Aug. 31, 2003

Winston-Salem, NC - The Winston-Salem State University Rams had a disappointing opening to the season on Saturday evening as they fell to the visiting Eagles of Carson-Newman College by the score of 21-14.

The Eagles, coming into the contest ranked third in the nation (AFCA Poll), started game the way that they left off last season, by pounding the ball into the Rams zone, and scoring the game's first 21 points to open up what looked to be, an insurmountable lead.

The Eagles got on the board at the 8:50 mark of the first quarter when quarterback Shane Kelly (Jr/5'1"/185/Sevierville,TN) kept the ball on an option play, and scampered into the WSSU end zone from nine yards out to give the Eagles the early 7-0 lead.

Neither team would put any more points on the board until midway through the third quarter as Carson-Newman once again found the back of the end zone from nine-yards out when Rayvon Howard (So./RB/5'8"/180/Brewton,AL) took the hand-off from Kelly, and bullied his way in for the touchdown. Following a successful point after touchdown, the Eagles found themselves comfortably ahead 14-0.

After another unsuccessful, three-play, Ram drive, the Eagles wasted no time finding the end zone for the third time on the evening when they capped a two-play, 58-yard, 56-second drive with a touchdown. The first play of the drive would see Kelly get flushed from the pocket, elude six Ram defenders and throw a 57-yard strike downfield to the Ram one-yard line. The next play would see Rayvon Howard blast his way into the end zone for his second touchdown of the evening, this time from one-yard out. The Eagles appeared to be on their way to a very lopsided win. However, the Carson-Newman touchdown would serve as a wake-up call for the Rams who would finally get on track.

2002 All-CIAA kick returner, Martin Hicks (RB/5'9"/180/So./Oxford,NC), would prove that he can not be held in check for long as he single-handedly broke through the Eagle defense for a 61 yard run, fumbling the ball at the four-yard line. Luckily the ball rolled into the end zone, and Hicks used his athleticism to pounce on the ball and give the Rams their first points of the evening. Following a failed PAT kick, the Rams would find themselves trailing the Eagles 21-6.

Hicks would get his second touchdown of the evening when he again broke through the Eagle defense, this time from eleven-yards out to again cut into the Ram deficit. A Josh McGee (QB/6'0"/180/Jr./Winston-Salem,NC) strike to Brandon Free (WR/5'11"/180/Jr./Jamestown, NC) would give the Rams a two-point conversion, and most importantly, cut the game to a one-possession contest.

The Rams forced a third and long situation with nearly four minutes remaining, yet the Eagles, continuing their trend of being excellent while being faced with a third-down conversion (9 for 13 on the evening), and proving why they are indeed, worthy of a #3 national ranking, converted on third down, and proceeded to run out the clock, securing a 21-14 victory.

The Rams fell to 0-1 on the season while the Eagles improved to 1-0. The Eagles now own the all-time series edge, with a 2-1 all-time series record. Carson-Newman moves on next week to play Guilford, while the Rams will travel to Macon, GA and Henderson Stadium to face Fort Valley State University. The game is slated for a 5:00 pm kickoff.