In its second season of Division I football, Winston-Salem State has played in many close games. The team’s 20-19 win at home against Hampton was no different.
Jed Bines and Monte Purvis rushed for more than 100 yards, and WSSU’s defense held tight on the final possession, blocking a potential game-winning field goal to win.
Quarterback Monte Purvis rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Senior running back Jed Bines ran 23 times for 146 yards and a touchdown. William Hayes had 12 tackles and two sacks.
Bines played well, although he was banged up. “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, 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.
The Pirates got on the board when running back Kevin Beverly, who ran for 158 yards, scored on a 1-yard plunge. Hampton missed the extra point, leaving the score 6-0.
The Rams answered when Purvis took it in from 6 yards out. The PAT was blocked, leaving the score tied at halftime.
Purvis’ second score came from 10 yards out, and the two-point conversion gave the Rams a 14-6 lead.
Beverly’s 3-yard scoring run cut the deficit to 2 points and his 6-yard score in the later in the period gave Hampton a 19-14 edge.
Bines’ 27-yard score came on the next drive, but the failed conversion left the score at 20-19 with 1:13 left.
Hampton still had a good chance to win the game after WSSU committed a 15-yard facemask penalty on the kickoff return. But the Rams kept the Pirates from scoring to win.
Head coach Kermit 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.”