Sunday, October 24, 2010

'D' rules for Rams - WSSU's defense shuts down UNC Pembroke

No. 21-ranked Winston-Salem State has plenty of glitz and glamour on offense, but it can also grind it out on defense. The Rams, thanks to their defense’s best game of the season, shut down UNC Pembroke 21-7 in front of a homecoming crowd of around 18,000 at Bowman Gray Stadium.

With the victory, the Rams (8-1) improved their chances for a Division II playoff berth and along the way proved that their defense can also win games.

“To finish my last home game of my career with an interception and to get a win is great,” said senior defensive back Marvin Bohannon, a former star at North Forsyth. “Pembroke’s a great team and their defense is ranked nationally and that let us know we can play with the best.”

» Gallery: 10-23-2010 WSSU vs UNCP football

UNCP Braves Fall At No. 21 Winston-Salem State

By UNCP Sports Information

WINSTON-SALEM – Kameron Smith threw for 207 yards and two first half touchdowns, and then used his legs to add the final score of the game in the second half, to help lead the 21st-ranked Winston-Salem State Rams to a rousing 21-7 Homecoming victory over visiting UNCP on Saturday afternoon at Bowman-Gray Stadium.

The Rams (8-1) amassed more than 350 yards of total offense, including 248 in the first half alone, to take a 14-7 lead into the locker rooms, and then capitalized on a turnover on the opening drive of the second half to put the game away. Despite being limited to just 106 yards of total offense in the opening half, UNCP (5-3) had its chances to post a second half comeback, but fumbled away its opening possession of the third quarter and turned the ball over on downs on three of its final four possessions of the game.

Kameron Smith completed 14 of his 21 pass attempts with an interception to open up holes for the ground game which got 108 yards on 19 carries from Nicholas Cooper. Jahuann Butler contributed three catches for 84 yards and both first half touchdowns for the Rams as well.

Rashon Kennedy ran for a team-best 55 yards for the Braves, who also got 30 rushing yards and their lone touchdown from Keith Gore. St. Anthony Lloyd matched a school record with eight catches for the second-straight game and paced the air game with 62 receiving yards. Quarterbacks Cory Smith (13-of-24) and Garrett Sutphen (9-of-19) each tallied 92 passing yards, but both threw interceptions in the opening stanza as well.

"We had our opportunities in the second half to make this a good game, and we let them slip away," said UNCP head coach Pete Shinnick. "Winston-Salem State did a good job of executing what they wanted to do. We made a couple of mistakes and gave up a couple of long balls but, other than that, I thought our defense played very well. We got going late offensively, but didn't get any points. The name of the game is to score points and we didn't score enough."

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Attendance: 18,000

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