Morgan State 21, Winston-Salem State 7

September 20, 2008

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Shawn Kearney’s 18-yard interception return for a touchdown with 3:38 to play prevented the Rams from being shut out for the first time since the 1996 season but it wasn’t enough on Saturday evening as the Morgan State University Bears dropped WSSU to 0-3 on the year as they handed Winston-Salem State a 21-7 loss at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.

The Rams had difficulty on offense against the Bears’ defense, a nationally-ranked unit that ranks in the top 10 in the nation against the run (sixth) and in overall scoring (seventh) as WSSU committed five turnovers including three lost fumbles, and a pair of interceptions that Morgan State turned into 21 points.

WSSU’s offense failed to generate any points on the evening as the Rams tallied only 133 yards of total offense despite attempting 62 total plays.

Morgan State opened the scoring as they got on the board at the 9:34 mark of the first quarter with a Troy Leftwich 45-yard interception return for a touchdown as the Bears scored their first seven of 21 points off of turnovers on the evening. 

The Bears would add a second score before the end of the first half, again courtesy of a WSSU turnover, as they led the Rams 14-0 headed into the locker room at halftime. 

While their offensive counterparts struggled, the WSSU defense responded with their third consecutive stellar performance as the Rams’ defensive corps forced three fumbles and recorded a pair of interceptions.

It would be the Rams’ defense that would earn WSSU their only points of the game as Shawn Kearney took a Carlton Jackson pass 18-yards for the Rams first defensive touchdown of the 2008 season.

“Our defense really showed up, but our offense was lacking, that’s for sure” WSSU head coach Kermit Blount commented in post game interviews. 

“Despite our difficulties on offense, our guys did not quit.  They showed the heart of true champions, and that is testament to this program, our coaches and our young men.  We didn’t put our heads down and we will continue to hold them high as we prepare for next weekend [against South Carolina State]”.

The Bears would tack on a third touchdown on a Justin Lawrence one-yard run following a recovered onside kick as Morgan State earned their second victory of the season and improved to 2-1 in the process.

The loss drops the Rams to 0-3 for the first time since the 2005 season, a season in which WSSU finished the year 6-4. 

WSSU returns to action on Sept. 27 when they play host to the Bulldogs of South Carolina State University in what will be the Rams third consecutive home game.