The Winston-Salem State Rams rode a stellar defensive effort and 146 rushing yards by an injury-slowed Jed Bines to defeat three-time defending MEAC champion Hampton University, 20-19.
First half action saw the two teams post nearly identical offensive rushing performances as the Rams totaled 100 yards of total rushing offense on 20 offensive running plays while the Pirates checked in with only one more yard of rushing offense as they amassed 101 yards of rushing offense on 28 offensive running plays.
The similarities ran deeper than just the identical score and nearly identical rushing yardages as the two teams each posted a rushing touchdown and a missed PAT attempt.
Hampton struck first as Kevin Beverly got the Pirates on the scoreboard at the 7:18 mark of the first quarter as he powered in from one yard out to cap a nine-play, 61-yard scoring drive that gave the Pirates an early advantage over WSSU.
Carlo Turavani’s PAT attempt was unsuccessful and the Rams found themselves trailing 6-0 mid-way through the first quarter of play.
The Rams would respond 17 minutes later when Monte Purvis took advantage of a designed quarterback keeper and fooled not only every Hampton defender but all 6,000-plus fans in the stands as he ran around the right end for a six-yard touchdown to tie the game at 6-6.
In the same fashion as the Rams’ PAT try by Matt Mitchell’s failed and the two teams found themselves dead even at 6-6.
Purvis’ touchdown capped a 12-play, 97-yard scoring drive that spanned seven minutes and five seconds as WSSU turned in not only their most lengthy (97 yards) scoring drive of the 2007 season but the longest (7:05) scoring drive of the season as they shattered their previous high, the 4:57, 65-yard scoring drive recorded against Coastal Carolina earlier in the season.
The two teams would split five more scoreless offensive drives as time wound down in the first half of play before heading to the locker rooms tied at 6-6.
The third quarter of play belonged entirely to the Rams as Monte Purvis guided the Rams to a 12-6 lead with a 10-yard rushing touchdown that put the finishing touches on a short 35-yard scoring drive that gave WSSU their first lead of the day.
Fifth-year senior tailback Jed Bines increased the WSSU cushion to eight points with a successful two-point conversion as the Rams closed the quarter with a 14-6 advantage.
The fourth quarter would prove to be the most exciting 15 minutes of the WSSU football season as the Pirates and Rams would crack the end zone three times and use every available second on the clock as the outcome of the contest hung in the balance.
Kevin Beverly tacked on his third and fourth touchdowns of the evening as he punched into the end zone from three and six yards out respectively as Hampton wasted no time in regaining their first lead since mid-way through the first quarter of play.
However, the Rams would not be denied as Jed Bines, nursing an injured hamstring, erased a five point deficit with a 27 yard touchdown to give the Rams a perilous one-point advantage at 20-19 with only 1:23 remaining in the contest.
The Rams’ defense would again bend but not break as they kept Hampton from stopping the clock and forced a 49-yard field goal attempt with only one second remaining on the clock, a kick that was ultimately blocked preserving WSSU’s win over the three-time defending MEAC champions.
“I am just happy to get the win, especially versus a team and a school such as Hampton” WSSU head football coach Kermit Blount stated in post game interviews.
“I don’t know how much gray hair I have on top of my head now. I mean, this is just a great win for our program and our kids. I have great respect for Coach Taylor and the Hampton program and this is a huge step forward for our program as we try to be the best,” Blount added.
The win improves the Rams to 5-3 overall and drops Hampton to 4-4 overall on the season.