The Lincoln University football team suffered their fifth loss of the season Saturday evening, losing to Winston-Salem State University 48-0 at Bowman Grey Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
 
The Lions fall to 0-5 overall and 0-2 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) games.  Winston-Salem State improves to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in league play.
 
Despite the score, some positive signs emerged as the game played on.  The Lions defense held the Rams to just 293 yards of total offense, the lowest total by an opponent so far this season.  The total included just 48 yards passing, also a team low against the Lions.  The 48 points given up was also equals the fewest given up in a game this season.  Lincoln also had control of the ball for just over 35 minutes, nearly ten minutes longer than the Rams.    Lincoln also cut down on the penalties, getting called for just five in the game (team was averaging 9 per game entering the contest).
 
It was the Rams special teams and defense however that put up the majority of the points on the scoreboard, notching four touchdowns on the evening.  The scoring began right from the opening kickoff when WSSU's Canard Brown ran Cody Waddell (Elkton, Md./Northeast)'s kickoff 95 yards for the first touchdown of the game.  The Ram's special teams struck again on the Lions first possession when Waddell had his punt blocked and the Rams recovered in the end zone.  Brown added a 72 yard punt return for a touchdown and the Rams defense recovered a fumble and ran it in for a fourth score late in the second quarter.  Rams quarterback Rod Tinsley also ran for two touchdowns in the first half as the hosts staked themselves to a 42-0 lead at halftime.  WSSU scored once more in the fourth quarter to round out the scoring.
 
The Lions finished the game with 200 yards of total offense – 72% of that coming from quarterback Trey McCollum (Burlington, N.C./Western Alamance).  McCollum, in his first collegiate start, passed for 92 yards on 12 completions and ran for an additional 53.  Senior wide receiver Andre Price (Rialto, Calif./Jurupa Hills (Chabot)) was McCollum's favorite target, catching four passes for 27 yards. Elijah Smith (Elmont, N.Y./Sewanhaka (Monroe College)), Carlos Croslin (Baltimore, Md./Frederick Douglass (Globe Tech) ) and Rameses Owens (Warrensville Hgts., Ohio/Shaker Heights Robert Morris)) each had three catches.  Owens also gained 34 yards on the ground.
 
The majority of the Rams offense came on the ground as five runners, led by Kerrion Moore's 93 yards gained a total of 245 yards on the evening. WSSU's special teams accounted for 197 yards with three scores.   Tinsley passed for 48 yards and had two 1-yard touchdown runs.
 
The Lions return to action on Saturday, October 7, 2017 when they host the Panthers of Virginia Union University.  Kickoff is 5 p.m. at Lions Stadium.  Tickets are still available.