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WINSTON-SALEM,N.C. — With just 33 miles separating Winston-Salem State from North Carolina A&T, the two HBCU schools have had a long-standing rivalry for 49 years.

To win the fifth annual I-40 Showdown has implications reaching further than just a "W." in the record books. Fifth-year senior linebacker, Juan Corders said that it is all about the bragging rights which brings the entire community into this rivalry.

"Bragging rights... bragging rights living a whole year to the next game. That's what the whole community loves: the rivalry; that's all they remember is the rivalry," said Corders.

Winston-Salem State Head Coach Connell Maynor knows all too well about the rivalry. In 1987 as the starting quarterback for the Rams, he won a CIAA championship. He followed then-head coach and current athletic director, Bill Hayes, over to A&T where they won a MEAC championship.

"I got a lot of ties with the Aggies," said Maynor. "I graduated from there. But Winston-Salem State pays the bills and A&T is on the schedule. That means they got to go down."

The Rams re-entered the CIAA this year while the Aggies remain in the MEAC. Although the Aggies won the last two meetings and lead the all-time series 37-11, Quarterback Octavious Hawkins said they will let their playing do the talking.

"We're 1-0, right?! So we've got the best record. I think if we lose, they have the upset," said Hawkins.