Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) won its second straight Central Interscholastic Association (CIAA) title after beating Elizabeth City State, 34-19, in the championship game on Nov. 10 at Durham County Stadium in Durham, N.C.
The title victory gave WSSU a perfect 11-0 record as they head into the Division II football playoffs.
WSSU was able to pull out the championship win thanks to backup quarterback Anthony Carrothers, a redshirt sophomore, who replaced an injured starter redshirt senior Kam Smith.
“I’m not going to lie, I was a little worried,” WSSU senior safety Malcolm Rowe said. “And then when Kam (Smith) went down, I got even more nervous, but Anthony came in and played well, and we as a defense picked it up.”
When Carrothers replaced Smith, he brought the team back after trailing 19-14 in the second half; and finished the game completing 7 for 11 for 123 yards, including two touchdown passes thrown in the fourth quarter, to cap off the come-from-behind victory.
“I try to bring excitement and a positive energy,” Carrothers said. “We got down at one point, but I just tried to keep everybody’s spirits up so we could come back and win the game.”
With Smith injured, Carrothers will more than likely be the starter as WSSU prepares for the first round of the national playoffs.
