Chris Zona
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The drought is over for Winston-Salem State University as a Cedrick Hickman 12-yard touchdown run earned the Rams their first victory of the season and their first win since Nov. 8 of 2008 as WSSU downed the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman University 16-10 on Saturday evening in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Following a scoreless first quarter of play, the Wildcats would crack into the scoring column first as Androse Bell capped a 19-play, 80-yard scoring drive that took an astounding 11:25 off the clock with a one-yard touchdown run at the 3:29 mark of the second quarter.

The Rams would waste no time in answering the Wildcat score as Kevin Dorsey recovered a Bethune-Cookman fumble at the 12-yard line, setting the table for quarterback Jarrett Dunston and the WSSU offense.

Two plays later the Rams would score their first points of the contest as Dunston found wide receiver Dominique Fitzgerald in the endzone for a 12-yard touchdown pass to close the WSSU deficit to only one point.

A failed Landen Thayer point after try would see the Rams trail the Wildcats 7-6 heading into the locker room at halftime.

Bethune-Cookman would answer on their first drive of the second half as Kory Kowalski’s 31-yard field goal would put the finishing touches on an 11-play, 57-yard drive that increased the Wildcats’ lead to four points at 10-6.

Despite the four-point deficit, the Rams’ defense would prove to be the game-changer as they held the Wildcats scoreless for the remainder of the contest, providing WSSU with an opportunity to win the contest.

Offensive Coordinator Alan Hall’s offense would not squander the opportunity as the much-maligned WSSU offense, led by senior quarterback Jarrett Dunston and bruising power runner Cedrick Hickman scored twice in the final 9:15 of the contest to earn a 16-10 come-from-behind victory over the Wildcats for WSSU’s first win of the season.

Hickman started the WSSU comeback as he powered over left end from 12 yards out to put WSSU ahead for good as he capped a five play, 86-yard drive that took 2:48 off the clock when he rumbled into the endzone at the 9:15 mark of the fourth quarter.

The 12-yard scoring run was part of a career-high nine-carry, 97-yard rushing performance from the sophomore transfer from North Carolina State University.

Not to be outdone, freshman kicker Landen Thayer added to his lead as the Rams’ leading scorer with a 36-yard field goal with 5:29 to play in the contest that put the game on ice for WSSU.

The Rams defense, a unit that set the table for the offensive unit to win the contest would again help to earn WSSU the victory in the game’s waning moments as they tuned aside Bethune-Cookman’s bid for a comeback in the final five minutes of the contest.

An Alex Chandler tackle on B-CU’s Androse Bell saved the game for the Rams as Chandler stopped Bell at the WSSU one yard line on fourth and goal from the three as Chandler forced a turnover on downs, preserving the WSSU victory.

“We are just happy to have the win. We played a heck of a ballgame. Our young men really stepped up this afternoon and I am just so proud of the play of all of our guys” WSSU head coach Kermit Blount commented postgame.

“Our offense played well and really played WSSU football and our defense not only gave us the chance to win, but preserved the win at the end. This one really was a special team effort from our guys tonight” Blount added.

The win improves WSSU to 1-6 on the season and marks the Rams’ first win of the season. Bethune-Cookman falls to 2-5 on the season with the loss. The win also ties the all-time series at 2-2.

WSSU returns to action on Oct. 31 as they host a Halloween Homecoming by welcoming the Pirates of Hampton to Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. Kickoff is slated for 2:00 p.m.

For additional information on WSSU football, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at WSSURams.com.


Chris Zona
Asst. AD for Media Relations