The News Argus October 1996 Page 11
SPORTS
Games In Review
By Louquender Robinson
Sports Editor
WSSU, 15 - Ft. Valley State, 10
The Winston-Salem State University football team
kicked off their season with a 15-10 win over the Fort
Valley Stale Wildcats. Bolstered by an easy victory over
the Wildcats the previous year, the Rams were confidant
and focused and never trailed Fort Valley.
The first touchdown of the year for the Rams was
delivered by running back Eric Hendley, a uansfer from
Georgia Military Institute. Hendley scored with 1:16 left
in the 1st quarter with a eighteen yard run to the end
zone. Shawn Thomas converted on the point after
touchdown and the Rams were off to a 7-0 lead. The
Rams extended their lead in the 2nd quarter when senior
linebacker Donnel McDonald forced, then returned a
fumble for a 71 yard touchdown. The Wildcats attempted
to mount a comeback with a 23 yard field goal and a 1
yard touchdown in the 2nd and 4th quarters. Fortunately
the Ram defense remained tough and prevented the
Wildcats from scoring for the remainder of the game and
also forced a safety.
N.C. A & T, 31 - WSSU, 7
In front of 15,594 fans, the N.C. A & T Aggies beat
the Rams for the fourth consecutive time since 1991.
Carl Walker, the Rams starling quarterback, suffered
a separated right shoulder, while scrambling out of the
pocket during a second quarter play. Sophomore Travis
Pender, replaced Walker as quarterback.
The Aggies scored on their first possession after
taking the opening drive 46 yards on six plays. A five-
yard run by Basnight and Luther Leak’s point after made
the score, 7-0. Later in the first quarter, a 16-yard field
goal by Leak took the score to 10-0.
The Rams just couldn’t seem to get any of the big
plays. They just couldn’t get it together. Early in the
second half, the Rams moved the ball to the Aggie’s 39-
yard-line, but on fourth and three from the 39, the Ram’s
quarterback was sacked.
The Rams finally scored in the fourth quarter with a
two-yard run by Murphy and a point after kick by
Thomas.
Elizabeth City S tate University, 14 - WSSU, 11
Roebuck Stadium in Elizabeth City, was the site of
the Rams third consecutive road game. The start of the
contest was temporarily delayed when the lights at the
stadium failed to come on. Once the lights were fixed,
Elizabeth City’s fans were excited when the Vikings
scored a touchdown and completed a two point
conversion to lead 8-0 early in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Rams fought back when
running back Tyrone Murphy scored with a four yard run.
Travis Pender tied the score 8-8 when he ran into the end
zone for two points. With 5:30 left in the second quarter,
Shawn Thomas kicked a 30 yard field goal to move the
Rams into the lead.
At the end of the third quarter, Elizabeth City took
the lead by marching 80 yards down the field and scoring
a touchdown. The Ram defense stopped the Vikings
from completing the two point conversion.
The defense, lead by LaTori Workman, who had 17
tackles and Donnell McDonald, who had 16 tackles and a
sack, kept the Vikings from scoring the fourth quarter
giving the Rams a chance to win.
Trailing by three points and with little time left in the
4ih quarter, Tremaine Graham threw a pass for the win to
an open Tano Davis who was unable to hold on to the
football.
Southern Illinois, 48 - WSSU, 18
A 6-0 lead early in the first quarter, quickly vanished
before their eyes as the Rams watched the Salukis run off
a 48 straight points in a 48-18 victory. The Salukis of
Southern Illinois, are a Division I-AA team.
Early in the first quarter, quarterback Travis Pender
capped a 74-yard, 10-play drive with a 10-yard dash into
the end zone. The Rams missed the extra point.
Turnovers haunted the Rams throughout the game.
They were intercepted twice in the first half and the
Salukis turned the mistakes into 10 points. The Salukis
were ahead 31-6 at the half.
During the second half, the Salukis scored 17 points
in the third quarter and held the Rams scoreless. During
the fourth quarter, the Salukis scored 17 more points.
The Rams scored six final points in the fourth quarter,
when Pender took a quarterback option off the right guard
for a 17-yard play and the score.
Pender Named Quarterback
BY LOUQUENDER ROBINSON
Sports Editor
The Winston-Salem State University
football team was dealt a blow when
starting quarterback LaCarl Walker was
side-lined with a shoulder injury early in
the season. With the loss of Walker,
sophomore Travis Pender was named
starting quarterback by Head Coach
Kermit Blount.
Pender, a Winston-Salem native,
began his football career with one of the
local Pop Warner Foottball teams. He
played behind Tremaine Graham, who is
also a quarterback for the Rams. Pender
attended Carver High School where he
was twice named All-City as a
quarterback and wide receiver and the
team won two conference titles. While at
Carver, during his 9th and 11th grade
years, Pender once again played behind
Graham.
Pender also excelled in baseball and
until recently had been playing with the
Winston-Salem Pond Giants, a semi-
professional baseball team, since he was
14.
When asked why he chose to play for
Winston-Salem Stale Pender responded,
“ This is my hometown and I have been
going to WSSU’s games since I was a
kid. I knew some of the coaches, so the
decision was an easy one.”
Throughout the summer Pender
prepared himself to quarterback the Rams
and now he has his chance. “The team
still looks to Carl as their captain, but I
think they see me as their field general, “
explains Pender.
Tremaine Graham, Pender’s
childhood friend will also be seeing some
playing time. When asked if the years of
competing against Graham had effected
their friendship, Pender said, “ We are
good friends, work together and push each
other to become better players.”
As the season progresses Pender
hopes that everything comes together and
that he can help lead the Rams to a
winning season.
GO RAMS GO!! BEATTHE BEARS!!!
Schedule
from Page 8
Homecoming Football Game
1:30 p.m.
WSSU Rams vs Livingstone
Bears
Bowman Grey Stadium
Block Party
4-7 p.m.
WSSU Campus
Homecoming Show
8 p.m.
UVMC
$16 -$18 General Admission
Alumni “Old Sch(M)l House
Party”
10 p.m - 2 a.m.
$10 - Adams Mark Hotel