Oct. 28, 2006
Final Stats
HAMPTON, VA - Despite a stellar defensive performance, the Rams of Winston-Salem State University failed to capitalize on two key possessions inside the Pirate red-zone as #17 Hampton University defeated WSSU by the score of 13-3 at Armstrong Stadium in Hampton, VA on Saturday in HU's Homecoming game.
A failed fourth-and-one inside the HU five yard line, and an Purvis throw that resulted in a questionable red-zone interception erased what could have been 14 WSSU points as the Rams tallied only a field goal in a loss to the nationally-ranked Pirates.
Following a game-opening WSSU drive that encompassed 11 plays and 51 yards as well as eating up 6:29 of time, the Pirates received a Chad Oakley punt, giving HU their first drive of the contest.
Hampton wasted no time in showing why they are arguably the MEAC's best team as they mounted an eight-play, 80 yard drive that was capped by a 12 yard touchdown pass from HU quarterback TJ Mitchell as the Pirates opened up a 7-0 lead.
WSSU answered back on their next possession as the Rams drove nearly the length of the field behind the rushing attack of their three-pronged tailback trio of Roderick Fluellen (41 total yards), Brandon McRae (99 total yards), and Tionti Powell (28 total yards).
Redshirt junior quarterback Monte Purvis showed the poise of a seasoned veteran as he marched the Rams downfield, engineering a drive that was split evenly between the run and the pass as WSSU's delayed handoff stymied the 17th-ranked Pirates defense.
Inside the HU redzone, Purvis was stopped one yard short of a WSSU first down setting up a fourth-and-one situation at the HU four-yard line as the Rams looked to tie the game at 7-7.
Despite the effectiveness of the WSSU rushing attack, the Pirates made a key stop on fourth down to force a turnover on downs, as Hampton reclaimed the ball, and more importantly, momentum, in front of the sellout home crowd of 17,523.
Following another pair of defensive efforts that allowed the MEAC's best offense only 11 offensive snaps, the Ram offense again marched downfield behind Purvis as WSSU looked to tie the contest.
However, Purvis made his lone mistake of the drive as he threw an interception to end the WSSU scoring threat. Dropping back into the shotgun on third-and-nine from the Hampton nine-yard line, Purvis was picked off by Travarous Bain at the goal line as WSSU's offense again failed to put points on the scoreboard. A jump-ball came down in the arms of Bain who juggled the ball heading out of bounds as the pass looked to be merely broken up. However, the line judge ruled the ball an interception, to the delight of the home crowd as WSSU's second trip inside the HU red-zone turned up no points.
A late Andrew Paterini field goal from 25 yards out as the first half wound down gave the home-team Pirates a slim 10-0 headed into the locker room for the halftime intermission.
WSSU's lone points of the game came at the 6:38 mark of the fourth quarter as Chad Oakley connected on a 36-yard field goal that cut the Hampton lead to 10 points at 13-3 as he ended a nine-play 47 yard WSSU drive with the Rams first, and only, points of the afternoon.
The Ram defense, which gave up only 336 total yards on the day would yield only three more points to the prolific-scoring Pirates as HU would earn only 13 points on the afternoon.
Leading the way for the Rams's defense was Nate Biggs who tallied 14 tackles on the day, recording five solo tackles and nine assists as he helped Defensive Coordinator Mike Ketchum's defense turn in one of their most impressive showings of the 2006 season.
The loss drops the Rams to 3-6 overall while the Pirates improve to 8-1 with the win. WSSU returns to action on Saturday, November 4, 2006 at 1:30 pm as they host the Falcons of Saint Augustine's College at Bowman Gray Stadium in their final home contest of 2006. The game is slated to be Student-Athlete Appreciate Day.
For additional information on WSSU football, contact the WSSU Office of Sports Information at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at www.WSSURAMS.com.
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