It’s undeniable that the cornerstone of an HBCU experience is the excitement that revolves around homecoming. As imperative as tailgate season may be for many Rams and friends, the central focus of homecoming week for the Winston-Salem State football team was to protect the home field and secure the victory. And they did.

On October 21, Winston-Salem State defeated St. Augustine 24-17 in a game that came down to the wire. Despite falling behind by 10 points in the third quarter, the CIAA Food Lion Rookie Of The Week, Daylin Lee, carried the team on his back down the stretch. With 11 seconds remaining in regulation, the freshman QB punched the ball in for a one-yard score to take the lead and secure the win.

Following the big win, we spoke with a couple of Lee’s teammates, DE Camar Kyle and DB Justin Fleming, to learn more about who they are and what this game meant to them.

Camar Kyle is a native of Raleigh, NC, who was excited to finally be celebrating his first official homecoming football game after being deprived of the experience due to COVID and hurricane warnings over the past three years. “It was amazing. From the jam-packed parking lots to watching the band, seeing all the fans wearing the Ram red was amazing,” Kyle says. “It felt good to receive the love from all the alumni.”

After recovering from a significant knee injury he suffered his freshman season, Kyle has been enjoying every game like it’s his last, knowing he can’t take any snap for granted. Camar admitted that the road to recovery was a rather painful yet humbling experience. His journey included lots of time reading his bible and endless conversations with his parents. He credits his successful rehab process to the love and support he received from his family, coaches, friends, and, most importantly, his teammates.

Kyle knows what it will take for the Rams to finish the season strong, and it has everything to do with execution. “We can’t leave any money out on the field.” He says. “Some guys are just now returning from injuries, but we can’t make any excuses. The second-string guys must become the first-string guys and understand you are only one play away from becoming a starter.”

Camar has the honor of being one of the team captains this year. He shares this responsibility with the do-it-all defensive back out of Greensboro, NC.

Justin Fleming is a third-year student as well as a third-generation Ram. Fleming was born into a lineage of Winston-Salem State alums, and he wants to do nothing more than make them proud by carrying on the legacy gracefully. To show his passion for making his family proud, he mentioned the significance of a quote he keeps on his phone.

“It says, ‘Why are you chilling and your parents are working?’ And I look at this every day when I open my phone. Anytime I play a video game, I know I could be watching film and doing anything else to increase my talent both on and off the field.” 

His passion for success is evident in his self-discipline, which is a recipe for success when playing under Head Coach Robert Massey. “[Coach Massey] always tells us two things: We can control our attitude and our effort. Anything outside of our control is irrelevant, but we know the things we control will determine a win or a loss.”

Justin, like Camar, had never participated in a homecoming football game until the win against St. Augustine. He understood the magnitude of the game, knowing it’d be a task that required him and his teammates to be laser-focused.

“With homecoming, we knew we had to be locked in this week. Although homecoming is for us, it’s mostly about all of the alums who return to watch us play. We want to ensure we give them something good to talk about after the game.”

With the homecoming victory under their belt, the Rams turn their attention to end the season on a solid note in hopes of competing for a CIAA title on November 11.