Staff report

SALISBURY — When you have the CIAA’s Offensive Lineman of the Week, Running Back of the Week and Quarterback of the Week, you know you’ve had a good game.

Winston-Salem State did have a really good game last week, pounding Shaw 34-14 to earn a lot of individual accolades. QB Daylin Lee threw for 244 yards, while back Trevin Hester rushed for 185. Lineman Dakota McLendon pancaked Shaw Bears for both of them.

Now the surging Rams will visit Livingstone College’s Alumni Memorial Stadium. The Blue Bears also are surging. Both teams have 502 records and have won three of four CIAA games. Kickoff on Saturday afternoon is set for 4 p.m.

Livingstone hasn’t displayed a lot of flash and glitter or put up gaudy stats, but the Blue Bears, who basically score 21 points per game while also allowing 21 points per game, have been able to make the key plays to decide tight games. They’ve won three in a row.

Livingstone is coming off its biggest victory of the season, a 24-19 decision against a respected opponent, Fayetteville State, but the Blue Bears will again get to play the role of home underdogs. The Massey Ratings favor WSSU by two touchdowns. Livingstone is given only an 11 percent chance of beating the Rams.

Livingstone has won the last two games in the series after the Rams reeled off 12 victories in a row in the series between 2005 and 2021.

Livingstone has quarterbacked by committee. The constant for the offense has been running back Mohamed Nyangamukenga, a Norfolk State transfer. He’s been able to provide about 100 rushing yards per game.

Livingstone ranks seventh in the CIAA in offense and is sixth in defense.

WSSU ranks fifth in offense and third in defense. The Rams have held opponents to an average of 16.6 points per game.