N.C. Central and Winston-Salem State, two of the most successful football programs among historically black colleges, will meet at 1 p.m. today at Bowman Gray Stadium, and although both have struggled this season, the game is not without meaning.
"We hate them like we hate N.C. A&T," defensive back Marvin Bohannon of WSSU said.
WSSU is 1-8 and has lost its last six home games. N.C. Central is 2-7, and the series is tied at 21 wins each. The programs have two of the best all-time winning percentage among historically black colleges, with N.C. Central at 57.2 percent (360-267-19) and WSSU at 53 percent (354-284-25).
However, today's game might be the last between the two for a while, with WSSU staying in Division II and returning to the CIAA and Central continuing its move to Division I.
Coach Kermit Blount of the Rams said he hopes that's not the case.
"We're trying to keep A&T and Central on the schedule," Blount said, "because they are in-state rivals. They are going to bring fans to us, and we'll take fans to Durham or Greensboro.
"To my understanding, we have a verbal commitment that we are still going to play A&T at their place in Greensboro (next season). We want to keep that thing alive and continue to play them. And the same goes with N.C. Central."
Athletics Director Ingrid Wicker-McCree of N.C. Central released a statement on future scheduling, saying: "Our intentions are to retain our in-state rivals…."
The Rams played what might have been their worst half of the season last weekend, committing five turnovers in an eventual 24-21 loss to Delaware State.
"It's unbelievable," Blount said. "It was like there was some slick on the ball or something. But that happens, and we just are hoping we don't make those same mistakes again."
N.C. Central lost 42-28 to Old Dominion last week, but won its previous two games (52-7 over NAIA Central Methodist and 53-22 over Division II Central State).
Today's game will reunite players familiar with each other. WSSU's Bohannon and Ced Hickman graduated from North Forsyth, as did Central's Ja'Quez Canty and Teryl White. Senior lineman Gabriel Manns of Central is an East Forsyth graduate.
"I also have a cousin, Phillip Barren, who plays for N.C. Central, so there are a lot of bragging rights at stake," Bohannon said.
Quarterback Michael Johnson, a 6-2, 230-pound sophomore, leads the Eagles offense with 1,583 yards passing (128 of 225) with 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Central also hasn't shied away from tough opponents and has losses to Liberty (35-10), Appalachian State (55-21) and Duke (49-14).
"The bottom line is we are going to have to play football and keep down the mistakes," Blount said.
jdell@wsjournal.com
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