RICHMOND, Virginia — Winston-Salem State needed a big play in the worst way because the offense kept floundering on Saturday night at Hovey Field against upstart Virginia Union.
Stepping into that role nicely was backup tight end Stedman Rush, whose blocked punt helped the Rams to a come-from-behind 21-20 win over the Panthers. It was a play that nearly didn’t happen, but because Rush was pestering the coaches to go in the game, he backed up what he said he would do.
“He’s not on the block-punt team, but he said he wanted to go in and make a play,” coach Kienus Boulware of the Rams said. “And guess what, he made the block.”
The Panthers (1-2) were clinging to a 17-14 lead with 12:06 left, and they were forced to punt. Rush, a senior transfer from UNC Pembroke, lined up on the right side and came streaking in to easily block the punt of Russell Ballance. The Rams recovered the ball on the 1-yard line of the Panthers.
Quarterback Rod Tinsley, who had one of his worst games in his three years as starting quarterback, scored on a 1-yard sneak, and the Rams somehow had the lead 21-17 with 12:06 to go.
“I just have to give praise to the coaches because a lot of people were tired so I came in, and the coaches gave me directions to what to do and I made it happen,” said Rush. “We were kind of down, and we needed a spark.”
CONTINUE READING
No comments:
Post a Comment