WINSTON-SALEM – Winston-Salem State scored on six of its first eight possessions and cruised to a 42-10 victory over Livingstone on Saturday afternoon at Bowman Gray Stadium.
The Rams (4-4, 2-3 CIAA) rushed for 302 yards and controlled the line of scrimmage throughout, holding the Blue Bears (3-4, 2-3) to just 216 total yards. WSSU scored touchdowns on four consecutive drives spanning the first and second quarters to build an insurmountable 28-3 halftime lead.
Quarterback Daylin Lee connected with Jayden Grimes for a 54-yard touchdown on the second play from scrimmage, capping a two-play, 57-yard drive that took just one minute. The quick strike set the tone for an afternoon in which the Rams averaged 9.0 yards per play.
Running back JaQuan Kelly added a 6-yard scoring run midway through the first quarter to push the lead to 14-0. The Blue Bears responded with their best drive of the half, marching 56 yards on 14 plays before settling for Jason Zapata's 41-yard field goal.
That would be Livingstone's only first-half points. Winston-Salem State answered with Noah Marshall's 3-yard touchdown run following an 85-yard drive, then extended the margin to 28-3 when Lee found Kaleb Washington for a 16-yard score with 1:02 remaining in the second quarter.
The Blue Bears struggled to establish any offensive rhythm. Quarterback Elijah Alexander was intercepted by Zy Brown on Livingstone's first possession, setting up WSSU's second touchdown drive. Alexander completed 5 of 17 passes for 49 yards and the interception before giving way to Alfredo Sotelo, who finished 6-of-9 for 65 yards and a touchdown.
Winston-Salem State's rushing attack proved unstoppable. Kelly carried 18 times for 139 yards and two touchdowns, while Timothy Ruff II added 135 yards and a score on 11 attempts. The duo averaged 7.7 and 12.3 yards per carry, respectively, exploiting gaps in Livingstone's defensive front.
The Rams opened the second half with a 10-play, 89-yard touchdown drive that consumed 6:24 of the third quarter. Kelly capped the series with a 12-yard scoring run, his second of the game, giving WSSU a 35-3 advantage.
Livingstone finally found the end zone early in the fourth quarter when Sotelo directed a 13-play, 98-yard drive. The freshman quarterback completed 4 of 6 passes on the series and hit Jamal Haizlip for a 13-yard touchdown, pulling the Blue Bears within 35-10 with 9:01 remaining.
Any thoughts of a comeback were quickly extinguished. Ruff broke off a 20-yard touchdown run with 3:56 left to restore the 32-point margin and account for the final score.
Lee finished 11-of-15 for 202 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. His efficiency (13.5 yards per attempt) stood in stark contrast to Livingstone's passing game, which managed just 3.9 yards per attempt and was sacked five times for 27 yards.
Grimes caught two passes for 71 yards and the opening touchdown, while Washington added three receptions for 31 yards and a score. Marshall contributed 21 yards and a touchdown on the ground, giving the Rams four different players with rushing scores.
Defensively, Daniel Williams led Winston-Salem State with 11 tackles (five solo, six assists) and a half-sack. The Rams recorded eight tackles for loss totaling 31 yards and held Livingstone to just 2.9 yards per rush.
Javen Parker led the Blue Bears with 77 rushing yards on 19 carries. Tavion Jackson caught four passes for 36 yards, while C. Washington added three receptions for 30 yards. The offense converted just 5 of 15 third-down attempts and managed only one red-zone trip all game.
Winston-Salem State controlled possession for 33:40 compared to Livingstone's 26:20, including a 10:36 to 4:17 advantage in the third quarter that effectively put the game away.
The Rams' special teams also contributed to the rout. Kicker Gilberto Lorenzana converted all six extra points and averaged 60.9 yards on seven kickoffs with four touchbacks, consistently forcing Livingstone to start drives deep in its own territory.
Livingstone committed five penalties for 52 yards but was hurt more by WSSU's 11 penalties for 96 yards, several of which extended Blue Bears drives. The Rams were flagged for two delay-of-game penalties on the same possession in the second quarter and committed infractions for holding, false start, illegal shift, sideline interference and two unsportsmanlike conduct calls.
Despite the penalty discrepancy, Winston-Salem State's physical advantages proved decisive. The Rams averaged 7.4 yards per rush compared to 2.9 for the Blue Bears and held a commanding 504-216 edge in total offense.
Top Performers
Winston-Salem State
- Daylin Lee: 11-15, 202 yards, 2 TD passing
- JaQuan Kelly: 18 carries, 139 yards, 2 TD
- Timothy Ruff II: 11 carries, 135 yards, 1 TD
- Daniel Williams: 11 tackles (5 solo)
Livingstone
- Javen Parker: 19 carries, 77 yards
- Alfredo Sotelo: 6-9, 65 yards, 1 TD passing
- Tavion Jackson: 4 receptions, 36 yards