The Winston-Salem State Rams (3-3) were able to pull out a hard-fought win over the Florida A&M Rattlers (2-3) in the 24th Coca-Cola Circle City Classic at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, IN. The game was an up-and-down one from the very beginning but the Rams secured the 27-23 victory.

The Rams had their hands full contending with an aggressive Florida A&M offense that was third in the MEAC heading into the game averaging 359.0 yards and 20.5 points. The WSSU defense would stand up to the test forcing a pair of fumbles that led to 13 WSSU points, all of which the team needed in order to secure the victory. Senior defensive lineman William Hayes led the way for the Rams with 12 total tackles, all solo. He also added a pair of sacks and led the team with three tackles for a loss of thirteen yards.

After getting off to a slow start, the WSSU offense kicked things into high gear with a powerful rushing attack that amassed 296 yards on the ground. Senior running back Jed Bines powered the Rams to the win rushing for 126 yards and three touchdowns. The effort was enough to earn him offensive MVP honors for the Rams. Not far behind Bines was quarterback Monte Purvis who rushed for 89 yards on 23 carries. Junior running back Roderick Fluellen added 82 yards rushing, many of which came on a crucial fourth quarter drive that set up the winning touchdown.

“I thought our kids showed a lot of character coming through the third quarter I think that was the turning point,” WSSU head football coach Kermit Blount said following the victory. “Once we got through the third quarter I thought our kids stepped it back up and we made plays when we had to make plays.”

Though the Rams defense struggled early in the contest, the team was able to stay ahead on the strength of some key defensive plays early on in the game. The Rams got their first break of the game when junior defensive back/punter Jamaine Mack recovered a FAMU fumble on the Rattlers two-yard line that set up a one-yard Purvis touchdown run that giving them their first lead of the game with 8:34 left in the first quarter. The PAT kick by freshman Matt Mitchell was blocked and left the Rams leading 6-0 midway through the first quarter of the game.

The 6-0 WSSU lead would stand through the first quarter, but not without some scares for the Rams. FAMU freshman running back Phillip Sylvester returned the ensuing kick 44 yards, but was held to a missed 47-yard field goal attempt. The Rattlers would also drive deep into WSSU territory once again, but were forced to punt again and keep the Rams in the driver’s seat.

The WSSU defense would step up once again when WSSU defensive lineman Michael Moore forced another Rattler fumble, FAMU’s third of the game, and gave the Rams the ball at the FAMU 43-yard line with just over 10 minutes left in the half. The Rams would take advantage of the FAMU turnover when Bines ran in his first touchdown of the game on a one-yard touchdown run with 8:13 left in the second quarter. Purvis would run in the Rams’ first two-point conversion of the season to give the team a 14-0 lead. The touchdown capped a seven-play 33-yard drive that left the Rams on top by a pair of scores.

Though the Winston-Salem State defense would allow a few FAMU first downs for the rest of the half, the team would not give up a score and take the 14-0 lead down to the final seconds of the half. However, the Rattlers were able to get on the scoreboard hitting a 46-yard field goal right at the half. The field goal would leave the Rams ahead, 14-3 at the half.

The Rattlers came out hot returning the opening kick 69 yards to the WSSU 18-yard line and then rushing 18 yards for the touchdown. The ensuing PAT kick cut the WSSU lead down to just four points, 14-10 with 14:42 left in the third quarter. At the other end of the spectrum, the Rams found themselves struggling early in the second half, fumbling five times in the quarter, including two that were recovered by the Rattlers.

The most costly fumble occurred when WSSU junior David Irizarry lost the ball on a fair catch at the WSSU 31-yard line, leading to the second FAMU field goal of the game, this time a 44-yarder from FAMU’s Wesley Taylor that cut the WSSU lead down to just one point, 14-13. The Rams’ struggles continued with the team giving up its fifth fumble of the quarter as junior running back Roderick Fluellen gave the Rattlers the ball at their 30-yard line.

Things would look up for the Rams when Corey Sheppard tipped a punt that WSSU defensive back Ernest Blakley recovered and returned to the FAMU seven-yard line. An illegal block by WSSU erased the return however, and gave the Rams the ball on the WSSU 41-yard line.

The Rams would score the go-ahead touchdown when senior running back Jed Bines would run in a nine-yard TD run at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The PAT kick was blocked and left the Rams on top 20-13 with 13:41 left in the game. FAMU would not give in, however tying the game 20-20 with 11:00 left as Sylvester scored on a nine-yard TD run. It was the ensuing PAT kick that tied the game.

Bines scoring his third touchdown of the day taking a one-yard carry into the endzone with 6:59 left in the game to seal the game for the Rams. The PAT kick would put the Rams on top for good, 27-20.

With the win the Rams improve to 3-3 on the season while the Rattlers fall to 2-3. The Rams will have a bye this week and will next head to Daytona Beach, FL to take on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats.