In their second season of Division I football, Winston-Salem State has played in many close games. When the Rams end up on the winning side of the scoreboard, it’s usually because of their running game and defense. Tonight’s win at home against Hampton was no different.
Jed Bines and Monte Purvis both rushed for over 100 yards and WSSU’s defense held tight on the final possession, blocking Jahmah Blanchard’s potential game-winning field goal as time expired for a 20-19 victory.
Quarterback Monte Purvis rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Senior running back Jed Bines ran 23 times for 146 yards and a touchdown.
Bines was able to play well, despite the fact that his hamstring seemed to be bothering him.
“I had pulled my hamstring earlier in the week and I was just trying to give it a rest.”
He saved his best for last, however, going up the middle 27 yards for what proved to be the winning score for the Rams.
“I just came in on that series, the line opened a big hole, and luckily I only had to make one cut,” Bines said of his touchdown run. “I was just trying to run as fast as I could to get in the end zone.”
The Pirates got on the board first when running back Kevin Beverly, who rushed for who ran for 158 yards, scored on a one-yard plunge. However, Hampton’s Carlo Turavani missed the extra point, giving Hampton a 6-0 lead heading into the second quarter.
The Rams answered back with a score on their first possession of the second quarter when Purvis scored a six-yard touchdown of a bootleg run. WSSU’s Matt Mitchell had his kicked blocked on the ensuing PAT attempt, leaving the score tied at six heading into the half.
Purvis’ second rushing touchdown also came off of a bootleg run, this time from 10 yards out, and Bines’ two-point conversion gave the Rams a 14-6 cushion that they held heading into the final quarter.
Beverly’s three-yard scoring run on the first play of the fourth quarter was only the beginning of a roller-coaster final quarter. The Pirates went for a two-point conversion, attempting to tie the game, but WSSU cornerback David Irrizary’s interception kept the Rams lead at two points, 14-12.
The Rams drove all the way to the two-yard line, only to have Jeremey Reaves drop Monte Purvis’ pass in the end zone. The Pirates answered with a 14 play, 98-yard drive, scoring on a six-yard Beverly touchdown run, his third of the evening.
On the next drive, with the Rams facing a fourth down, head coach Kermit Blount called on two familiar faces to get the job done. Purvis’ six-yard run gave the Rams a new set of downs and kept their chances alive. On first down, Bines went straight up the middle for the score. The two-point conversion failed, leaving the score 20-19 with 1:13 left to play on the clock.
Hampton still had a good chance to win the game, and an even better chance after WSSU was called for a 15-yard facemask penalty on the kickoff return. But the Rams were able to keep the Pirates out of the end zone and the blocked kick sealed the deal.
The Rams victory over the Pirates, the three-time defending MEAC Champions, was their first in three tries since the 1992 season when both were members of the CIAA.
The Rams were paced defensively by end Will “Big Play” Hayes. Hayes finished with 12 tackles, including five for loss, two sacks,a forced fumble and pass breakup. Nate Biggs and Thadeus Griffin also finished with 12 tackles apiece.
Blount said that the win was big for his team.
“It’s a great win for our program and it’s a great win for our kids,” said Blount, who defeated the Pirates for the first time in his career as a head coach.
“Our guys played hard and that’s all I can ask them to do every time I come out.”
The Rams will host MEAC leading Delaware State next week in the homecoming game.