WS Chronicle

Special to The Chronicle

The Winston-Salem State Rams had their best offensive game of the season, rushing and passing for season highs, as the Rams rolled to a key 37-22 division win over the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls on Saturday at an overcast and drizzly Bowman Gray Stadium.

With the win, Winston-Salem State moves to 2-4 overall and 2-1 in the CIAA, while Johnson C. Smith falls to 1-5 overall and 0-3 in the CIAA.

The Golden Bulls would open the scoring early, after holding WSSU on their first possession. And on JCSU’s first play from scrimmage, Jordan Lane would find a wide open Fred Scott down the right sideline for a 63 yard scoring play to give the Golden Bulls the early lead.

It would be their last.

Winston-Salem State would finally get on the board in the second quarter, when Rod Tinsley Jr., would find Demeeko Jones Jr. across the middle for a seven yard touchdown pass, capping off a six-play 61 yard drive.

The Rams defense would buckle down and Jaitavius Jackson would come up with the big play for WSSU with an interception at the JCSU 44 yard line.

WSSU’s Rod Tinsley Jr. would find Rashan Williams on the next play for a 43-yard completion, down to the one yard line. Tyree Massey would plunge over the goal line on the next play to give the Rams a 13-7 lead.

With the Rams defense playing well, the offense would take the opportunity to gets its shine on, and after forcing a punt, Rod Tinsley Jr. would go up top to Eric Williams for a 71 yard touchdown pass to give WSSU a 20-7 advantage.

Johnson C. Smith would try a 46-yard field goal on the last play of the first half, but it would come up short and WSSU would take a 20-7 lead into the locker room for the break.

The only scoring in the third quarter came when JCSU would trim the lead to 20-14 with 6:48 left in the in the quarter when Richard Brannon ran it in from four yards out.

WSSU would blow the game wide open, with a 17-point fourth quarter. The Rams started the final quarter with a 16 yard touchdown pass from Rod Tinsley Jr. to Rashan Williams and added a 19-yard field goal from Williams Johnson to make it 30-14 with 11:46 to go. The score ballooned to 37-14 when Xavier Quick scored from eight yards out. A drive that began with an interception by James Bullock at the JCSU 40 and a face mask penalty advanced it to the JCSU 25.

The Golden Bulls’ final score of the day came on an eight-yard reception by Carlo Thomas.

JCSU could get no closer and was forced to punt from their own 16-yard line. WSSU regained possession and melted the clock to preserve the 37-22 win.

The WSSU offense was led on the ground by Tyree Massey, who had his second 100+ yard rushing game of the season, by rushing 25 times for 109 yards and one score, while Xavier Quick finished with 10 carries for 97 yards and one touchdown. As a team WSSU rushed for a season high 247 yards on 45 carries.

Quarterback Rod Tinsley Jr. finished the afternoon 17 of 27 passing with two interceptions, and a career high 234 yards with a career high three touchdowns.

Rashan Williams finished the day with five catches for 77 yards and a touchdown, while Demeeko Jones Jr. also finished with five catches for 49 yards and one touchdown. Marcel Caver Jr. had three catches for 30 yards and Eric Williams finished with two catches for 77 yards and one touchdown, including a 71 yard scoring play in the second quarter. William Belcher and Tyree Massey each had one catch on the day.

Defensively for WSSU, Phillip Williamson and Michael Bloomfield each finished with six tackles, while Bloomfield also had a tackle for a loss. Jaitavius Jackson and Kyrell Washington each finished with ofur tackles, while Jackson also picked up an interception. Cameron Sullivan and Albert McLean each had three tackles, with McLean also getting a sack and two tackles for loss. Michael Douglas and Brandon Ojikutu also had three tackles each. Douglas had a sack and two tackles for loss. Four different Rams had two tackles, Kadeem Brewer-Nunn picked up a sack, a tackles for a loss and a forced fumble. Tyron Roberts had a fumble recovery for WSSU.