Rams dominate opponents in perfect 4-0 start

As many predicted, the Winston-Salem State football team has opened the season winning its first four football games.

They've had some impressive wins including a 55-21 victory against Morehouse College at the Cleveland Football Classic on Sept. 15, and a 35-6 victory against Virginia Union at home to begin CIAA conference play on Sept. 22.

Head Coach Connell Maynor said the season is going just the way we planned.

"It's going just the way we planned," Maynor said.

"We know we have a good football team and we're right where we expected to be."

The Rams have had many of their new starters contributing.

Maynor said he likes what he's seen from senior college transfers defensive back Dominique Tate and right tackle Michael Page.  

Tate was previously at Wake Forest and Page attended the University of California, Pa.

Another first year starter Maynor said he's been pleased with is running back Maurice Lewis. 

 Lewis, a sophomore from Lumberton, N.C., has averaged 126 yards per game and has already been named once the CIAA Conference Player of the Week.

"Mo [Maurice] has played very well so far," Maynor said.

"He's done a phenomenal job at running and taking care of the football."

With all the high expectations the Rams had coming into this season, including being picked by the CIAA Football Coaches Association to repeat as CIAA Champions, Maynor said his team is not having any trouble handling the pressure.  

The one distinction he said he's noticed in this season compared to last season, when the Rams 15 wins were the most in the University's history, is now his team is a target.

"Now we're the hunted instead of the ones doing the hunting," Maynor said.

"So our guys understand that and they know that every team is going to give us their hardest game."

Despite being the favorite to dominate the CIAA, players believe they still have something to prove.

"We still feel like we're underrated," said Jamal Williams, a senior wide receiver from Raleigh.

"Each game, we come out and play with a chip on our shoulder."

Williams said having that feeling of something to prove comes from how last season ended, when his team was one win away from playing in the Division II National Championship.

"We're trying to do better than we did last year, but we'll continue to take this season one game at a time and stay focused," he said.

The Rams' next two games are on the road at Bowie State on Sept. 29, and Johnson C. Smith on Oct. 6. 

 Regardless of who they play, Williams said that as long as his team stays focused on the football field they will stay unbeaten.

"We believe if we execute, we can win every game on our schedule," he said.