WSSU Purvis can't lift Rams to win

By Travis Sawchik, Special to the Winston Salem Journal

CONWAY, S.C.- The Monte Purvis Show wasn’t enough to top Coastal Carolina, which defeated Winston-Salem State 28-21 last night at Brooks Stadium.

Purvis rushed for 165 yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries but the Chanticleers rallied late behind quarterback Will Richardson to score twice in the fourth quarter.

“Every day, Coach tells us to come out and prove ourselves,” Purvis said. “(Teams) are not just going to lie down for us.”

With the Rams trailing 18-7 early the third quarter, Purvis rushed for 66- and 80-yard touchdowns to give them a 21-18 lead with 1:24 to play in the quarter.

“(Coach) said to make a play for the team,” Purvis said, “They were taking away our receivers and running backs.”

While Purvis was electric on the ground, Richardson was very good through the air. Richardson was 19 of 26 passing for 301 yards with a touchdown pass and a 50-yard pass to Jerome Simpson that set up the winning touchdown.

Richardson’s sharp play prevented Winston-Salem State from improving to 2-0 after topping N.C.A&T last week.

Coastal built a 6-0 lead early thanks to Justin Durham’s two field goals. Richardson finished off a 70-yard second-quarter drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jamar Anderson that gave Coastal a 12-0 lead.

WSSU answered with its own touchdown drive, keyed by Jed Bines’ 43-yard run, followed by a 1-yard scoring plunge by Purvis to cut Coastal’s lead to 12-7.

After the Rams lost a fumble, Tommy Fraser punched the ball in from the 1 to give Coastal an 18-7 lead.

Purvis then put on a show, but the Chanticleers survived Purvis, and survived the day.

WSSU 0 7 14 0 - 21

Coastal 6 6 6 10 - 28

First quarter

CC-FG Durham 24, 6:18

CC-FG Durham 44, 1:48

Second quarter

CC-Anderson 10 pass from Richardson (kick failed), 7:20

WSSU-Purvis 1 run (Mitchell kick), 2:23

Third quarter

CC-Fraser 1 run (pass failed), 10:21

WSSU-Purvis 66 run (run failed), 4:53

WSSU-Purvis 80 run (Reaves pass from Purvis), 1:24

Fourth quarter

CC-FG Durham 28, 11:15

CC-Fraser 1 run (Durham kick), 08:15

TEAM STATISTICS

WSSU CC

First downs 12 22

Rushes-yards 47-300 52-96

Passing yards 11 301

Comp-Att-Int 10-2-0 24-16-0

Return Yards 82 106

Punts-Avg 6-32.7 3-34.7

Fumbles-Lost 3-3 7-1

Penalties-Yards 13-90 7-45

Possession 26:08 33:52

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-WSSU, Purvis 19-165, Bines 18-123, Fluellen 4-23, McRae 3-14, Johnson 1-3, Dunston 1-2, Team 1-(minus-30). Coastal Carolina-O’Neal 17-77, Fordham 15-47, Tolbert 5-26, Fortson 3-4, Fraser 3-3, Richardson 5-(minus-14), Team 4-(minus-47).

PASSING - WSSU, Purvis 2-10-0-11. Coastal Carolina, Richardson 16-24-0-301.

RECEIVING - WSSU, Scarbrough 1-10, Bryant 1-1. Coastal Carolina, Simpson 3-90, Fordham 3-52, Washington 3-23, O’Neal 2-44, Anderson 2-12, Usher 1-36, Fambrough 1-30, Tolbert 1-14.