Rams defensive domination

The Rams defensively dominated the New Haven Chargers 27-7 Dec. 3 in front of a crowd of 6,319.

The Rams defense showed up on the first drive forcing the high-powered New Haven offense to punt.

On the ensuing drive, the Rams scored with a strike from quarterback Kameron Smith to wide receiver

Jameze Massey. This was the first for a score this postseason for Massey. The extra point was missed by

kicker Alejandro Suarez. The Rams led 6-0.

Massey finished with six catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns.

The Chargers answered back with a scoring strike of their own from quarterback Ryan Osiecki to

wide receiver Demetrius Washington-Ellison. The Chargers led after the extra point 7-6.

The Rams failed to covert on a fourth down conversion on the next drive giving the Chargers great

field position at midfield. The Rams defense bailed them out with an interception by defensive back

Darrel Pulliam.

"Their defense really took us out of our game plan," Osiecki said.

"They are one of the best defensive teams that I have ever seen." Pullout quote

The Rams were forced to punt on their next drive. However, defensive back Rodney Taylor forced a

fumble on a tackle and defensive back Rashad Shaw recovered giving the Rams the ball back. The score

at the end of the first quarter was 7-6 Chargers.

Two plays later, running back Nicholas Cooper rumbled and stumbled into the end zone on a 12-

yard run giving the Rams a 13-7 lead. Cooper had 132 on 14 carries and one touchdown on the day.

On the next drive, The Rams defense forced the Chargers to punt after three plays, but the Rams

offense couldn't capitalize after back-to-back sacks for the Chargers.

The Rams continued to hold strong not letting the Chargers score on their last two drives of the

half. In a battle that featured the two highest scoring teams in the nation the halftime score was 13-7.

Star defensive back Alton Keaton said that the defense in the first half just wanted to make some plays.

They did just that forcing one turnover and only allowing one score.

Keaton finished the game with four tackles.

The Rams started the first half with two holding penalties that pushed them back to their own

15-yard line. On the same drive, the Rams tried for a fourth down conversion that failed when wide

receiver Tehvyn Brantley dropped a pass.

The Rams defense bailed the offense out for the second time when Rams defensive linemen Casey

Davenport and Akeem Ward sacked Osiecki and forced New Haven to punt.

"We knew what he [Osiecki] wanted to do," Ward said.

"We didn't want to give up the long ball."

The Rams took the 13-7 advantage into the fourth quarter.

On the second play of the fourth quarter, Smith hit Massey on a 33-yard strike for their second

scoring connection resulting in a Rams 20-7 lead.

Smith was 19 for 26 for 274 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 44 yards rushing.

"We really just wanted to help out Cooper by stretching the defense," Massey said.

"We really played hard today."

On the next New Haven possession the Rams defense forced a turnover on downs.

The Rams offense couldn't profit from the defenses strong play by throwing an interception. The

interception was caught by New Haven defensive back J.D. Chalifoux.

On the next New Haven possession, the Rams defense had their backs against their own goal line

when linebacker Carlos Fields caught a touchdown saving interception. Winston-Salem State's second

interception of the day.

"We are a good defensive team,"

"When you don't game plan for our secondary and don't take us seriously it will hurt you every

time," Keaton said.

On the next drive the Rams offense gave the Chargers a steady dose of their running attack.

Fullback Cedric Hickman punched it in from one yard away. The touchdown carry was set up by a 72-

yard run by Cooper. The touchdown put the Rams ahead 27-7.

The defense capped the game with an interception by defensive back Brian Williams as the clock

ticked down to zero.

"We just wanted to apply pressure to the quarterback," Ward said.

"We just hit them in the mouth," Keaton said.

Ward finished with five tackles and 1.5 sacks.

The Rams will face Wayne State Dec. 10 in Bowman Gray Stadium.

"For all the non-believers that have said that this team can't do it, I want them to tell me who can beat

us," Maynor said.

Athletic Director William Hayes summed it up best.

"This is the best CIAA team ever."