Rams lose four turnovers in defeat

The broken record played on and on for Winston-Salem State.

The Rams played keep- away again yesterday, committing four turnovers on their way to an 18-10 loss to rival N.C. Central in front of nearly 12,000 at Bowman Gray Stadium.

This one stung even more because 11 seniors went out on a losing note in what long ago turned into a forgettable season. Both of the Eagles' touchdowns yesterday came after Rams turnovers.

"Sure, this is tough, but what can you do?" said linebacker Marcus Coates. "We would have all liked to have gone out a winner, but we just couldn't do it."

The Eagles (3-7) won their first road game since beating Savannah State 30-14 in October 2007, and they did it with defense.

The Rams managed just 191 yards of offense and on their final drive late in the game were down to third-string quarterback Jean Julmiste.

Starting quarterback Jarrett Dunston suffered a concussion in the first quarter, and his backup, Branden Williams, suffered a sprained ankle in the second half.

Williams got the ankle taped and returned to the game, but he wasn't effective because he couldn't move well outside the pocket.

Coach Kermit Blount, whose team made five turnovers last week in a loss to Delaware State, watched the Rams fall to 1-9.

They lost their seventh straight home game and 10th of their past 11 at Bowman Gray.

"We can't seem to protect the ball," Blount said. "Two straight weeks we turned the ball over too many times. The story is to protect the football, and we didn't do that again today."

The Eagles led 15-10 at halftime thanks to three turnovers by the Rams.

The most costly was committed by Williams, who threw an interception near midfield with a minute left in the half. Rashad Fox returned the interception 49 yards.

One play later, quarterback Michael Johnson hit fullback Saeed-Abdul Azeez for a 4-yard touchdown pass and a 15-10 Eagles lead. Frankie Cardelle missed his second straight extra-point attempt.

Williams had replaced Dunston in the first quarter after Dunston was sacked by Donald Laster. Dunston had to be helped off the field after suffering the concussion. Dunston sat on the bench for rest of the half with a towel over his head, then stayed in the locker room for the second half.

Laster knocked Williams out in the second half as well.

"It's always a rivalry playing Winston, and it's always good to go beat them in their home," Laster said.

"We got a lot of pressure on them in this game. Our defensive line did a great job of maintaining that pressure."

The Rams and Eagles were without two key players, both graduates of North Forsyth.

Running back Ced Hickman of Winston-Salem State didn't dress for the game because of a nagging groin injury, and Teryl White, N.C. Central's best defensive lineman, has a shoulder injury.

The Rams took a 3-0 lead thanks to Landen Thayer's 37-yard field goal. Cardelle tied the game 3-3 with a 24-yard field goal.

Williams did throw a nice 11-yard touchdown pass to Omar Kizzie with 3:02 left in the half, and it was 10-9 after Thayer's point-after kick.

The only points in the second half came on a 26-yard field goal from Cardelle, which made the score 18-10 with 6:37 left in the game.

The Rams' best chance to score in the second half came on a first-down play from the Eagles' 32, when Williams had Lamar Whidbee wide open down the middle of the field but overthrew him by about 10 yards.

Senior Wayne Noble, a defensive back who made a first-half interception for the Rams, said: "It was a lack of execution. It's the same thing every week. We work hard all week and look pretty good, and then it just doesn't turn out the way we want it to."

The Rams will close their season Saturday at Norfolk State.

jdell@wsjournal.com | 727-4081

N.C. Central 0 15 0 3 -- 18

WSSU 3 7 0 0 -- 10

First Quarter

WSSU--FG Thayer 37, 2:20.

Second Quarter

NCCU--FG Cardelle 24, 13:19.

NCCU--Shankle 5 run (kick failed), 12:06.

WSSU--Kizzie 11 pass from Williams (Thayer kick), 3:02.

NCCU--Abdul-Azeez 4 pass from M.Johnson (kick failed), :55.

Fourth Quarter

NCCU--FG Cardelle 26, 6:37.

A--11,232.

TEAM STATISTICS

NCCU WSSU

First downs 12 9

Rushes-yards 36-110 33-91

Passing 115 100

Comp-Att-Int 10-21-1 12-32-2

Return Yards 65 34

Punts-Avg. 8-39.4 8-40.1

Fumbles-Lost 3-2 2-2

Penalties-Yards 15-109 8-76

Time of Possession 31:26 28:34

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--N.C. Central, Shankle 21-80, McCord 5-24, Goforth 1-11, Abdul-Azeez 3-6, Team 2-(minus 2), M.Johnson 4-(minus 9). Winston-Salem State, J.Harris 12-71, Munford 9-33, Fitzgerald 1-1, Thompson 1-1, Williams 6-1, Dunston 3-(minus 7), Julmiste 1-(minus 9).

PASSING--N.C. Central, M.Johnson 10-21-1-115. Winston-Salem State, Williams 8-24-2-62, Dunston 2-4-0-12, Julmiste 2-4-0-26.

RECEIVING--N.C. Central, Irvine 3-51, Scott 3-34, Shankle 1-14, Goforth 1-8, Abdul-Azeez 1-4, McCord 1-4. Winston-Salem State, Kizzie 6-41, Whidbee 2-27, Fitzgerald 1-11, J.Harris 1-10, Munford 1-6, Barr 1-5.