Faced with a fourth-and-one at their own 38-yard line with less than three minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Winston-Salem State head coach Kermit Blount called a timeout. After the Rams broke the huddle, running back Jed Bines broke through a hole in Florida A&M’s defense for a three yard game that essentially clinched the Ram’s 27-23 victory in the Circle City Classic.
What remains a mystery to the fans, as well as the coaches and the players, is who was calling for what play during the break.
“It was back and forth on what play we were gonna run,” said Purvis. “The O-line felt like we could do one play, coach Calcutta felt like we could do another play, coach Blount felt like we could do another play, then I had something to say.”
Blount didn’t remember the huddle quite the same way. When asked if there where any dissenting opinions in the huddle he said there weren’t any that he could remember.
“We had to take that chance, that was a call that I had to make,” said Blount.
Whatever the discussion was that took place in the huddle, everyone on the Rams’ side was satisfied with the results.
“The play we called worked,” said Purvis.
Purvis, coming off the best passing performance of his career the previous week against Howard, completed only 4 of 10 passes for 17 yards. Purvis did most of his damage against the Rattlers on the ground, weaving through FAMU defenders for 89 yards and a touchdown.
Jed Bines, who was voted the Rams offensive MVP, rushed for a game-high 126 yards and also added three touchdowns. Reserve running back Rodrick Fluellen added 82 yards as the Rams gained nearly 300 yards on the ground.
The Rams were able to jump out to an early 14-point lead in the first half as they capitalized of FAMU’s mistakes. Jamaine Mack’s fumble recovery on the Rattler’s 1-yard line set up Purvis’ rushing touchdown in the first quarter. In the second quarter, defensive-lineman Michael Moore recovered the Rattler’s bumbled snap deep in their own territory and eight plays later Jed Bines found the endzone from one-yard out, and the two point conversion gave the Rams a 14-0 lead. The Rattlers were able to cut into the lead when Wesley Taylor’s 46-yard field goal split the uprights as time expired in the first half.
The Rattlers came out hot in the second half, scoring on their first play from scrimmage as Anthony Edwards scored from 18-yards out. FAMU struck again when Taylor connected on another field goal, this time from 44-yards out, cutting the Rams lead 14-13 heading into the fourth quarter.
Each time the Rattlers got within striking distance, the Rams answered. WSSU found the endzone on their first drive of the fourth quarter when Bines scored his second touchdown from 8 yards out. However, freshman kicker Matt Miler had his extra-point attempted blocked for the second time, making the score 20-13 and leaving the door open for the Rattlers to creep back in the game.
FAMU responded by going on a six-play, 60-yard drive that culminated in a nine-yard touchdown by Phili Sylvester, and tied the game at 20 with the extra point.
WSSU responded with 76-yard scoring drive, capped off by Bines’ third touchdown of the afternoon. Taylor hit yet another field goal attempt, bringing the score to 27-23 before Bines’ three-yard gain effectively ended the game.
WSSU defensive end William Hayes had 10 tackles and two sacks on the day, a week after missing the Howard game for disciplinary reasons. Michael McMillian led FAMU with 12 tackles and two sacks.
The game was played in the RCA Dome in Indianapolis on Oct. 6 in front of more than 42,000 fans.