Even though it’s been a few days since a disappointing 34-33 loss to Virginia State, that doesn’t make it hurt any less, according to Winston-Salem State Coach Robert Massey.
“I’m still pissed,” he said at his news conference this week, “but football is like life, and I tell these guys all the time you have to deal with things in your life just like you deal with losses in this game.”
The Rams (2-2, 0-1 CIAA) will try to rebound from Saturday’s loss, where they had a chance to tie the game, but Gilberto Lorenzana missed the point-after kick with 5:55 left. WSSU never got the ball back and Virginia State ran the clock out to get the victory.
The Rams play Bowie State on Saturday at 1 p.m. The game can be heard on WSNC (90.5).
One area of emphasis this week for Massey was special teams. There were two fumbles on kickoffs, the missed point-after attempt and plenty of bad coverage on kickoffs. What Massey is more fired up about was the lack of tackling on the kickoff returns.
“We’ve moved some personnel around and some of those guys you saw on the kickoff coverage team last week won’t be there this week,” Massey said. “We have to pay attention to details in practice and that’s one of those details we are working on.”
The reality for WSSU is if it loses Saturday, its chances of reaching the CIAA championship game will be slim.
“Every game is a must-win game for us,” center Austin Pittman said.
Linebacker Kristian Lyons said: “We have to go up there and take care of business because we know what’s at stake.”
Offense is rolling along
Massey is pleased with how the offense has produced of late coming off games of 52 points (a win over Lincoln, Pa.) and the 33 points last week. The Rams were down 14 in the fourth quarter but came back thanks to an up-tempo offense led by junior quarterback Daylin Lee.
“He’s our leader,” Massey said of Lee, who is close to going over 1,000 yards in passing already. “We like the way he’s taken this thing and ran with it so we’ve been pleased with the offense.”
Lee has 10 touchdown passes against just two interceptions this season and is doing much better on his run-pass-option plays. His passing yardage (956 yards) is ranked 14th in Division II this season.
Lee, who has started every game since his freshman season, is third on the school’s all-time passing list. He passed Tory Woodbury (4,493 yards) last week. Lee has 4,529 yards and can catch Rod Tinsley (4,764 yards) this season to get to second place.
Kam Smith is the all-time leading passer with 7,540 yards.
The Rams averaged 24 points last season, but through four games this season are averaging 32 points per game.
Killing a gnat with a sledgehammer
Massey has tried to get his team to have more of a killer instinct when they have leads. The Rams tendency is to let up.
“I’ve used this analogy, but the kids have to learn how to kill a gnat with a sledgehammer,” he said. “In other words, keep your foot on the gas.”
Massey used the example of the Rams nearly tying the game up on Saturday and they were celebrating and dancing on the sidelines, but then Lorenzana missed the conversion kick.
“You have to stay focused and right after that touchdown, everybody was celebrating like we had won,” Massey said.
Scouting Bowie State
The Bulldogs will finally play their home opener after going 1-2 early in the season. After winning 23-7 at Shippensburg the Bulldogs dropped road games to Delaware State (36-16) and Livingstone (17-16).
Coach Kyle Jackson has used two quarterbacks in Malakai Anthony and Kevin Taylor. The two have combined to go 52 of 92 passing for 420 yards with four touchdowns against one interception.
Defensive back Sam Graham, a transfer from Arkansas State, leads the Bulldogs on defense with 27 tackles and two forced fumbles. Through three games, the Bulldogs have just one interception.
Even though the Bulldogs lost to the Blue Bears last week, it was not a conference game for the Bulldogs. Saturday’s game, however, will be the Bulldogs’ conference opener.
jdell@wsjournal.com
336-727-4081
@johndellWSJ
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