Rams close out season with 31-14 loss against Norfolk State

As expected, emotions were running high on the field after Winston-Salem State's final game against Norfolk State.

Unfortunately for the Rams, they were on the wrong side of the spectrum, as the Spartans' defeated the Rams 31-14 at Dick Price Stadium in Norfolk, Va.

After the game, WSSU head coach Kermit Blount was livid after his team gave up seventeen points in the second half and failed to score.

"We played flat from play one," Blount said," We did not come to play today."

Early on it seemed as if the Spartans were intent on giving the Rams the game.

Casey Hansen's first pass was intercepted by De'ron Middleton for a 39 yard touchdown return, giving Rams the early advantage 7-0. Hansen threw two more picks but the Rams were unable to capitalize on either of them. Finally, fortune saw fit to smile on the Spartans. While attempting to field a punt, David Irizary muffed the catch in the end zone and the Spartans' Dustin Johnson immediately pounced on the ball, giving NSU a touchdown and tying the game at 7-7. Just before the end of the half Hansen hit Earl Henry for a 16 yard touchdown pass, giving the Spartans a 14-7.

Just when it looked as though the momentum had shifted to the Spartans' side, Monte Purvis and the Rams offense finally stepped up. With Purvis directing the Rams' version of the two minute drill, the Rams were able to punch the ball in on a Purvis pass to Brent Thomas, tying the game at 14 going into half time.

The third quarter was not kind to the Rams. The Spartans scored first in the second half when Monte' Anthony, a Winston-Salem native, ran in for a three yard touchdown capping a 12 play, 74-yard drive and giving NSU a 21-14 lead.

The Spartans struck again near the end of the third when Hansen hit Emory Sammons on a 71-yard touchdown pass, making the score 28-14 with 2:11 left in the third. The Spartans added a Justin Castellat field goal to give the Spartans a 31-14 lead with 13 minutes remaining. After a pass interference call gave the Rams the ball at the Spartan three-yard line, Purvis' pass was picked off in the end zone, effectively ending the Rams hopes of a comeback.

Anthony rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown, and Hansen threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Monte Purvis played his best game of the season, completing 9 of 18 passes for 183 and a touchdown, and also leading the Rams in rushing with 76 yards.

For seniors like kicker Chad Oakley it was a disappointing end to the career at WSSU.

"To come out here and end it like this was disappointing," Oakley said.

Despite the loss, WSSU's first season in Division I went about as well as could have been expected. They finished with a 4-7 record and defeated two future MEAC opponents, Howard and North Carolina A&T, and had chances to win against Florida A&M, Bethune-Cookman, and Hampton.

"I think we performed better than expected," said Dr. Chico Caldwell, Director of Athletics at WSSU. "We have a young ball club, only losing two seniors on defense. Now the coaches have to recruit and get the players ready for next season."