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WSSU hopes for defensive game against Howard
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Published: October 4, 2008
When Winston-Salem State and Howard play, odds are good that the game will be close.
That's the history between the teams, which will meet tonight at 6 at Bowman Gray Stadium.
"I really don't know why that is, but it just seems to me that it's a good rivalry game where the two schools are always pretty evenly matched," Coach Kermit Blount of WSSU said.
Blount also is a former assistant at Howard, and he was on staff there in 1985 when the programs met for the first time. WSSU won 12-7.
Howard won last season's game 24-21 in overtime in Washington, D.C., and WSSU won 12-0 at Bowman Gray Stadium in 2006. This season, the Rams (0-4) are averaging just 11.2 points and hoping for another defensive battle against the Bison (1-3).
If it works out that way, WSSU's secondary will have to play well against one of the top offenses in the MEAC. Howard averages 312 passing yards a game and leads the MEAC in total offense with 417 yards a game.
The Bison have spread out opposing defenses, and quarterback Floyd Haigler has completed 112 of 179 passes for 1,251 yards and nine touchdowns, with six interceptions. He had his best game last week in a 49-12 rout of Savannah State, a team that defeated WSSU 16-13 on Sept. 13.
Safety DeRon Middleton, who has played mostly on special teams but is expected to see more action today, said that the Rams have tried not to look back but that it hasn't been easy.
"We have to turn this thing around," he said. "We are starting the season over, and we have seven games left, and we want to finish the season going 7-0, but it has to start this week."
Blount has remained positive despite the losses and said that players are still committed to each other.
"We don't believe in pointing fingers," Blount said. "We are going to stay together. That's how families are, and we are a family. When we hit the field, we have to be a team, and I think these guys are a team."
Howard, in its second season under Carey Bailey, lost to Georgetown (12-7), Hampton (38-27) and Florida A&M (51-24) before defeating Savannah State.
"We needed that win because we were kind of pressing earlier in the year," Bailey said. "It was a matter of putting everything together, and we did that against Savannah State."
Bailey said he has great respect for what Blount has done at WSSU over the years and that this season's 0-4 record doesn't mean much.
"Kermit's an outstanding coach, and he knows what his team can and can't do," Bailey said. "They are a young football team, but when you watch them on film they easily could be 3-1 instead of 0-4, but I think right now they are showing their youth."
The Rams have 15 turnovers in four games. Quarterback Jarrett Dunston, expected to start again today, has five interceptions and two fumbles, and backup Tienne Jefferson has three interceptions. The Rams had five turnovers each in losses to S.C. State and Morgan State.
"The bottom line is we can't turn the ball over," Blount said. "I know I say that each week, but that's what is holding us back."
The Rams will complete a four-game home stand today, and a victory would provide a big boost before a road game at Florida A&M.
"It was important four weeks ago, also," Blount said, "but now it's really important because next week we play Florida A&M on the road on Thursday, so it's a short week."
Blount said that stopping Howard's offense from getting into a rhythm will be the biggest challenge.
"You have to slow them down and take them out of that so-called flow," Blount said. "Howard is a real good football team, and their record isn't indicative of how good they are. I know they are going to come in hungry, so we'll need to be ready."
■ John Dell can be reached at 727-4081 or at jdell@wsjournal.com.
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