Box Score
Feature Story/Notes
Quotes
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., September 1, 2007 – It is the last thing anyone with a North Carolina A&T uniform wanted to hear after a 28-7 loss to arch-rival Winston-Salem State at Bowman Gray Stadium on Saturday.

But the Aggies looked like a much-improved football team from the 2006 edition. If you want evidence, there was a never a moment in 2006 like the moment that occurred Saturday night. The Aggies had an opponent on their heels in the fourth quarter with an expectation they could win. Forty-six seconds into the fourth quarter, the Aggies trailed 21-7 46 seconds into the fourth quarter.

 On a 2^nd-and-goal from the WSSU 8-yard line, sophomore quarterback Herb Miller rolled out to his right and spotted senior receiver Curtis Walls breaking free. Miller tried to connect with Walls on the run, but the ball drifted behind Walls. Walls got a hand on the ball, but could do nothing but deflect the pass. After Walls’ deflection, the ball jumped around in the air before landing in the chest of Reginald Johnson, who happened to be lying on the ground.

 “He was trying to make a play and it came out in their favor,’’ said N.C. A&T head coach Lee Fobbs. “We had the momentum going. He probably should have protected the ball, but he pressed it, trying to make something happen. He’s a tough kid and he’ll bounce back.”

The Aggies had just taken advantage of a Rams turnover five minutes earlier when Josef Peek snuck behind Rams punt returner David Irizarry and knocked the football loose. Joe Taylor jumped on it for the Aggies to give them a 1^st-and-10 from the Rams 26. Three plays later, Miller connected with Walls in the back of the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown pass to cut WSSU’s lead to 21-7.

It was Miller’s first career touchdown pass, and Walls second-career touchdown reception. The Aggies forced the Rams into a three-and-out and got the ball back at their own 35 with 5:34 remaining in the third quarter. The Aggies were in the midst of 14-play, 57-yard drive that had taken 6:37 off the clock before Miller’s interception.

The Rams made the Aggies pay for the turnover. Rams quarterback Monte Purvis capped off a 5-play, 80-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Brent Thomas to turn what could have been a seven-point game into a 28-7 lead for the Rams with 12:15 to play. The Rams scored 14 points off Aggie turnovers.

“We have something to build on,’’ said Fobbs. “I’m pleased with how we played, but not happy. I think we could have played better in the first half. Things happen during the course of the ball game, so we can’t put the whole game on that one interception. But if don’t come out and play well offensively in the first half, you put yourself in a hole early. We’ve got to come out the chute better.”

The Aggies had just 46 yards of total offense in the first half, including minus-9 yards passing as the Rams took a 14-0 lead into the locker room. Brandon McRae added on a 30-yard touchdown to put the Rams ahead 21-0 before the Aggies turned the momentum in their favor.

 Still, the Aggies played better, particularly on the defensive end. A year ago, the Rams converted 60 percent of their third downs, on Saturday they were just 3 of 11 on third down. Sophomore Andre Thornton led the way with 12 tackles.

 “We were clearly more aggressive,’’ said Thornton. “We were active and fought on every down. I thought before this game we had a good defense. I still feel that way.”