Sept. 4, 2004

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Winston-Salem, NC - The Winston-Salem State University Rams lost their second consecutive game of the 2004 season on Saturday evening at Bowman-Gray Stadium as they fell in defeat to the visiting Wildcats of Fort Valley State University in front of 3,789 fans by the score of 21-19.

The Rams started the first quarter of play looking as though they would execute their offensive will as they gained positive yards on their first seven plays from scrimmage. However a stalled third down from the Fort Valley State 23-yard line forced the Rams to look towards their kicking unit to draw first blood. Sophomore placekicker Matt Hind (So./K/Clemmons, NC) did just that, nailing a 33-yard field goal to give the Rams the early three-point lead.

However, the Wildcats used their high-powered running game to score on their next two possessions in the contest and go up 14-3 with 14:05 remaining in the second quarter of play. An Adam Bailey 32-yard touchdown pass from Willie Copeland and a Derrick Wimbush 72-yard touchdown scamper helped FVSU to grab an 11-point lead only moments into the second quarter.

Wimbush was the story of the first half of play as he gained 121 of his 132 total yards in the first stanza of play. The Wimbush story would not end there as he picked up his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on a halo violation on a WSSU punt return at the 13:32 mark of the third quarter and was ejected from the contest.

The loss of the All-American Wimbush put a damper on FVSU's potent running game and helped to shift the momentum back to the Rams.

Another Matt Hind field goal at the 10:54 mark of the fourth quarter cut the Wildcat lead to only eight points as the Rams looked to be charging towards the come-from-behind victory.

Curtis Smith And The Rams Fall To 0-2 On The Season

However, looks can be deceiving. Despite a Stan Wright (So./TE/Durham, NC) 17-yard leaping touchdown catch the Rams would fall just short. Going for the tie with a two point conversion, Josh McGee's (Sr./QB/Winston-Salem, NC) pass dropped harmlessly to the turf and the Rams would have to try to get the win on their next possession.

FVSU turned in their biggest defensive stop of the game on a fourth and four from their own 36 yard line and then ran out the clock to earn the victory.

Brandon Hussey (Jr./WR/Pine Tops, NC) turned in an impressive all around performance with 258 total yards on the evening. The junior receiver caught 11 passes for 106 yards and added to his offense with 152 yards returning kicks (83 on punt returns; 69 on kick returns) as he turned in one of the most impressive games of his career.

With the loss the Rams fall to 0-2 on the season (0-0 CIAA) while the Wildcats improve to 2-0. WSSU returns to action on Saturday, September 11th, 2004 as they welcome #12 ranked Tusculum College to Bowman-Gray Stadium. The Wildcats will face Lane College as they return to action next Saturday as well.

For more information, contact the WSSU Office of Sports Information at (336) 750-2143.