Sept. 25, 2004
Bowie, MD - The Rams had their chances to escape from Bowie, MD with a win on Saturday over the Bulldogs of Bowie State University, but WSSU could not get it done as two trips inside the BSU red zone came up empty, and a pair of missed kicks cost the Rams the game and resulted in a 7-6 loss.
An offensive explosion it was not, yet fans of solid defensive football were treated to one of the greatest defensive showcases that the CIAA has seen in 2004. What was touted to be a head to head battle between the top two offensive juggernauts in the conference turned out to be a gridiron matchup that saw the Rams and Bulldogs combine for only 451 yards of total offense.
Neither team was able to put points on the board in the first half as both defenses forced countless punts and held their opponent in check as the first half of play came to a close at 0-0.
The third quarter would be witness to the game's only scoring as the Bulldogs came out of the locker room and hit pay dirt on their first series as they capped a nine-play, 65-yard drive with a 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Lamar Manigo to Kalvin McGee at the 11:30 mark. The pass from Manigo to McGee was a well orchestrated offensive strike, yet it would be the extra point from Ronald Walls that would draw all the attention. The 20-yard chip shot would ultimately prove to be the game winner and helped to propel the Bulldogs to their first win over WSSU since 1995.
Not to be outdone by the host team, the Rams used their first offensive possession of the second half to put points on the board as well as WSSU followed the Bulldog touchdown with one of their own when Jed Bines (So./Winston-Salem, NC) smashed his way into the endzone from one-yard out putting the finishing touches on a five-play, 59-yard drive that took 1:40 seconds off the clock.
The game looked to be all tied up as the crowd awaited the point after try, but WSSU kicker Matt Hind's (Jr./Clemmons, NC) attempt missed the mark and the Rams would trail in the contest 7-6. The unsuccessful PAT was Hind's fifth miss of the season as the junior kicker's woes continue as he has hit only 50% of his ten PAT kicks in 2004 (5 of 10).
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The Rams looked to once again be in business only two drives later as the WSSU defense would come up big. Facing a third and ten at their own 21-yard line, Dishon White picked off BSU's Jabali Smith and returned the ball nine yards before fumbling it back to the Bulldogs. What could have given WSSU excellent field position turned into a seven-yard gain for the home team. However, the defense would force a Bulldog punt and give the WSSU offense the ball back.
The Ram offense would have two more chances to secure the win, and both times the Rams would come up empty.
The first of two consecutive trips into Bulldog territory saw the Rams unable to punch the ball in from the BSU six-yard line. On fourth down and one, Jed Bines was hit in the backfield and made it only to the line of scrimmage as WSSU turned the ball over on downs to close out the third quarter of play.
 Monte Purvis Could Not Guide The Rams To The Win In The 4th Quarter  |
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The final trip into the BSU half of the field would mark the Rams' last as WSSU once again ran into the stalwart Bulldog defense. After WSSU's Brandon Hussey (Jr./Pine Tops, NC) returned a punt 16-yards to the BSU 30-yard line, the Rams could not find the endzone. A Hussey nine-yard reception on second down gave the Rams a fresh set of downs and put the ball on the Bulldog 20-yard line. However, four plays later the game would again rest squarely on the shoulders of WSSU's kicking game. Hind would miss his second kick of the day, this time of the 41-yard variety as the kicked was blocked. With the miss, Hind's FG percentage drops to 50% on the season (two of four overall).
The Rams' final series of the day would see freshman quarterback Monte Purvis' fourth down pass sail harmlessly incomplete with 32 second remaining on the game clock. After taking a knee, the Bulldogs were able to secure the CIAA win.
Both defenses played exceptionally well in the contest, and leading the way for the Rams was linebacker Anthony Robinson (Jr./Winston-Salem, NC). Robinson tallied a game-high 11 total tackles in the contest and led a Ram defense that surrendered only 201 yards in the game in a losing effort.
With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 3-2 overall (2-1 CIAA) while the Rams fall to 1-4 overall and 1-1 in the CIAA. WSSU returns to action next weekend, October 2nd, 2004 at 2:00 pm as they face off against the Broncos of Fayetteville State University for Homecoming 2004.
For more information, contact the WSSU Office of Sports Information at (336) 750-2143.
