SWinston-Salem State 17, Bowie State 14

The Bulldogs squandered some opportunities early in the game and watched as Ashton Oakely's 32-yard field goal in the third quarter gave the Rams (2-1) the 17-14 win.

Talk in the stands afterwards was of a moral victory, but head coach Henry Frazier, III, was having none of that. "It's not a moral victory. We improved from week one to week two and now we have to go and get ready to go back at it for week three."

Despite being out gained 359-122, the Bulldogs (0-2, 0-2 CIAA) bend-but don't break defense gave the Bulldogs the opportunity to stay in the game, which was head coach Henry Frazier, III.'s game plan.

"The defense played very well today," said Frazier. They gave up a lot of yards but they stepped up and made some plays that kept us in the game."

One of the biggest plays of the game came with just 22 seconds remaining in the first half with the Bulldogs trailing 14-7. Cornerback Nate Talley stepped in front of Rams quarterback Aubrey Jones' pass, taking it 60 yards down the right sideline for the game-tying score.

Talley had an excellent day for the Bulldogs, making nine tackles, forcing a fumble and breaking up a pass in addition to his interception. Talley's forced fumble came in the Rams' first series of downs after they had driven to the Bulldogs' 12-yard line.

One the Bulldogs who is quickly making a name for himself in CIAA circles is freshman Atcheson Conway. The 6-0, 200 pound linebacker was all over the field for the Bulldogs making 19 tackles (nine unassisted), forcing two fumbles and breaking up a pass. His second forced fumbles drew ooh and aahs from the crowd as he exploded through the line and crushed the Rams' running back, and he drew more praise from his head coach.

"AT (Conway) is an awesome football player and an impact type 'baller'," said Frazier.

Also making a number of tackles was Kendall Stewart with 15, Antone' Sewell with 12 and Charles Alston with 10.

It looked like the Rams might have their way with the Bulldogs as they jumped out to a 14-0 lead on runs of two and four yards by John Holloman.

Holloman was the big back in the Rams' attack, gaining 106 yards on 22 carries, with the two touchdowns, allowing the Rams to hold almost a 17-minute time of possession advantage. Jones was effective for the Rams, completing 15-25 for 162 yards with the big interception.

The Rams held the ball for 18 plays and just under eight minutes in their game-winning drive. They then held it for 14 plays and 7:52 of the clock early in the fourth quarter, this time with the Bulldogs stopping them on a fourth-and-two from the Bulldogs' three.

The Bulldogs offense, which has struggled so far in 2001, saw a golden opportunity go by the wayside after the Rams scored their first touchdown at the 2:35 mark of the first quarter. Forced to punt, the Bulldogs got the ball back when the Rams fumbled it away at their own 16. On a fourth-and-four, quarterback Dante Harris hit wideout Mike Bryant for eight yards down to the Rams' two. After a Kelvin Collins rush to the one, the Bulldogs moved back five yards with an illegal motion penalty, killing their momentum, and turned the ball over on downs three plays later.

Harris did not play after that series, finishing 2-6 for 16 yards. Kernis Faison came in and went 3-14 for 76 yards and two interceptions.

Down 14-0, Faison got 70 of his 73 yards on one series as he hit James Johnson for a 53-yard gain then found Kevin Brooks for 17 yards across the middle for the touchdown.

The Bulldogs will travel to Cheyney University next week seeking their first win.

Front Page

Football Index