Paul Winters.

"This is a tough atmosphere to come and win."

The Warriors matched the Rams' home field

atmosphere by bringing team intensity. WSSU players agreed that the Warriors were more ready to play the game.

"I don't think we matched their intensity to begin the game," said senior wide receiver Dominique Fitzgerald on the offense.

"We just made mental mistakes."

For Fitzgerald and other seniors, this was their last game in a Rams football uniform. Although upset by the loss, they had a great season.

"This was a special run, we accomplished a lot [this season]" Fitzgerald said.  "I hate that it ended like this but we had a great year."

The accomplishments for the Rams this season include most wins in school history and CIAA history. They also won their first CIAA championship since 2000.

"They have no reason to hold their heads down," Maynor said about his players.

"They set history, they made history, they were a part of history and for those guys they are CIAA champions."

The Rams now begin to prepare for next season. Maynor said he believes that they will be

good again.

"In the spots that we lose guys we are going to replace those players," he said.

"We are going to come back next year and do the same thing but we are going to finish it off."

The Rams have a lot of talented players coming back next year.

Among those players are junior quarterback Kameron Smith and junior linebacker Carlos Fields. Smith threw more than 30 touchdowns this season and

Fields was second on the team in tackles with 74.