Despite coming into the game winless, Winston-Salem State proved to be too much for Howard, beating them 34 – 10 at home on Oct. 4.
The win came just in time for a team desperate for a victory.
With the Rams facing a 0-5 start heading into a showdown in Tallahassee Oct. 9, it was imperative that they win this last home game.
“When I look back, we had a great week of practice, and if we can continue to do what we did this week and ultimately tonight, we will be in good shape the remainder of the season,” said head coach Kermit Blount, after the Ram victory.
The Rams ended a five- game losing streak dating back to last season when they lost a nail bitter to Norfolk State on the road, 23-20.
“We really needed that win going into Thursday’s [Oct. 9] game at FAMU,” said junior defensive back Edgar Scott.
The Rams were hitting on all cylinders against the Bison with the offense accumulating 429 yards of total offense, 295 of which were added by junior quarterback Jarrett Dunston.
The Rams were also stingy on defense only allowing 322 yards of total offense.
One big surprise for the Rams was the emergence of defensive lineman turned fullback Devven Sutton, who caught a 7-yard pass for a touchdown and pounded the ball in from two yards out for another score. The game was the Virginia Tech transfer’s second at fullback.
“We felt that we needed to add him [Sutton] into the mix because we needed another fullback,” Blount said. Dunston had the game of his life throwing for 248 yards and running for 47.
He scored a 41-yard rushing touchdown on a quarterback keeper.
Defensively, the Rams shutdown the Bison running game and limiting the passing game. The defense recorded three interceptions, including DeRon Middleton’s pick in the which he returned for an 81- yard touchdown.
After the game, the Rams didn’t seem daunted by playing on national television in just five days.
“We’re just going to play our game,” said senior lineman Joseph Blanks.
Blount said he was pleased with his team’s performance as a whole.
“We finally put a complete game together,” Blount said. “We struggled the last few weeks and I think that our kids are finally grasping what we are trying to do now and it’s finally coming together.”