Sept. 1&, 2005
Stats
WINSTON-SALEM, NC- Winston-Salem State kicker Matt Hind booted a 20-yard field goal as time expired to edge the Elizabeth City State University Vikings 24-23 Saturday night at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC.
The final play of the game was indicative of what had been a see-saw battle in both teams' conference opener. The Vikings got on the board first when Paul Crews intercepted a pass and returned it 28-yards for a 7-0 lead. Two possessions later, the Rams would even the score when Martin Hicks broke loose for a 65-yard touchdown with 7:11 remaining in the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Rams would pull ahead for the first time when Monte Purvis found Brad Herring for a 35-yard touchdown pass to cap a 4-play 77-yard drive that took only 1:48 off the clock. Then it was the Vikings' turn to answer as freshman Dennis Hamilton scored the first of his two touchdowns with 4:34 remaining in the half.
With the score knotted at 14 apiece, the second half gave the crowd a sense of déjà vu' as the Rams (1-3, CIAA 1-0) pulled ahead via 40-yard Martin Hicks touchdown, only to be answered 31 second later with Hamilton's second score, this one for 33 yards. However, different this time was the fact that Zach Gornto's extra point attempt was blocked leaving the Vikings down by one with 9:53 remaining in the 3rd quarter. Due to stingy defenses on both sides of the ball, neither offense would accomplish much until a 11-play, 45-yard drive that ate up five minutes was capped by a 42-yard field goal by ECSU's Kevin Dodson. With 4:01 remaining the Vikings would try to hold onto the 23-21 lead and deny the Rams a fantastic finish in front of their home crowd. Yet as the story had gone all night, so would the Rams as they drove 76 yards over the next 3:58 to set up Matt Hind's 20-yard game clincher as time expired.
In his first start of the season, freshman Dennis Hamilton carried the ball 21 times for 154 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively Emanuel Plummer had another solid outing, finishing with a game-high 9 tackles while Greg Moore contributed 5 tackles and 3 sacks for a loss of 13 yards. Paul Crews intercepted 2 passes for 28 yards and added 3 tackles.
The Vikings (1-3, CIAA 0-1) will travel to Rocky Mount, NC this Saturday, September 24 as they will play host to the Falcons of Saint Augustine's College. Game time is slated for 6:00pm at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex. For more information on ECSU athletics, log onto www.ecsuvikings.com.
