Winston-Salem State 41, NC A&T 14

September 2, 2006

GREENSBORO, NC – The Rams of Winston-Salem State University scored on all five of their first-half possessions as they broke an eight-game losing steak to North Carolina A&T State University that dated back to the 1991 season, cruising to a 41-14 win over the Aggies in front of the largest non-homecoming crowd in the 25-year history of Aggie Stadium. 

For the second consecutive week the Rams jumped out ahead of their opponent as Winston-Salem State opened up a 17-0 lead only 1:43 into the second quarter of play. 

The Rams scored on their first possession when sophomore transfer Marvin Umanzor (Miami, FL/Allen University) capped a 17-play, 80-yard drive that spent 8:32 off of the clock with a 28-yard field goal to put WSSU ahead 3-0 midway through the first quarter of play.

WSSU scored back-to-back touchdowns on their next two possessions as Tionti Powell (Beaulaville, NC/East Duplin H.S.) scored his second career touchdown on a nine-yard scramble and redshirt freshman Brandon McRae (Washington, DC/Charles H. Flowers H.S.) tallied his first career score with a seven-yard touchdown run to give the Rams a convincing 17-0 lead. 

The Rams took a 27-7 into the locker room at the halftime intermission following Monte Purvis’ first touchdown pass of the season, a 31-yarder to Josh Crawford (Durham, NC/Elon University). 

Crawford sped through the NC A&T secondary and Purvis found him in stride for the touchdown as WSSU ended the half with a scoring drive.

Second-half action saw Brandon McRae record his second touchdown run of the day, part of his 12-carry, 81-yard performance en route to Offensive Player of the Game honors.

McRae’s Offensive Player of the Game honors were matched by Demetrius Rivers’ (Durham, NC/Southern Durham H.S.) Defensive Player of the Game accolades following a game in which he tallied seven tackles (three solo, four assisted), one pass break up, and a sack.

With the win, the Rams improve to 1-1 overall and record their first win as a Division I program.  The win earns the Rams their 10th win in the all-time series, a series that North Carolina A&T leads 33-10.  

The victory marks WSSU head football coach Kermit Blount’s first coaching victory over the Aggies in eight tries. 

“I don’t have the words to put it into perspective right now, but I tell you what, it feels great to come into their back yard and get a win like this.  When I looked up at the scoreboard and it said 33-14, I thought it was back in 1977 [when a Blount-quarterbacked team earned a win over NC A&T].  I’m just extremely thrilled right now, I mean our kids, I am so proud of them.  Now we have to get ready for next week against South Carolina State” Blount commented.

WSSU returns to action on Saturday, September 9, 2006 at 6:00 pm as they play host to the Bulldogs of South Carolina State University at Bowman Gray Stadium.  The contest, the Rams’ 2006 Hall of Fame Game, will mark WSSU’s first home contest of the 2006 season.