WINSTON-SALEM – Reputations can sometimes fall under the heavy weight of the burdens they produce. The effort to maintain a reputation can often exceed the original reputation established. But on Saturday, first-year North Carolina A&T head football coach Alonzo Lee made it clear he’s not shying away from the well-deserved reputation he’s established over the years.

The man, who said defense is supposed to be unpleasant when he was hired as the Aggies head coach in January, saw his defense make life miserable for Winston-Salem State. It is fitting that the phase of the game that steered the way for Lee’s first career collegiate win was defense.

The Aggies defeated the Winston-Salem State 19-10 Saturday night at Bowman Gray Stadium. In the process, the Aggies held the Rams to just 90 yards of total offense. It was the lowest total given up by an Aggies team since – surprise, surprise – Lee was the Aggies defensive coordinator in 2003.

“I give them an A,’’ said Lee about the Aggies defense. “To hold anyone under 100 yards – we held them to 90 yards of offense – that’s awesome.”

North Carolina A&T held the Rams to just 33 yards rushing. The Rams’ longest plays of the day were 13 yard runs by running back Brandon McRae and quarterback Jarrett Dunston respectively. The Aggies even sent Dunston to the sideline with an injury. Once backup Branden Williams was in the game, they sacked him twice and enticed him into fumbling.

“We read the scouting report and the news clippings that they were short at quarterback,’’ said defensive end Tyre Glasper. “We’re an attacking defense so we have to attack. We don’t care if a team has seven quarterbacks; we’re going to attack anybody.”

Even when the Aggies gave up points on Saturday, the Rams were benefited by Aggie miscues on special teams. The Rams’ first score, a 24-yard field goal in the second quarter by Landen Thayer, was set up by a 60-yard kickoff return by John Harris.

WSSU’s only touchdown of the game was aided by a Cameron Demps blocked punt that gave the Rams the ball at the Aggies 15-yard line. Therefore, the Rams’ longest scoring drive of the day was 17 yards.

“We have the makings of a great defense,’’ said Lee. “They have a top-heavy defense and we have a senior-oriented defense. If we go out and execute and play assignment football, then we have a chance to be pretty good.”

Pretty good is what you expect from a coach Lee ‘D.’