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WSSU plans to build on victory
Struggling Hampton is today's opponent in homecoming game
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Published: October 31, 2009
It's been so long since Winston-Salem State played at Bowman Gray Stadium that players and coaches might need directions.
WSSU, after six weeks away, will play Hampton at 2 p.m. today in its homecoming game.
"Homecoming is going to be intense," defensive lineman Stephen Young said. "We are playing Hampton too, so it's going to be real intense."
The Rams (1-6) gained some much-needed confidence last week with a 16-10 win over Bethune-Cookman, a victory that erased thoughts of the first winless season in school history.
"We needed a win, so it was nice to see some smiles this week from our players," Coach Kermit Blount said.
The Pirates (3-4) are reeling after consecutive losses to Norfolk State (46-6) and defending MEAC champion S.C. State (21-9). Coach Donovan Rose is in his first season at Hampton, and he has the leading rusher in the MEAC in LaMarcus Coker (691 yards, 129 carries, 5.4-yard average).
The Rams have been good against the run, but they'll also have to watch out for quarterback Herbert Bynes.
He has thrown only 89 passes but has completed 43, with seven for touchdowns. He has four interceptions.
The Pirates have plenty of weapons and experience, and 20 of the 22 starters are juniors and seniors. The Rams most likely will start 11 upperclassmen, including nine on defense.
"They've done some good things through the course of the year," Blount said of the Pirates, who average 19.6 points and allow 22.4 points a game. "They've dropped a couple they should have won, so it's going to be a matter of who is ready to play more."
Defensive coordinator Mike Ketchum of WSSU said he's hoping that last week's win will open the floodgates.
"You always like a win, but you really love a come-from-behind, close win where you have to make a play at the end," Ketchum said. "All year long, Coach Blount has talked about making the play when it's there...."
In the closing seconds of last week's game against Bethune-Cookman, Akeem Ward helped start the breakup of a running play, with help from Mario Dawson and Alex Chandler, on fourth down. The Rams made the stop, then ran out the clock to break an eight-game losing streak, the longest in Blount's 17 seasons.
This will be the 21st WSSU homecoming game for Blount, as a player or coach.
"Wow," said Blount, a former Rams quarterback. "I never thought about that, but I've never really enjoyed any of those 20 previous homecomings. It's good that I've been able to survive to No. 21, and hopefully I can survive 21 more."
jdell@wsjournal.com | 727-4081
Game day
• Teams: Hampton at WSSU
• Time: 2 p.m.
• Radio: WSNC 90.5
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