Coach Connell Maynor of Winston-Salem State knows a lot about his football team, except for one small detail.
He isn't sure how the Rams will respond once they fall behind.
Winston-Salem State has been rolling through opponents and hasn't trailed in any of its four games. The Rams, ranked No. 21 in the AFCA Division II poll, will play Johnson C. Smith on Saturday at Bowman Gray Stadium.
It's not a concern to Maynor that the Rams, who have outscored their opponents 200-77, haven't been behind.
"I haven't even thought about that," Maynor said. "I have noticed that when we are up by a touchdown or two, the defense can lay back a little bit and they can afford to play a little more conservative."
Maynor pointed out that the Rams were behind in games last season.
"I don't think it's an issue because we trailed a couple of times — to N.C. A&T and N.C. Central — last year and came back and won," Maynor said. "I don't think it will be a problem for us playing from behind.
"We've just been fortunate to be ahead all season so far."
Fullback Ced Hickman, a fifth-year senior, said that seeing the offense produce so many points doesn't surprise him.
"I was actually thinking about that the other day because we've never been behind all season," Hickman said.
"We really don't know how it feels to be down by one touchdown or down by two touchdowns.
"Until the time comes, we really don't know."
The Rams lead the CIAA in scoring (50 points a game), rushing (242 yards), total offense (517.5 yards) and passing efficiency.
Their 178 points in the past three games is a school record for any three-game stretch.
"That's not bad that we haven't trailed because that shows how good we've been so far," Hickman said.
This season has been one to remember for several of the veterans — and they would like to keep it going.
"We are really loving this season," Hickman said.
"For myself and a number of other guys, this is our last season, and whenever we break we always say 'Champions.' So it's our mind-set.
"We all want to get a championship before we get up out of here."
Defensive back Cameron Demps, who made an interception last week in the 56-20 victory over Fayetteville State, said this team is more focused than last year's team, which finished 8-2.
As for not being behind yet, Demps said: "I'm not worried because I think last year, we learned to keep going and not look back. It's not a problem that we haven't been behind; it's actually a good thing."
The Rams were one of the top offensive teams in the CIAA last season, but are doing so much more this year. Eleven receivers have caught touchdown passes, and the balance between running and passing has been outstanding.
"You have to be a little surprised," Maynor said of averaging 50 points a game. "But then you look back and see we had the No. 1 offense last season and didn't lose many off that team; so we expected to put up the same numbers, if not better."
Maynor also said the veterans on offense are using the Rams' system for the second season.
"Guys are more experienced in our system," Maynor said. "So those guys should be playing better and executing better, and they are."
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