Sept. 19, 2009

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The old adage says that turnabout is fair play. On Saturday at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. it didn't seem fair for the Rams of Winston-Salem State University as they fell victim to a 16-10 overtime defeat at the hands of the Morgan State University Bears in the 38th Annual New York Urban League Football Classic.

Morgan State University rallied from a three-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter of play and used a 15-yard touchdown in overtime to defeat the Rams by four points as they pulled ahead 2-1 in the all-time series between the two teams.

Only two short years ago it was WSSU true freshman kicker Matt Mitchell who dashed Morgan State's hope for a win in the inaugural meeting between the two teams when his kick as time expired propelled the Rams to a 19-17 victory. On Saturday at Giants Stadium the Rams would find the shoe on the other foot as Kemar Scarlett's kick would force overtime and ultimately seal WSSU's fate.

The game's first half took only one hour and nine minutes to complete as the two teams combined for eight failed drives, 176 yards of total offense and only three points.

Despite completing only three of 14 passes in the game's first 30 minutes of play, the Rams would hold a narrow 3-0 advantage after two quarters of competition as true freshman kicker Landen Thayer's 22-yard field goal would prove to be the only points of the first half.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Branden Williams earned the start under center for Winston-Salem State but was replaced by senior quarterback Jarrett Dunston with 2:02 remaining in the first quarter after completing only one of his six pass attempts.

Dunston would find passing in the 15 mile per hour wind just as difficult as his predecessor, but an 18-yard completion to wide receiver Lerenzo Barr on third down and five that put the Rams on the Morgan State six yard line set up the first WSSU score as Barr broke across the middle of the field and Dunston hit his target in stride for a play that would prove to be the longest play of the first half for either team.

Each team would awaken from their offensive slumber in the third quarter as both the Bears and Rams recorded touchdowns during a four minute stretch midway through the third period of play.

Morgan State's Jephte Cherenfant pulled in a four-yard touchdown pass from Carlton Jackson that capped a seven-play, 45-yard drive that temporarily gave the Bears a 7-3 advantage at the 11:14 mark of the third quarter.

The Rams would immediately answer as Austin Higgins took a Jarrett Dunston pass 18 yards into the endzone for the Rams' go-ahead score only three minutes and nine seconds later as WSSU regained their three-point advantage at 10-7 following a nine-play, 85-yard drive.

Much to the chagrin of the Ram fans amongst the 25,604 paid attendees the Winston-Salem State score would be their final points in the contest.

Morgan State University's Kemar Scarlett's 42-yard field goal with 6:38 to play in the fourth quarter would eventually send the contest into overtime where the Bears would need only two plays to hand WSSU their third loss of the 2009 season, dropping the Rams to 0-3 in the process.

Carlton Jackson found Edwin Baptiste in the endzone from 15 yards out to give the Bears a six-point lead in overtime, and despite Scarlett's missed PAT, Morgan State would earn a victory when they held WSSU without positive yardage on four consecutive downs.

The loss, the Rams third of the 2009 season and fifth consecutive defeat dating back to last year, drops WSSU to 0-3 on the year while Morgan State improves to 1-1 overall with the victory.

WSSU returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009 as they continue their travels in Orangeburg, S.C. when they face defending MEAC football champion South Carolina State University at Oliver C. Dawson Bulldog Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 6:00 p.m.

For additional information on WSSU football, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at WSSURams.com.