Sept. 4, 2011

Final Stats

ELIZABETH CITY, NC-Winston-Salem State University's tandem of Kameron Smith and Nicholas Cooper combined for a total of 366 yards of offense as the Rams upended the Elizabeth City State University Vikings 22-17 Saturday evening at Roebuck Stadium.

Cooper finished the night with a game high 137 yards on 23 carries while Smith went 18-29 in passing for 229 yards and two touchdowns.

The Rams first drive went 91 yards on 10 plays and with a 30-yard scoring reception from Smith to Tehvyn Brantley, WSSU took an early 7-0 lead. After the Vikings' next possession yielded a three-and-out, ECSU's defense evened the score after a sack and fumble of Smith deep in Ram territory set up a 1-yard rushing score by Daronte McNeill.

The Rams struck right back on their ensuing drive, going 70 yards on 8-plays and Smith's second TD pass of the day, a 27-yard strike to Jamal Williams (extra point was blocked). Cooper's only score of the day came with 3:49 left in the half, when his 2-yard TD pushed the score to 20-7 in favor of the Rams.

ECSU's Kevin Miller tacked on a 42-yard field goal with 19 seconds left before halftime to make the score 20-10.

The story of the first half, as was most of the game, was the inability of the ECSU offense to find continuity. During that span, the Rams held the Vikings to just 62 yards (28 plays from scrimmage) while the ECSU defense spent most of the first half on the field, defending 42 plays before the intermission.

ECSU's defense surrendered no points in the second half however the Rams added two more points in the third quarter with 6:53 on a safety.

The Vikings' most offensive output of the night, a 25-play, 95 yard scoring drive led to McNeill's second TD of the evening with 3:40 to go in the game. The Rams, played keep-a-way, rushing the ball for three first downs to close out the game's final possession.

Both teams were whistled for 11 penalties each, with ECSU racking up 156 yards from miscues.

ECSU (0-2, CIAA 0-1) will return to action at the 14th Annual Down East Viking Football Classic in Rocky Mount, NC on Saturday, September 10th. Kick-off is scheduled for 4:00pm. For more information on ECSU Athletics, visit www.ecsuvikings.com.