WSSU Rams fall 31-3 to No. 14 Valdosta State
Special to The Chronicle
POWDER SPRINGS, Ga. – The Winston-Salem State University Rams opened the scoring but couldn’t hold back the No. 14 Valdosta State Blazers, as they would fall 31-3 in the Cobb County Clash, played at Cantrell Stadium in Powder Springs, Georgia.
With the loss, Winston-Salem State falls to 0-2, while #14 Valdosta State improves to 2-0. It is the first time the WSSU Rams have started the season 0-2 since 2009.
WSSU, for the second consecutive week, was the first team to be able to put points on the scoreboard. The Rams were able to take their second possession of the game and march 42 yards in 13 plays, and would finish the drive off with a 43 yard field goal from Will Johnson, to give WSSU a 3-0 lead.
Valdosta State would answer back in the second quarter, with two touchdown drives, and would take a 14-3 lead into halftime.
The Blazers would find the end zone once more in the third quarter, and would finally blow the game open in the fourth with 10 more points, to take the matchup 31-3.
Valdosta State outgained the Rams 359 to 178 yards on the evening, and WSSU also committed a game high eight penalties for 80 yards.
Rod Tinsley Jr. finished the night passing going nine of 24 for 46 yards.
Tyree Massey led the WSSU rushing attack with 25 rushes for 110 yards, while Bronson Greene had seven carries for 24 yards. Malik Moseley finished with four carries for 22 yards.
Brandon Ojikutu had two catches for 14 yards, while Anthony Rook also had two catches for 10 yards. Trey Foggie had one catch for 14 yards, and Malik Mosely, William Belcher, Kenny Patterson and Tyree Massey each had one catch.
Defensively, WSSU was led by Kailan Chavis who finished with seven tackles (five solo) and one pass breakup, while Phillip Williamson finished with six tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble and one pass breakup. Xavier Gregory and Jarell Bright each had five tackles with Bright also picking up a tackle for a loss. Jayron Rankin, Michael Bloomfield and Jaitavius Jackson each had four tackles with Bloomfield also picking up a tackle for a loss and a sack of 11 yards and Jackson picking up a tackle for a loss. Six different Rams had two tackles each, and six Rams finished with one tackle a piece.
